I'm wondering.... when I get one of those wonderful bursts of energy (probably due to the pred) and get on the lawnmower (push kind) for a couple of hours and pull up weeds in the garden and move furniture all around the house....then can hardly move the next day...and my feel are swollen & sore....have I actually done further damage to my joints or just wore myself out?
I'd hate to think I have to give up these activities that make me feel so much better and so normal, at least while I'm doing it.
Any thoughts on this? I have an appt with my RD next week and plan to ask him about this (if I can remember)
Sula
That's a great question! I wonder the same thing too. Since my diagnosis last year I haven't noticed any real visible changes in my joints. The xrays last year showed inflammation, not permanent damage. I have however just within the last week I have noticed my pinky finger looking like the beginnings of the letter "S". Weird. I've been taking my nsaids trying to determine if it's swelling or damange. I'm curious as to other answers to your post.What I have heard is that the damage occurs most during swelling which is why some rheumy's are more interested in the swelling than the pain. I do the same thing but though the pain is worse the next day the swelling isn't too bad probably due to the meds.Personally, I think it's just wearing yourself out, not more damage (but I'm not a doctor, obviously.) I think when we have those days when we feel really good, we overdo it cuz we're not sure how it's gonna last, and your body probably gets used to NOT doing those things. I did it on Saturday, cleaning house. By the afternoon, I was achy and tired, but I took a nap and felt better afterward. I think my meds and maybe new diet in combination are working for me. I'm starting to have more good days than bad. Yay!
The inflammtion does most of the damage but the damage will be made worse by weak inactive muscles. Without strong muscles the joints have no support.
So the trick is to find balance between the inactivity and too much activity. Several hours of swelling is not as big of a concern as several days. You do need to let your doctor know if you are having inflammtion after moderate activity
Thanks for all your input...when I ask my dr. about this I will pass along what he says (if I can remember!)Dear Sula, this is such a good question, I think we alll should be asking our docs. Also, does excersizing help, harm or joints?Thanks, SarahSula,
Back when i was first diagnosed with RA, i kinda crippled quickly. My GM doctor, Dr. Kansal, told me constantly to walk. "Larry, i know it hurts, but everyday you have to walk." I took his advise and became less painful. If you read this bulletin from medicalnewstoday, it has been proven that joint movement and pressure actually trigger the lubricant that protects our joints, cool, huh? Now that spring is here, i use my joints so much more and they seem to be feeling better all the time. Of course from not using we get swelling and aches and pains but they seem to get less and less as our muscles and etcs get used to being used again. Hang in there, the cures are in the makings.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=58281
Read about lubricant here at the above link.
LEV
Here is a related question. I thought activity was good too, but when I go for a walk a joint in each foot swells and takes many days to go down. Now those joints look somewhat swelled and hurt all the time. Does that mean they are damaged or just inflamed?
Laker
Laker,
When i was at the early stage i asked my rheumy the same question and was told, just inflamed. Now the cocktail has worked and i think my using the joints has helped also. I know that during the winter my joints hurt when i used them but i think it was because i used them so little that when i demanded work from my joints they kinda let me feel their displeasure but seems like they are doing quite well with the work i am putting them thru. Scarey, isn't it? RA has just become a normal part of my life and i really don't dwell on it much anymore. I just have to hang in there for a few short years for the cure. Fine with me.
LEV
Sula, exercise IS important, there's certainly no doubt about that, but I think it might be a good idea to ease up on the lawnmowing and furniture moving! That's pretty tough stuff, unless you can do just a little at a time. My Rh. told me 20 minutes tough - twenty minutes rest - and not to push myself just because I'm feeling good and enjoying it.
Thanks, everyone for the input!
I think maybe Jeanne has the best idea--exercise in moderation. My problem is sometimes I get started and I don't want to stop. It feels so good to be active & I think the pred masks the pain (along with painkillers).
This time last year I was going to the gym and doing a couple of miles on the treadmill and using the weight machines. (Nothing all that strenuous, but a far cry from where I am now).
I am hoping the exercise is good for us.
Sula
Hi All,
This is so relevant to me as I have been struggling to get a balane between rest and "doing stuff". I discussed it at length with my Dr at my appt the week before last. She said I should start by doing a low impact kind of exercise and build up from there. I try to walk a little way every day (to the train station is about 100 yards so I do that twice a day) plus last week I went swimming for the first time in years! I stayed for 20 minutes and had a short rest after every 2 lengths, I was stiff the day after but it was a muscle stiffness, not a joint stiffness - some of those muscles haven't been used for years-LOL.
Anyway I have felt better this weekend, less stiff and fatigued. So I will keep it up (twice a week) and try to increase the time I spend in the pool. My Dr said similar stuff to some of the responses here - exercise in moderation strengthens muscles which protects joints, it helps with your general feeling of well-being which in turn helps you to fight the Arthur, exercise produces endorphins (home-made painkillers and general feel-good hormones). If I can increase my general level of fitness I will be helping myself (I think) and also if I can manage to lose some weight there will be less pressure on my joints. I know what you mean Sula about getting started and not wanting to stop - pushing through the pain can seem tempting but try not to - build in breaks, start small and build up! I did gardening at the weekend with my other half, he did heavy stuff and I directed, held open rubbish bags, pruned, planted seedlings etc. Meanwhile he mowed the lawn, cut the hedges, weeded, swept, raked etc. I did have to frown at him once though when he ran up to me and took a plant out of my hands saying "don't lift that it's heavy". We had the chat again about how I am capable (mostly) of deciding what I can and can't do and I'm not a child. He's so sweet he just wants to help but sometimes it makes me want to scream!
I hope you find your balance between activity and rest - remember listen to your body and take it easy at first - you can build up to more later.
KT
This was one of the few questions I got to ask my rheumy but he told me