Exercising

ang12
ang12 Member Posts: 30
edited 5. Oct 2012, 13:41 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi my name is Angela and I found out last week I have arthritis in my hips and pelvis.I love keeping fit and love to go for an early morning run before work it sets me up for the day.But now it seems things have to change when I asked my doctor about running he said it would inflame my joints.I've tried power walking this week but it doesn't make me feel like I've worked out.What I would like to know if anyone in a similar situation treated themselves to a say 2mile run once a week would that be OK.I also tried my crosstrainer but that's not s good either.Also I like to go on my wii fit and zumba can I keep doing these activities.Any advice would be gratefully received.
Thank you and take care.
Angela :-) x

Comments

  • marrianne
    marrianne Member Posts: 1,161
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Welc ome Angela, I think little and often might be the best thing and certain exercises are good as they are more cardiac fitness and spare the joints ,Hope others can help I only walk a little and shall be swimmimg soon ,Marrianne :)
  • ang12
    ang12 Member Posts: 30
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks for that Marianne.I hope to go swimming at least once a week if I can.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, welcome to the forum and I hope we can help with information. Running is a very high-impact sport and to do so on arthritis-affected hips and pelvis is not a good idea for your long-term joint health. I presume you have been diagnosed with OA, that has been described as the 'wear and tear' arthritis as a way to explain its occurrence and your experience is bearing that out.

    There are other forms of exercise which should still help you to keep fit and not cause too much distress to your joints. Two that spring to mind are cycling and swimming. They have a much lower impact on the joints and can be just as beneficial to the whole of you as the running. There are some on here who are able to cycle (after knee joint replacements) and some swim too. I am not sure whether swimming is recommended after hip replacements (there are rules and regs about what you can and cannot do after those). You still possess your original joints and they need to be preserved for as long as possible. OA is like any other form of arthritis, it's progressive and degenerative and you need to be thinking about taking the best care of what you have. I am sixteen years in with my arthritises (I began with an auto-immune sort and the joint damage from that has led to OA in my knees and ankles) and I am unable to either cycle or swim, so I urge you to preserve what you have, coddle those joints because once they are gone, they're gone. New ones are not handed out like sweeties and, although good, they are not the same as the originals. :wink: Take care and dig out your cozzie! I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • ang12
    ang12 Member Posts: 30
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you for that dream daisy.I think that's the wake up call I need.I thought I was coming to terms with things but obviously I'm not.What you wrote there is making me relise how stupid I'm been and that I really need to look after my joint the doctor I will need a hip replacement in the future I just need to make sure its alot later than sooner.
    Thank you once again and take care :-) x.
    Angela
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,760
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You've got some good advice there from DD, ang12 so I won't bother repeating it. All I can add is that AC produce a booklet on exercise which you might find useful. http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Selfmanagement/Healthylifestyle
    Good luck!
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You are NOT being stupid, you are dealing with a huge culture shift in your life. I was sitting here wondering if I'd been a little too harsh and negative so to see your kind response was very reassuring. (I've had a tough week, my ma-in-law died yesterday.) I was never a great one for exercise but I loved cycling and playing tennis, both are now long gone (I can't even manage tennis on a Wii as I can't stand up for long enough) and it is difficult to accept that what one has been doing is no longer a viable option. Luckily I can still get to the pub. :wink: DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • ang12
    ang12 Member Posts: 30
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you for that sticky wicket I'm going to have a look at that website and dream daisy you certainly wernt harsh you were truth full and its whatbi needed.I'm so sorry to hear about your mother n law.And that you are so restricted these days.Its when I read things like that that I relise how lucky I am at the moment to still be able to walk unaided and exercise. But I'm pleased that you can still make it to the pub :-)
    Take care
    Angela x
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