RA and Exercise? | Arthritis Information

 

What are your experiences with exercising?

Hi Kelly, I can't address how you are feeling, but for peace of mind maybe you should talk to your doctor?  I know after my heart surgery, I started really slow... like an easy, slow walk down the driveway (maybe 15 yards???) and back and I did this 2x a day.  It took me about 10 min. each time and by November, I was chugging along at 2 miles a day, plus I was doing cardiac PT 2x weekly.  I know that is an extreme example, but this winter after about 8 weeks of a bad and persistent URI along with foot problems, I tried to walk and just couldn't do it!  Waddie  The first and most important exercise for anyone with RA or other related diseases is arthritis water exercise. It will get the joints moving again and hopefully then, you may be able to graduate to a more vigorous class. Hello everyone, I have never posted before but I am an avid reader! I felt the need to post on this particular topic because a few years ago I was at my worst with this disease, i had dropped a large amount of weight because I was always in so much pain that my appetite did not exist. I could barely get off the couch to do my normal daily activities. I decided to join the local gym so I could take advantage of their water areobics class, I feel it was the best thing I could have done for myself! After about a year of water workouts I was finally strong enough to start working out with very low weight and it has made all the difference in the world! Dont get me wrong, I still have difficult days, I do not work out when I am swollen and in pain, but the regular workouts have helped tremendously with my pain and fatigue. In my experience, the pool is the best type of exercise for sore, stiff joints.

Waddie, I remember you telling me how much you love to walk. I hope you can start doing that again soon! It seems so silly that I get that weak/fatigued from very , very little exercise, or I wonder if its the RA making me feel this badly... I've never felt this out of shape before. I guess like you said, start off very slowly and work my way up.

The water areobics sounds like a good idea. I will check into that. Now do they have a FULL BODY BATHING SUIT  I can wear to cover me up?! LOL

From what you describe it sounds more like you are out of shape and your body is just not used to it.

Any kind of new workout will leave you sore the next day and probably even worse the day after that. Like IslandWoman said, I think you need to build you way up to a harder workout.

One of my good friends is a personal trainer.  Once I am cleared medically after the second surgery, she is going to work with me.  Unfortunately, the dr has already said that it would be August at the earliest.  But, exercise is the best....  I do agree with the others-water aerobics is wonderful on joints.  But, you will also feel like dirt if you haven't had physical activity in a while. Physical therapy did the trick for me because I had weakness in my legs.  I would also feel nauseated at the same time.  Water therapy is wonderful if you have access to a heated pool.
Good luck with your choice.
I second the suggestions for water exercise and a consultation with a physical therapist if possible.  At the gym, do they have those recumbent bikes, where you are sitting comfortably and peddling with your legs outstretched?  Those are helpful for me on bad days.  Elliptical machines are also gentle on the joints.  I also recommend setting weight machines on the very lightest setting just to get the range of motion at first.  Has someone at the gym shown you around?