Arthritis difficult to workout!

DebbieLyn63

I have psoriatic arthritis and suffer greatly at times. I have not read all of the responses, but incase it hasn't been mentioned, I have found a direct link between my sugar intake and my inflammation (which makes sense but I've just recently figured it out). I would definitely recommend upping the water, significantly limiting sugar, and non-impact exercises (swimming, stationary bike, elliptical)...good luck and stay positive!

I have PsA as well, and figured out a while ago the connection with sugar. Also, for me, cutting out processed grains, especially wheat, has the same effect. My pain and inflammation levels are about a third of where they were before.

I also started out icing my knees and back after exercise. I don't have to do it much anymore, except if I really push it hard. Also, getting in a lot of healthy fats, i.e. nuts, avocados, seems to help keep my joints more lubricated, and my skin doesn't get as dry either.

EDesq

:yawn: I am fed up as its difficult to do a workout as bones are getting old!

Then don't! If you need to lose weight it is all about what you eat...Focus on what you eat. Stretch to keep your bones/joints flexible, and when you feel better after the weight loss begin an exercise routine. GOOD Health, weight loss and maintenance is 90% Dietary and 10% activity. MOST people either do not do this or forget it because it is easier and more "Romantic" to workout and overeat, then wonder why they don't lose weight or keep it off; Nobody can keep up an exercise routine of 60+ minutes 5 days per week for Life. The Body was NOT built for that, nor does it work...Manage/Control your FOOD CHOICES and regain your Health.

"Let Your FOOD Be Your Medicine" Hippocrates, "The Father of Medicine"

DebbieLyn63

I have psoriatic arthritis and suffer greatly at times. I have not read all of the responses, but incase it hasn't been mentioned, I have found a direct link between my sugar intake and my inflammation (which makes sense but I've just recently figured it out). I would definitely recommend upping the water, significantly limiting sugar, and non-impact exercises (swimming, stationary bike, elliptical)...good luck and stay positive!

I would agree with this as well. I'm a low-carber anyway so I don't eat sugar. But sugar is a pro-inflammatory as is gluten. I am also gluten-free. Some people need to be free of cow's milk and/or the nightshade plants (potatoes, peppers, etc.) as well but they don't seem to be a problem for me.

Tomatoes are a nightshade plant that will cause a severe flair up in my arthritis. I can get away with a little sauce or ketchup, but if I eat a whole tomato, ouch, the next morning I can't move!

Cutting out sugar and gluten has been wonderful.

dsjohndrow

I have been hearing that from my doctors for years. Here is what helps. Staying active, drinking a lot of water, and losing weight. I did have to have my knee and my shoulder repaired surgically, but you need to keep moving doing whatever you can. I also took a lot of Motrin, but even that is occasional at this point.

I believe diet is important. IE: cut back the sugar, the salt/sodium and eat lots of fruit, veggies and lean protein as well as high quality fats.

michellechawner

I was diagnosed with moderate Fibromyalgia last year at the age of 26. Decreasing my sugar intake has helped, but I don't cut it out completely. Yoga has been a lifesaver for me, I go three times a week and walking is how I get my exercise, that's all I do as well as reduced calorie intake.

I do notice inflammation when I eat something super sugary, or carb loading, but my pain with Fibro is directly linked with stress. Just do what you can! I'm losing the weight slowly (6.5 lbs in 35 days) but I know my body doesn't operate like normal (I can't do any heavy weight training, running, etc.) Yeah it's been hard watching everyone else lose weight faster because they can exercise like normal, but I can only do what I can do - same goes for you!

nedraplambert

I am in my 70s...I swim or/ play in the water one or two times a week for 1 to 3 hrs at a time...just walking in the water and doing moement will help your bones...i have had back surgery and a total hip done and the water helps me alot. its easier than walking..ur local state park let seniors swim either in or out door for $ 4.00 a day .look into it..i can;t do much heavy exercise like dancing or using machines..but water works for me...hope this helps you...

KimberlyinMN

I agree with the water exercise and with the Leslie Sansone recommendations. Leslie's DVD workouts can be as low impact as you want. There are three basic moves: walking in place, knee lifts, and kicking.

I have rheumatoid arthritis, with flare-ups mostly in my hands, and being able to exercise to her DVDs really helped me out. I was on methotrexate for about five years and it put my RA in remission for another five years. It recently reared its ugly head and I'm back on it. I can't take OTC NSAIDs for any extended period of time - so I leave those for the severe cramps I sometimes get for my phantom period. (I had the Novasure procedure done - so no period but occasionally horrible cramps.)

I recently purchases "The Buddy System" which is a belt I can wear around my waist and I can connect my two of my dogs to this. We have three dogs but one is almost 14 and he's not into distance walking anymore. He thinks he is, but then he can't get out of the dog bed for the rest of the day. Anyhow, AMAZING product!! I've been having fun at mapmywalk.com, mapping out new routes for us to take in my small town. Walking the dogs hands-free is wonderful! I could kick myself for not getting this product years ago (or even thinking of putting their other leashes on a leather belt) - doh! I have a poop bag dispenser hooked on it as well as a small garage door opener.

Anyhow, baby steps. Don't try to do it all right away. If walking is something you can do, start out with a few minutes a day. Add five minutes the next week, etc. Or water walking... As you know, overdoing any activity is horrible if you have arthritis. Unless someone has walked in YOUR shoes, they don't "get" the pain of arthritis. My mom didn't "get" how painful it was in my hands, even when I told her I couldn't pull my underwear up (or down). Before I was diagnosed, it would flare up in weird places all over my body, both sides of the body at the same time. Thanks to methotrexate, the RA is under control.

SanteMulberry

I have been hearing that from my doctors for years. Here is what helps. Staying active, drinking a lot of water, and losing weight. I did have to have my knee and my shoulder repaired surgically, but you need to keep moving doing whatever you can. I also took a lot of Motrin, but even that is occasional at this point.

I believe diet is important. IE: cut back the sugar, the salt/sodium and eat lots of fruit, veggies and lean protein as well as high quality fats.

I have found that mono-unsaturate fats (olive oil, nuts and avocados) are especially helpful for dampening inflammation. But the saturated fat from red meat (beef in particular) is more of a problem for me (I have a "gouty" element to my arthritis). So, I eat little in the way of red meat. Once in a while, I will have a steak or hamburger. I have found whey protein to be especially beneficial too. I have a shake for dinner almost every night. I put in avocado, yogurt, vanilla whey protein (sweetened with stevia), fresh or frozen fruit and a bit of Udo's oil. Very filling and delicious.

SanteMulberry

I am in my 70s...I swim or/ play in the water one or two times a week for 1 to 3 hrs at a time...just walking in the water and doing moement will help your bones...i have had back surgery and a total hip done and the water helps me alot. its easier than walking..ur local state park let seniors swim either in or out door for $ 4.00 a day .look into it..i can;t do much heavy exercise like dancing or using machines..but water works for me...hope this helps you...

I bought a year's membership to our local pool and for two sessions a week, it works out to $3 a week (only a $1.50 a session). It's cheaper than a gym membership.

Warchortle

Buy all the 1 3 dimethylamylamine before all the companies take it off the shelf and get jacked up on some pre-workouts and you won't even notice the arthritis.

On a real note, have you tried doing yoga in a warm environment? It can help get blood flow started without jumping/shock into strenuous activity all the sudden.