confused newbie

moonseed
moonseed Member Posts: 289
edited 5. Jan 2010, 10:34 in Living with Arthritis archive
Evening all. May I wish everyone a happy New Year.
So glad to have found a group of people I can relate to. This is the first time I have posted - hope I'm doing it right?
Trouble is I'm confused over the matter of exercise?
I understand that if I keep moving, the pain will get better. It doesn't!
It gets ten times worse and I have to spend the next day flat on my back.
I don't overdo it. I just take a gentle walk to the shop and back.
What am I doing wrong? Does anyone else have this problem?
I would love to hear.

Steph

Comments

  • oneday
    oneday Member Posts: 1,434
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Steph
    I saw the name moonseed for people on site and thought oh thats a newbie, hi there.welcome.
    Exercise, well when you are like you sound i think a walk is a bit optimistic!...rest but dont stay still completely or its worst, just move around the house. then when the pain is bearable try moving a bit more. it takes a while to sort out the right balance.
    So rest when really bad, move a little.
    Rest of time keep moving!
    Pop over to chit chat for bit of banter too!
  • moonseed
    moonseed Member Posts: 289
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    oneday wrote:
    Hi Steph
    I saw the name moonseed for people on site and thought oh thats a newbie, hi there.welcome.
    Exercise, well when you are like you sound i think a walk is a bit optimistic!...rest but dont stay still completely or its worst, just move around the house. then when the pain is bearable try moving a bit more. it takes a while to sort out the right balance.
    So rest when really bad, move a little.
    Rest of time keep moving!
    Pop over to chit chat for bit of banter too!

    Thank you for your reply oneday. What you say makes a lot of sense and its about all I can do. I spend most of the day sitting in between trying to do a bit of housework or cooking. Going out is a no no and you sound like you are in the same position too. Thanks again for your understanding. God bless Steph
  • trisher
    trisher Member Posts: 9,263
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Steph

    A big welcome from me,

    Just for an instance if you have arthritis in your fingers, you must try and move them, as they will become even stiffer.

    I hope to see you posting soon

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

    Welcome to the forum. I see that you were diagnosed 2 years ago. What is your diagnosis? Have you got worse lately with your mobility? Are you on any meds and are they working for you at all?
    Sorry for all the questions but if we know a little more, it may be easier for us to help you.

    I do hope to see you posting more,

    Look after yourself,

    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.
  • annie_mial
    annie_mial Member Posts: 5,614
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, Steph and welcome.

    Can't really add to any of the above, it's often a question of trial and error!

    Annie
  • colinone
    colinone Member Posts: 1,039
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Steph and welcome to the site
    Well it really depends on what type of arthritis you have and how good or bad it is. I know it wont seem like your doing to much but believe me your body will tell you. You need to rest more some times it only takes a short walk or somthing minor to kick it off. Have a talk to your GP or Rheumy when you can.
    Take care hope your feeling better soon
    Colin
  • moonseed
    moonseed Member Posts: 289
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    pixyandfaries wrote:
    hi steph, welcome home 8)

    it can all depend on what sort of arther you have ,what meds ect ect, have you seen a doctor, tell us a bit more :wink:

    Thankyou for your interest in my problem. I have been at my wits end over this and your answers are much appreciated.
    Well, I think I've had this "lurgy" for a long time although only diagnosed 2 years ago.
    I have it in both hips, knees, ankles, soles and toes. I think it's in the spine too but it could be the hips just joining together and having a party!!!
    To be honest I don't like doctors very much.
    I do take pain killers which don't do much at all. I was supposed to have pain killing injections in my spine but didn't fancy it. I have done a little bit of research on this and apparently they are not that good and you can only have maximum of 2 anyway.
    I was told it was osteo but beginning to wonder if it's actually Ankolysing Spondylitis.
    Anyway, you have helped me a lot by just allowing me to share the problem.
    It's so nice to have some one to talk too.
    I'm not too sure how to do this posting properly yet.
    Thanks again and hope to speak soon.
  • moonseed
    moonseed Member Posts: 289
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    pixyandfaries wrote:
    see! there ya go , a few words mean so much :wink: i have spon in lower spine had it for nearly 10 years but only this past year has it realy messed me about :x doc calls it deferd pain , i feel it in myhips and that gos down to my knees , can make me feel ill its so painfull , wot meds you taking, normal over the counter ones will not help much,, you need anti imflamatories and stronger pain killers to kick it into touch, one good way to know if it is spon is ,,,,,,it gets worse with rest, over night and first thing are awfull thats when we take the meds most, jan x

    If it gets worse with rest, then it's not "spon", Thanks for explaining about that. This is what I couldn't understand!! The reason I thought it was "spon" is my ankles, soles and toes, they drive me CRAZY with burning and tingling like having pins and needles all the time.
    The meds I take are from the Doc - Co-dydramol. Can't take anti inflamatories as have a stomach problem. So altogether a bit of a mess but only to be expected at my age I suppose.
    Thanks again for all your help and meet you all again soon
    Steph
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,880
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Moonseed from me!
    Welcome welcome to this lovely site :)
    Excercise is such a difficult one isn't it? Do none and you seize up - too much and you suufer for it!
    Have you seen the exercises recommended on the site?? The range of movement ones are usually ok and then when you feel ok your short walk should be ok. Someone said if it still hurts two hours later you did too much! :wink:
    Anyway good to meet you
    Love
    Toni xx
  • lizzie7ne
    lizzie7ne Member Posts: 154
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Steph, I am sorry to hear of the difficult time you are having and the exercise thing is sometimes hard to work out how much to do etc.

    I have Rheumatoid Arthritis but also OA in my lower spine. I think the exercise bit may be different for RA and OA but I think that for both, pacing the exercise is probably a good thing. When I first got RA my physiotherapist went through different exercises, excercises for when joints are flaring, exercises for when you are recovering from a flare and exercise for when I wasnt in a flare, she also taught me how to build up exercise, and pacing it, before I saw her I would be doing a lot on a good day, then the next day could hardly move so wasnt pacing myself, I found the pacing myself bit the hardest bit to learn. I was also taught specific exercises to build up the leg muscles to take the strain of my knee joints. I also saw an Occupational Therapist who taught me about joint protection, how to move etc to protect joints. Your GP should be able to refer you to a physiotherapist and OT, (sometimes Physios can refer you to an OT. It would be worth asking your GP to do this. In the meantime, I got a good booklet from Arthritis Care called Exercise and Arthritis and its really good.

    Hope you are feeling better soon.


    lizzie

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