Bone-on-bone and bike

Nurina

Good morning,

I used to ride an indoor bike because I can't ride my own bike due to the pain climbing up to the saddle. Since I was diagnosed with OA in hips and they told me about the scary "bone-on-bone" thing, I haven't used it. I feel like my bones and tissues around them could get more damaged with the "rubbing" but on the other hand, doctors always recommend using a bicycle for OA. What is your experience? Thanks

Naomi33

Sorry to hear you are in pain with hips, my pains are all over and random (Palindromic Rheumatoid Arthritis) so I know very different but do sympathise.

I have joined the following courses which helped and advised me what was best for my condition the following links maybe of us to you.......

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2020/january/moving-more-with-the-escape-pain-programme/

https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/about-us/our-impact/healthy-life/joint-pain-programme

Everyone is so different and they tailor courses to your needs very pleased and hope they may help you too.

Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on and I am sure others will connect with you soon.

With best wishes

@Naomi33

jonr

Good morning @Nurina,

I've bone on bone OA in both knees and awaiting a double total knee replacement.

I took up cycling on the recommendation of my GP when looking at exercise and sport to replace the Running and Badminton I used to do as low-impact cardio.

I've been doing 4 Spin classes a week for the last 18 months at my local Sports Centre which I supplement with 3-4 stints on the exercise bike, usually 10-15k a time, varying speed and resistance. To make the revolutions comfortable I need the seat pretty high but that's my only concession and it's causing me no problems at all, in fact I'd say as the months progressed my condition improved. I think it's the regular exercise helping to keep things supple plus developing my quads, calves and glutes to cope with the slack they're coping with because of my weakened knees, so they're providing more stability.

If you were to have a go yourself I don't think you'd experience any friction between surfaces unless you really pound the pedals, I guess all you can do is suck it and see!

Happy pedaling!

Jon

Nurina

Thanks @Naomi33 I'll read the articles. X

Nurina

Great @jonr@jonr My indoor bike is a spinning one. I miss doing spinning. Even in my worse days, when I could barely walk, I could do a 45 minutes of spining with no problem. I can't tried it since my pain is unmanageable but you inspired me. Is it ok to use resistance or to pedal fast? I feel like I could catch fire with the rubbing 😂 I'm having a double replacement but in hips. I've been watching videos of the recovery and I'd definitely need more strenght to hold my legs and body.

Thanks

X

jonr

@Nurina,

I can only speak as I find but I vary resistance and speed to get a combination of cardio and muscle development around my knees. It's o.k for me but I've built upto it so perhaps little and often and see how you go? I use a gel called FlexiSeq which is expensive and a bit fiddly to apply but helps lubricate the joints its applied to and reduce crunching/grinding, etc.

Have you heard of the GP Exercise Referral Programme? I was told about it by my local Better Sports Centre where I go for my Spin Classes. It's government-funded and designed to encourage people to get people into exercise. In my case (and perhaps in yours), I enrolled to prepare myself ahead of surgery. After my GP put the application in, I got a call inviting me for a 1:1 with a specialist at my local Better Gym, the lady I saw asked me what I wanted to achieve and devised a series of exercises targeted at developing the tissues and tendons around my knees, mainly using various bits of kit on the weights room. To this was added the treadmill (set at a 15 degree gradient) and stairs machine (which is pretty hardcore!), plus the trusty exercise bike. I do various stints on all these to top up my physio,in fact it's been so successful I even cancelled my first op 3 weeks ago because I'm managing really well. When I eventually do go in, these exercises ought to stand me in good stead for a more rapid and comfortable receovery. I'm only 56 so thinking with the life-expectancy of implants to put it off as long as poss.

Hope these help,

jon

Nexus7

I also started spin classes this last week. I was a bit hesitant as I have also been diagnosed with 'bone-on-bone' or very little cartilage in my right hip. I've never really been a cyclist so I couldn't quite keep up with the intensity so I went at a slightly slower pace and resistance than the instructor was shouting out :-) ... a few days later and I have no negative side effects so I think I will keep it up with 2-3 sessions a week.

Cheers

R

Nurina

Thanks @jonr The exercise programme sounds fantastic. I'll ask my GP but maybe I'm probably getting it in 2050 so I'll start doing exercise without counting on it and see what happens.

@Nexus7 I see you are a Blade runner fan 😂 It's nice to see another fellow "bone-on-bone" riding a bike with no problems at all. You all are inspirung me, thanks.

Nexus7

@Nurina - ahh, nice you got the connection to Blade runner :-)

Yes, I would just go slow with the first spin class and see how you feel for the next 1-2 days... if all good you can slowly increase... As @jonr has pointed out above and I also concur from my own experiences the more I keep active and moving the less I notice my symptoms. Generally it's when I stop being active that the pain/stiffness starts to creep back in...

jonr

Good for you @Nexus7,that's really good news and I'm well pleased for you!

The spin classes I go to have a wide range of ages and abilities, people come and go so instructors have to get used to catering for beginners as well as the regulars so I think it's the norm. It's pretty hardcore for sure and what keeps me going is the prospect of a large cappuccino at my local Caffe Nero on the way home (pain aux raisin optional ;-). It's certainly helped me to maintain a healthy weight, keep fit and boost me mentally without seemingly hurting my knees. What's not to like?

Nurina

@Nexus7 I've only watched Blade Runner around five hundred times 😜 Thanks for your help. I'll take it slowly. My new life is going to be strange, slowing down everything. I think I've never done anything slowly in my life 😂

Aww those little things that make us happy @jonr I can imagine you so happy with your little bread aux raisins and your coffee after the big effort. Well done!

Thanks both for being an inspiration

Nexus7

That's cool. Blade Runner is my all time favourite movie :-)

Yes, life does change when you get the diagnosis. But I think you just need to adapt to different activities. You can still keep fit, active and healthy. In fact that is exactly what you should be doing... I used to run a lot and loved trailrunning. I've had to accept the fact that I may not be able to do that any more... at least for now.... so I have to learn to enjoy new activities which are not going to worsen my symptoms...

Nurina

@Nexus7 that's the spirit. You can do a million of things and it's very enjoyable to discover these new things.