Anyone w/ Rheumatoid Arthritis out there?

KarenK37

Hi I have suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis for almost 10 years and take medication. I was wondering if anyone has any tips for exercise that are easy on the joints?

nicbic123

i have osteoarthritis...not sure how similar...but i get loads af pains in joints and walking/running is hard work...swimming is probably the best i could recommend as it just uses muscles (& lungs lol) takes the weight off them nicely...hope this helps x

CindyWarner

I have arthritis in my knees. It used to wake me up at night at least 3-4 times in a week for over 20+ years. I happened to move from one part of the country to another. And now it's like it was never there.

So my question(s) to you is "What is your weather like there?" and "Does the temperature drop suddenly often?"

Where I was living before the temperature would drop at night about 20C degrees or more. Now it may drop between 5-10C.

dittiepe

Hi I have suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis for almost 10 years and take medication. I was wondering if anyone has any tips for exercise that are easy on the joints?

I've had RA for 11 years now. I take a couple of meds for it that don't really work that well, but at least I'm walking. The best suggestions I can give is water exercises if you have access to a pool. If not, a recumbent exercise bike is wonderful and light on the joints, and even walking on a treadmill(2.5-3.0 speed) is good. You want to keep the joints moving to help decrease the pain. Some days it's pretty bad and I'm not able to do as much as I want, or even what I want - as I'm sure you know - but even 20 minutes pedaling slowly is good movement.

Sharont213

Yep.. RA for about 15 years now.. I take Celebrex as needed and Methotrexate weekly. It does keep much of pain managed. I can usually modify most programs to low impact, which is "knee friendly".. are there specific ones you are looking to try?

dixiech1ck

I have osteo-arthritis in both knees and psoriatic arthritis in my joints. I go against my doctors wishes and still run. I found working out in the pool helped a lot yesterday. Also, pilates and yoga work for me.

Best of luck!

KarenK37

I would love to do water exercises but there is no where to go that has therapeutic exercising or even a heated pool. I do walk and bike but everything seems like I am doing it at a snails pace and then I tend to pay for it later at nite. I do take methotrexate and indomethacin and have relief from the meds but the other side to that is i am always fatigued. I will keep up w/the light exercise and hope this works. It's just exhausting and I hate having this autoimmune disease. it was really nice to hear from fellow sufferers who are still pushing ahead. Great Job everyone and thanks for your support!!!

dittiepe

I have horrible fatigue, I hear ya. Some days I just don't want to move at all, but I force myself to do so. I take methotrexate and Arava and have some relief with it but the cooler weather usually wins out over the meds every year. I also have to take vicodin a few times a day.
What I usually do are any of the following: pilates, yoga, exercise bike, treadmill, elliptical, Ea Sports Active 2 for Wii, and I actually just made it through Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. I'm pretty proud of that