arthritis education program @ hospital

flossy47

Hi everyone.
I have recently attended a 4 week education program at my local hospital. It was all about joint protection and pain management. This helped me a great deal as it concentrated on hands and arms. Now I have started the second set of 4 sessions which is all about exercise. Compared to the rest of the people there today I feel like a fraud as my range of mobility is so much better. I know gentle exercise is good for me but I'm not comfortable doing things in front of the rest of the group when I appear to be able to do more than they can. Not sure whether to continue going or just drop out and get on with things on my own.
I don't mean to sound selfish but I'm not sure that doing things a such a slow pace will do me any good.

frogmorton

Flossy keep going :shock:

It is for you even if you are doing well...after all you want to keep doing well don't you??

I bet the others love having you there as part of teh group even if you do feel a bit selfconscious.

Love

Toni xxx

tillytop

Hello Flossy - I'm with Toni here - please think very carefully before dropping out because it sounds as if it really is helpful for you. I recently had 2 weeks of physio/hydro at the hospital and, almost every day, I felt I couldn't go back - and as if I shouldn't be there because everyone around me appeared to be much worse off than me. But, as my lovely husband, and others told me - the hospital wouldn't have given me a place unless they believed it was appropriate - and I am sure the same applies to you. As for the slow pace - the physio told me that slower is good for range of movement type exercises - I guess because not only do you avoid overdoing it, but you can actually gain more benefit because you are having to work to control your muscles more if you are moving more slowly.

I really do hope you can keep going Flossy and I bet you that there are others there who are finding it difficult too.

Thinking of you.

Love Tillyxxx

flossy47

Thanks Toni & Tilly.

I've got to go next week as they have lent everyone pedometers so we can see how far we walk in a week. So far I have done 6000 steps today. Supposed to wear it all the time. I know the exercises are good for me but I'm so self conscious about doing them in front of the others. I did struggle with one set though as I have trouble lying on my back. Maybe if I keep going this will improve. Fingers crossed(as long as they're not swollen of course).

valval

you must keep going or you will be as bad as them and the whole idea of the course is to give you help for the future so you can stay as healthy as possible for as long as it can be possible val

flossy47

I know val. My pains are in my hands and the first course helped with that. This one is aimed more at people with back, hip, knee and feet problems. Don't feel like that really applies to me. My back problem isn't related to arther it's a weakness in the muscles. The stretching exercises may help though. I'll see how painful I am when I get up in the morning before I make a decision. As I said in my last post I have to take the pedometers back next week anyway.

valval

you will learn a lot that you might find usefull in the future you never know what around the corner do you good luck val

flossy47

Quick update. I'm in agony this morning. My back has completely seized up and I can hardly move. I will be going back next week but I will be more careful about the exercises down on the floor. If there was a way to avoid doing them I would but I don't think that is an option if I want to strengthen those muscles. Will have a word with the physio before we start to see if she has any suggestions.
I do enjoy going as the others in the group have a much better attitude towards arther than I have. 3 of the group have been diagnosed for quite a few years and I was only diagnosed last March. I still feel that I am a fraud as my arther is reasonably mild. I have other painful joints but they have not been confirmed as arther yet. Most of them were painful last time I saw the rheummy and as usual the last lot of blood tests showed nothing.

flossy47

Next session of the course tomorrow. They are going to look at our feet this week. As long as they don't touch mine I should be ok. They are a bit painful at the moment and always ticklish.
I didn't realise how much walking I actually do until I added up my pedometer readings earlier. Not as much as I should (10,000 steps per day) but not too bad.

flossy47

Well the end of week 2 and I still don't know if this course is really for me. Only 3 of us turned up last week. I even lied when the OT asked how we had got on with the walking. I walk everywhere and so my pedometers readings were really high. I told them that mine were roughly the same as everyone else's. Won't able to do that this week as they know that I actually walked to the hospital and back last week. This weeks meeting is all about pain and mood. Not sure what that's supposed to mean but I'll find out tomorrow. Hopefully everyone will turn up this time.

suzygirl

Flossy, that sounds like a really good course. Is it run just at your hospital, or nationwide. I am wondering if I could get on a course like that locally?

flossy47

I think it is only at my local hospital. It is run by the OT team. We were discussing whether it should be nationwide and we all agreed that something like it should be available to all arthritis sufferers. Don't know how we can spread the word about it though.

frogmorton

Hi Flossy

only 3 turned up??!!

Ah well hopefully more will return next session. Might be illness with the time of year??? :?

I did the arthritiscare's manage your longterm condition course before Christmas and it was very good. Think we could all do with something like this whatever stage our arthritis is at.

Love

Toni xxx

flossy47

Everyone turned up this week. Relaxation cds given out to try to get us all to chill out at night. More exercises to do with weights if we feel up to it. Not sure about that yet as I'm having a bad flare up in my hands and wrists at the moment. Walking has been increased again. Got to do 5x25 minute brisk walks this week. Their idea of a brisk walk is 2.5 miles per hour but that is my normal walking pace so I'm going to try to get it up to 3 miles per hour. My steps per day target this week is 9500 which I should manage.
Glad I continued to go as it has helped me realise how well I actually am in comparison to the others. Hope that didn't sound too selfish.

frogmorton

Doesn't sound selfish at all Flossy in fact very sensible.

I think you have gained a lot from your course.

In fact l bet yo miss it when it's all done

Love

Toni xxx

flossy47

Next week is the last meeting and we have to give the pedometers back. I'm going to have to buy myself one so I can keep track on my steps per day. The OT who runs the group is going to refer me to a Tai chi course at the other local hospital in derby. Not sure that the Tai chi is doing me any good yet but I will persevere with it.
I will definitely miss the sessions when it ends next week.

flossy47

Well just got home after the last session. I still think I was there under false pretences as I can do so much more than the rest of the others. My step count has gone up from an average of 6500 to over 10,000 per day. OT has referred me to a tai chi class that the other hospital in derby runs. I will give it a go and see how I feel after the 6 weeks.
I will miss the others in the group as they have helped me to realise that when my IA does get worse which I know it eventually will, I know I will have strategies to help me cope.