Swimming

cazaline

Hey everyone, how are you all doing today?

I was just wondering how many of you out there go swimming to help ease the pain of Arthritis? My physio recommended it to me and I have recently joined a gym that has a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. Today I did 12 lengths on my back and now I am in absolute agony! My joints are crunching and can barely bring myself to move .

How is it that you can feel great when you do something and then a couple hours later feel horrible? Oh the joys of Arthur! I've been swimming for about 3 weeks now but haven't been for the past 4 days. Do you think it is a case of too much too soon?

How does everyone feel after a swim?

Take care,

Caroline.

lindalegs

Hi Caroline,

I think you probably overdid it and expected too much of your bod.

I don't swim I do a series of exercises, although Skylarks hydro pool which I used to use has closed down so I can't go 'swimming' anymore

Luv Legs

speedalong

Hi Caroline, definitely a case of too much, too soon.

It is SO easy to over do it in the water - that lovely weightless feeling, effortless movement etc.

You need to stay away from the pool until you are no longer sore and then start again - swimming maybe just a few lengths ... do some walking/stretches/strengthening exercises, float around a bit and then get out and increase gradually. Maybe go less often as well to start with - so your muscles get a chance to recover.

I overdid it with my amrs once - I didn't have arther then and hadn't been swimming for a couple of years ... had a fab time, swam loads - by the next day couldn't even write the date at the top of the board at school!! And that was without arther!!

Speedy

frogmorton

Caz!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too many loengths girl!!

I go regularly, but vary the amount according to the pain I am in at the time. Back stroke is a good one as you dont arch your back....

I only did 4 the other day, but better than nothing

You keep it up

Love

Toni xx

barbara12

Hi Caroline
Like Toni says just pace yourself, depending on how you feel, and make good use of the sauna, that will relax your muscles when you have done swimming.
But most of all enjoy it
Love
Barbara x

cazaline

Thanks for the input everyone!

Yeah I should have known better really than to do that many lengths! You're so right Speedy, when you're doing it at the time it feels great and you don't want to stop because the water feels so soothing…think I'm going to have to start thinking of the consequences from now on!

That is a shame you can't go swimming anymore Legs are there other pools nearby you could consider?

I did originally start doing breast stroke but I can't bring myself to put my face in the water so taught myself to swim on my back, I agree Toni, keeps your back and neck straight and is so much better. 4 lengths is really good and I think I ought to start following in your footsteps!

Thanks for the advice about the Sauna Barbara, I did use it a little bit today and the Jacuzzi but not long enough, I imagine the heat will do the joints some good .

Take care all

Caz

lindalegs

cazaline wrote:

Thanks for the input everyone!

That is a shame you can't go swimming anymore Legs are there other pools nearby you could consider?

Take care all

Caz

Unfortunately no. Normal leisure pools do have disabled facilities but the water just isn't warm enough for me. I find that if I'm in cool water the shivering tenses my muscles and makes my joints ache too much. Hence I get no benefit from going.

Skylarks kept their water above 32 deg which was perfect.

Not to worry though I still have my exercise bike instead.

Enjoy your mini swim next time Caroline.

Luv Legs

lupin15

Hi
Hope you don't mind me joining in this thread. I have noticed that you are talking about your muscles aching. Does this just happen because your body is not use to exercise or is it part of arthur . The reason i ask is i have had aches and pains in my muscles but cannot work out why. I have had increased pain in my hip and back so wonder if it is connected ?

lindalegs

lupin15 wrote:

Hi
Hope you don't mind me joining in this thread. I have noticed that you are talking about your muscles aching. Does this just happen because your body is not use to exercise or is it part of arthur . The reason i ask is i have had aches and pains in my muscles but cannot work out why. I have had increased pain in my hip and back so wonder if it is connected ?

Hi Lupin,

When I'm really cold my muscles tense up and I get pain in my joints - I don't remember getting muscle pain although I must confess when I'm in pain from more than one joint it's sometimes hard to know what's not hurting :roll:

I don't think mine's through lack of exercise because I have a regime of them I do which the physios taught me, I also walk about and use my exercise bike.

If your muscles ache there might be some other cause why don't you mention it to your Rheumy or GP to see what they think?

Luv Legs

ninakang

I go swimming twice a week (3 times, if I can squeeze it in) and have done for over a year. I also get tense muscles if I've overdone it, you should be careful.

Has anyone tried pilates? On a Wednesday, I go to a pilates class, then go for a swim afterwards. It's very good for arthritis.

Nx

tonesp

We have our own pool here in Spain and we use it often After a short session just fooling about I feel great for about an hour then agony.The specialist at the hospital says exercise after the op before...REST :roll:

cazaline

Hi Lupin!

I have the same issue as Legs, when it's cold it really makes me tense up, I think it is mostly the joints that ache as they are pretty stiff anyway but then the muscles ache also. I reckon it is due to lack of exercise as well as Arthur because I haven't been exercising as much as I normally would and then all of a sudden I over do it in the pool and my body is angry with me. Also, I know sometimes even when I haven't been exercises my muscles will suddenly ache, maybe because I haven't been using them?

Yes you should mention it to your Rheumy as they could give you an idea as to why you're getting muscle pain and perhaps give you tips on how to relieve the back and hip pain.

I think I need to start using the exercise bike again. I've had hip replacements and I can really feel the muscles working around my thighs and hips when I do, so must be a good sign.

What is involved with Pilates? Do you need to be super flexible to do it?

Take care

Caz.

frogmorton

lindalegs wrote:

Hi Caroline,

I think you probably overdid it and expected too much of your bod.

I don't swim I do a series of exercises, although Skylarks hydro pool which I used to use has closed down so I can't go 'swimming' anymore

Luv Legs

Is it due to open again soon Linda? :shock:

dreamdaisy

Hi lupin15. If you have extra pain in your hips and back that could affect the way you walk, which in turn will place extra strain on your muscles, hence they hurt. It's a grand life. DD

frogmorton

Caz

been agin this morning and guess what? Risked 6!!!

Hopefully be ok though lots on my back - you dont even need to raies your arms if neck shoulderor back arent ok

Makes me feel virtuous too Have drank WATER today :shock:

Better go an have a lie down :oops:

lindalegs

frogmorton wrote:

Is it due to open again soon Linda? :shock:

Nope, it had to close last Christmas because they found Legionellas, re-roofed the pool but stayed closed to residents for six months so they lost so much money that the Trustees said it was no longer viable.

We did try and fight the closure I was quoted in the Nottm Evening Post twice (fame ) but their minds were made up.

What saddens me is that the people who live their lives in wheelchairs are now denied a chance to be enabled for a week of their lives. Skylarks took them fishing, shopping, site seeing and treated them as they should be treated like human beings and not an extension to their chairs

Sorry for the rant, I could go on but it's getting draughty on my soap box so I'll shut up

Luv Legs who's still angry about it Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

frogmorton

Linda

I am so sad about this

As you know I spent a much debauched part of my youth voluntering there

Those weeks were some of the best times of my life too

This is dreadful news

Toni sad ex-volunteer (aka happy helper)

cazaline

That is annoying the other pools aren't warm enough Legs, and I don't blame you for not wanting to use them. Cold is not good for the joints. Such a shame it closed and now lots of people are denied the chance of a life!

Well done Toni! I do agree swimming on the back helps when you have a bad neck shoulders etc. I'll just paddle my feet up and down and move my arms out to the side and back in like a star fish (but not with my legs) and that works fine for me, I haven't dared attempt proper backstroke, not sure i could do it! Hope you had a good lie down today!

Lupin, Dreamdaisy raises a good point about the hips affecting the way you walk and in turn causing extra pain in other places. I underwent two hip replacements recently, but before the first one was done, I was unable to straighten my left leg properly because the hip was locked in place so when I walked I sort of arched my back and stuck my bum out (I didn't even know I did this until ortho surgeon pointed it out!), so that used to give me back ache a lot. The back has straightened itself out now which is good (btw I'm not suggesting you need hip replacements!). Definitely mention it to your rheumy and hopefully he/she can help you find a solution.

Take care,

Caroline.

frogmorton

cazaline wrote:

That is Well done Toni! I do agree swimming on the back helps when you have a bad neck shoulders etc. I'll just paddle my feet up and down and move my arms out to the side and back in like a star fish (but not with my legs) and that works fine for me, I haven't dared attempt proper backstroke, not sure i could do it! Hope you had a good lie down today!


Take care,

Caroline.

That's what I do too Caz :oops:

Now my friend who has spond suggested getting a float shaped like a susage to put under your neck so you dont have to take the wieght of it at all!!

She said this only lunchtime today

Gonna see if the pool has one i can try.

Love

Toni xx

cazaline

Ah yes Toni that is a really good idea your friend has! I know the the pool I go to has some of those floats, maybe I should start using them!

If yours doesn't have them, I'm sure you could get them cheap somewhere. I do find myself really having to hold my neck up sometimes, not as much as doing breast stroke though, but still, it would def take the pressure off it.

I feel really guilty, I have only been swimming once this week .

Take care,

Caroline.

frogmorton

Hi Caz

only been twice myself - not up to it today :oops:

Maybe we can sneak a swim in over the weekend?

Love

Toni xx

tonesp

frogmorton wrote:

Caz

been agin this morning and guess what? Risked 6!!!

Hopefully be ok though lots on my back - you dont even need to raies your arms if neck shoulderor back arent ok

Makes me feel virtuous too Have drank WATER today :shock:

Better go an have a lie down :oops:

As someone said to us a few years ago in South Africa "Don't drink water Man Fish p**s in it

cazaline

tonesp wrote:

As someone said to us a few years ago in South Africa "Don't drink water Man Fish p**s in it

Haha, love it .

Well I haven't been swimming in over 2 weeks now , but it's mostly because I have been bogged down with last minute uni work as deadline this Friday, argh.

Think I may move into the pool this weekend to make up for it

Caz xxx

maggiemay

Hi Caz

I go swimming if you would call it that, I go first thing in the morning or last thing at night, and just relax on my back and think of nothing.
It is mostly my arms that does the work, and touch wood had a bit of relief from the aches and pains.

What I can say is build it up slowly and soon your body will be able to cope with it use of the muscles used.
I really enjoy it but sadly not been for the last week owing to other things. Thats all I can say really, you may have went in full blast thinking you were doing good but turned out to be the opposite

Regards
Mags