Arthritis

chrisb75

I have been away for a couple weeks. I had developed some pretty bad pain in my hips and and knee. I took a break from lifting and finally it got bad enough that I want to a doctor. Turns out I have arthritis in my right hip (I am only 36), which has irritated the main tendon in my hip. I told the doctor I lift weights and that the pain got BETTER when I lifted but I was having a hard time getting up the will power to push through the pain until after my workout. She said lifting, and squats in general are EXACTLY what I need to be doing. She advised me to stall my weight for 3 weeks, but to keep lifting, put me on anti-inflammatory medication, and I am supposed to avoid heavy work (other than work outs) for 3 weeks.

My question is, what have other members had to do to get through the pain of arthritis? Any other advice?

Adara13

First I have to stat to say that I don't have, BUT my mother has and we grew up with her and it.

I would really recommend by starting and seeing a specialist doctor, most GP's think they know what they are doing but doing really keep up with new meds and trends. And what makes this so hard is that each person differ tremendously from another.

Second, I can't believe the weight lifting thing. Long term it will ruin your joints and when they are gone your stuffed. In all the cases and people I have known I only heard doctors recommend a low impact excessive routine.

But like I said, I don't have it. GO TO A SPECIALIST and ask the stupid questions.

* edited to add the sickness, in Lyman's terms, is your body attacking itself.

chrisb75

Everything that I have read concurs with the doc. Weight lifting and strengthening the muscles around the joints HELP arthritis, not make it worse.

chrisb75

http://www.cbass.com/Arthritis.htm

With the help of Ronenn Roubenoff, M.D., a board-certified rheumatologist, and her doctoral fellow, Kristin Baker, Dr. Nelson designed a study to determine the effect of aggressive strength training on older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee – in their own home. They recruited 46 people, 55 or older, with moderate to severe knee pain. All were "significantly limited" in their ability to do normal things – "walking, stair climbing, even just sitting and standing." Kristin visited each person at home several times during the course of the four-month study.

Half did strength training and flexibility exercises three times a week. The other half received emotional support and tips on healthy eating from Kristin, but no exercise guidance; 38 participants completed the study.

The training – gentle to start with and progressively more intensity – included modified squats, step-ups, knee extensions and other exercises. Kristin instructed them to start with "moderate" intensity and learn perfect form, and then over the course of several workouts increase the intensity to "hard." She encouraged them to increase the weight or reps as they got stronger. She explained that reasonable muscle soreness is normal; that it’s "a sign that you are challenging your muscles appropriately to adapt and become stronger." The key is to "begin slowly and progress consistently," she told them.

It worked! The strength of their quadriceps increased an average of 71%, compared with 3% for the control group. Pain in the exercise group decreased 43%, as opposed to 12% in other group. Physical function improved by 44%, in activities they were having trouble with before, such as walking and climbing; the placebo group stayed about the same. Importantly, the exercisers showed less depression and gained in self-confidence and self-esteem. They even slept more restfully. "Their lives turned around," wrote Nelson.

The changes were "astonishing," says Dr. Nelson. That’s especially true when you consider that people like my friend are being told the only hope is pain medication and, eventually, joint replacement.

fsb55

Avoid acidic foods I can't eat tomatoes esp skins but do excercise, Find out the food that irritate you.

chrisb75

Thanks Madroch. I am in love with lifting and I thought for sure I wouldn't be able to do it anymore.

fsb55, I will look into that. I am not sure if there are foods causing flare ups. It seems to be certain movements and heavy work (like building a deck) that aggravate it. I will look into the diet aspect though.

Adara13

Chris, it helps that you were active before the diagnosis. I stick with what i said, but then again my mother has had it for...... Eish.....20 plus years. Let your body tell you and work pro active.

toomanycurves

Thanks, Chris. I recently returned from vacation five pounds heavier than when I left. Now I REALLY want to up my exercise but with patellar injuries, cysts and significant arthritis in both knees my rheumatologist is advising that I do no more than ride a recumbent bike. And so I find the study that you cite quite interesting. I am to meet with an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in knees soon to discuss knee replacement surgery. I will listen to what he has to tell me but I have arthritis all through my body as well as structurally damaged hip joints and so I'm not sure how much difference overall the knee surgery would make in my comfort level while exercising. I wonder if the people in the study had as severe arthritis as I do and whether they were able to complete the program without permanent injury. For what it's worth, I just turned 61 and I was very slender until my mobility became increasingly compromised a few years ago. It would be so good to be active again. I would so love to be able to resume running!

toomanycurves

What I left out was that I want to exercise but I am concerned that I will end up more encumbered than I am now.

HockeyDadMN

At 43 years old I have severe osteo-arthritis in my left knee. For me getting out for 30 minute walks helps a TON...I work hard to try and sneak short walks in whenever I can just to to keep the knee warm and lubricated. I had synvick injections which help some. Also, key for me is avoiding the things that I know will cause brusiing and swelling. I never jump, run, etc. anymore...period. By skipping those things I am at least able to go for walks, bike rides, and even some occasional golf. The more I push it, the more I wind up missing. You just have to pick your spots...I think of it as I only have so much I can do each day with my knee, and if I push it too far I just wind up reducing what I can do for the next 3-4 weeks...and it isn't worth it. Sorry I am late to the thread, but thought I would throw my thoughts out anyway.