physical work

holmesi
holmesi Member Posts: 96
edited 25. Sep 2009, 15:41 in Living with Arthritis archive
hi peeps,does anyone do any really heavy physical work with oa and what have they found that really helps with the pain or is this a no no with arthur,starting to get worried and down hearted ,holmesi

Comments

  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Holmesi

    So sorry to hear you are feeling downhearted. Do you mean like carrying heavy sacks of mail? Why can't you have one of these push along thingies all the posties have around here? They have not been allowed to use bikes for a long time now, so I hear. :roll: I was chatting to a postie and he mentioned that.

    Hope you feel more upbeat soon,

    luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • holmesi
    holmesi Member Posts: 96
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    elnafinn wrote:
    Hi Holmesi

    So sorry to hear you are feeling downhearted. Do you mean like carrying heavy sacks of mail? Why can't you have one of these push along thingies all the posties have around here? They have not been allowed to use bikes for a long time now, so I hear. :roll: I was chatting to a postie and he mentioned that.

    Hope you feel more upbeat soon,

    luv
    Elna x
    hi elna ,do you mean those high capacity trolleys or the little golf type trolleys ,my boss seems to think i cant use either,luv holmesi
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Holmesi,

    I do a bit of physical work but not half as much as I used to now a days. It doesn't help though in my case its just I have a way of life I am not willing to give up yet and I have to do a load of lifting and carrying though sometimes its dropping and dragging.

    For me its been a case of what price I am going to pay v/s how much do I wish to continue my way of life. Knowing how high that price can be does make you wonder shall I do that or find a way round it.......

    Muscles are the thing I have found are my greatest ally and well its the amount of muscle I had that has helped but Holmesi how much damage I have done to my self is open to dispute. I think for me its a case of payback and understanding that it will come v/s my whole way of life and in my case it is very complicated and though the core of my way of life still holds I have had to make compromises. I don't know as this will help? Take care Cris
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    [/quote]hi elna ,do you mean those high capacity trolleys or the little golf type trolleys ,my boss seems to think i cant use either,luv holmesi[/quote]

    I suppose I mean the high capacity trolley, Holmesi. I joke with one postie that it is like pushing a pram. Probably isn't but that is what it sort of looks like, if you know what I mean. It surely offers support when pushing along the pavements, I would have thought. I think they can lock them if leaving the trolley ie to deliver in blocks of flats.
    Do you think you could cope better with one of these if offered to you?

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I did work as a care assistant, but the council retired me as I could be dangerous to myself and the people I am looking after! But I did work for a long time with pain and the treatment that allowed me to keep going was exercises to strengthen my core stability, which are the deep muscles around the tummy which act as a support for the back. Also I did a lot of work in the gym with a medically trained trainer. :shock: He helped me build up my leg strength and arm strength. I think its the people handling bit that really made it impossible to carry on. I had one incident when someone unexpectedly grabbed me round the neck to pull himself up and that was when I hurt my neck again and the pain re-strarted. Most of my patients had dementia, and so that ment unexpected physical situations that health and safety have'nt got round to giving manual handling instructions for! :) I miss it like mad, sometimes. Love Sue xxx
  • holmesi
    holmesi Member Posts: 96
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi peeps ,thanks for all the feedback,yep elna i used to use one of the" ice cream trolleys" don't quite remember them,had no problem before this thing flared up pushing them ,might be a problem getting a full pouch out of it,luv holmesi
  • salsal
    salsal Member Posts: 49
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    i have 13 dogs, 2 horses, chickens, holiday dogs and am a dog walker for 12 dogs a day. hubby is a big help but i still need to lug hay and food sacks around. i pace myself lots of tea breaks and take my meds i have to say b4 humira i would spend any free time asleep or in a hot bath
  • chris7
    chris7 Bots Posts: 2,696
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Holmesi

    I can really identify with your message and am struggling with the same dilemma.

    I used to work full time in a factory with quite alot of lifting involved, on my feet for 8 hours a day walking about on a concrete floor: as well as one day at the weekend in retail. I agree with Skezier, I have learned it depends on the price you are willing to pay.
    I was, and still am reluctant to give up either for social and financial reasons. I was forced to compromise about 3 years ago and was fortunate the factory now let me do 3 days a week Mon to Wed. I now get Working Tax Credit which helps. Painkillers and anti-inflamatory prescriptions help with the pain, but now I find by Wednesday I can barely walk. I am coming to struggling to come to terms with this, my days off with gentle exercise and rest can be relatively pain free! That is the lesson and the dilemma I think many us have to consider.
    Sorry I can't offer any practical support or advise but I love my jobs and am currently fighting this damn arthur all the way!
    Good luck

    Chris
  • nick55
    nick55 Member Posts: 119
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    when the joints are feeling good,
    the house is mainly painted now, the greenhouse built, the garden a bit tidier. fortunately, my osteo has only just gone very bad, really bad these last few days just when these jobs were finished. strike while the iron is hot I suppose.
    best thing is make life as easy as possible less labour intensive and when we have good days, get the heavy work done then. plan your activity if you can
    also, regular rests, and if the joints are bad as mine were today, and I had to go to Bangor, take some painkillers. I swear by tramadol now I am used to taking them
    the problem is when things are bad it s anyones guess when it will get right again. now winter is upon us, and all the damp and cold it could be next April before the joints stop aching. i hope not!!!

    Nick