Running

Joe123

Hi I have recently been diagnosed with arthritis on my hips, lower back and big toe. I have bulging disc on my lower back also. I have been a keen runner, I served in the Army. I am now struggling to walk and feeling horrible. We recently bought a dog, she has helped me greatly. I would love to go back running again. I go the doctor and all he wants to do is dope me up, this is something that I refuse to do. I have started palaties this didn't really help. Anyone else feel like this and how did you get your Mojo back

MaryL44

Hi @Joe123 Welcome to our group. We're a friendly and very knowledgeable bunch and I'm sure you will get some useful response from our members.

In the meantime have a look at:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/lets-move-with-leon/

Leon's exercise routines are specifically aimed at people like yourself and you are bound to find some exercises that will help you to keep moving.

Do keep posting now you are here and let us know how you are getting on.

frogmorton

Well a lot of us try to find an alternative some start cycling @Joe123 looks like your dog walking has helped you already quite a bit. It's got to be extra tough for someone like you - a huge part of your identity has been physical fitness.

I had back surgery many many many years ago when my kids were wee as did another parent. He did get back to running I never did. So it is possible for some. For me I went on to develop another form of arthritis and walking has been enough for me.

Have you had physio at all to get your back put right? Or as right as possible should I say.

there are some truly amazing people on this site for inspiration.

Toni x

Lilymary

Hi @Joe123, I'm sorry to hear your body hasn't met up with your amibitions. It can be a lot to get your head around. I suddenly (it can happen) had Osteoarthritis diagnosed in my hip followed by hip replacement at age 61, and post op complications which severely impacted my previous mobility (very active hill walker) for the last few years, but now starting to improve. It's been a long road.

I thnk the general advice is to limit high impact exercise like running, although walking, swimming and weight bearing exercise are fine in principle, depending on your pain levels and joint mobility. My physio said if it hurts for more than a few hours after exercise, you're doing too much and scale it back.

I had a very physical job and was self employed while all this was happening pre-op (14 month wait, during which time I was in dreadful pain, even with handfuls of drugs) so I had to tough it out and keep going. But if I'd overdone it, the pain was much worse and it would take me several days of rest to recover. No one tells you how debilitating arthritis can be on your energy levels and mental wellbeing.

Slow and steady away is the best approach, learn what your body can now do comfortably but don't push it too much. Certainly staying active helps, and I would also suggest you persevere with the Pilates. It's a bit like physio, it doesn't feel like it's making much difference in the short term, but keeping your core muscles toned, maintaining a good posture and good muscle tone genererally will really support your affected joints. My diagnosis coincided with the start of the pandemic so the classes stopped anyway, then post surgery complications also kept me away from class, and I really noticed the difference in loss of muscle tone and balance. Others in these clases with varying degrees of arthritis have also seen the benefit in improving joint mobility, so do keep it up if you can.

Meanwhile, a valuable lesson I learnt from people on this forum is that for every activity you have to give up, replace it with something else you enjoy. Eg, replace running with swimming, walking football, etc.

"Doping up" is not necessarily a bad thing. Managing pain also helps you manage energy levels, and will enable you to stay more active, so that you don't lose tone in the muscles that support your affected joints. I stayed pretty active on cocodamol and naproxen (antiinflammatory) and I adjusted the dosage (within maximum limits) on a day to day basis depending on pain levels. The constipation wasn't fun, but it did at least keep me working and didn't knock me out too badly, although I know everyone is different. Just don't rule it out if it improves your quality of life. There's no shame in it.

I hope this helps. Keep coming on here, we all know how rubbish this can get, and I learnt loads of helpful tips and mindsets that got me through it.

jonr

Hi @Joe123, I too am a Runner and kept at it for about 18 months after my diagnosis until it got too painful.

I think with some adapting you could continue at least in the short term, certainly there is no scientific or medical ink between Running and Arthritis, unlike Football, in fact it can help manage your condition by strengthening the tissues and tendons surrounding your weakened joints to help them cope with the extra workload and provide stability.

What I did was to stop road running altogether and keep it to cross-country (such as Park Runs) and the treadmill at my local gym. Warming up and warming down for longer also seemed to help. As others have already commented, you could turn to other sports for your cardio kick such as cycling and swimming.

To help strengthen the muscles around your weakened joints further, you could ask about the GP Exercise Referral Programme at your local health centre or surgery:

https://www.thefitnessgrp.co.uk/nhs-gp-exercise-referral-scheme/

I got a 1:1 with a specialist at my local Better Sports Centre who devised a programme to strengthen my calves, quads and glutes using a combination of weight training, an exercise bike, stairs machine and treadmill. I've found it immensely helpful. Of course, it needs effective pain management and it takes a lot of work but after starting in August last year it's made a huge difference to managing my condition to the point I felt confidence enough to cancel both the double total knee replacements I was due to have last February.

Brilliant you've got a dog - it will force you out into the open which is not only healthy but the more you move, the less stiff you'll get.

Hope this helps!

Jon

PaulS

Hi @Joe123 I was also an active runner, regularly running distances up to half marathons before I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the knees and hips in my mid forties. I think not being able to run again was the biggest struggle for me mentally and I adapted by taking up walking at a decent pace. If you can walk at a pace of 4 mph or build upto it and include some hills, the benefits will be similar to the running albeit you have to walk for a longer duration. As an example I walked 13 miles at that pace this week and the bonus was I had burnt over 1500 calories and walked over 20000 steps in just over 3 hours of walking. I still get the same endorphin rush after completing it because the pace and duration makes your body work hard and it's surprising how similar the HR results are to running, just remember to keep taking on water whilst walking, you will need it.

Regards Paul.

Cara123

Hi Joe,

what type of arthritis do you have? I am also a keen long distance runner and have inflammatory arthritis. My advice would be to work with a physiotherapist. I see a sports physiotherapist who also has experience of inflammatory conditions and it is really helpful.

FerGal

Hi, I'm new to the group. Used to have mild knee pain in my late 30s and early 40s when I was very sedentary and worked 12 hour days on a desk. Started regular running and pain went away. After several marathons and trail runs without problems, at the end of a demanding 100k ultra trail run shortly after turning 50 I started to feel pain which did not go away. MRI diagnosis shows chondromalacia patella level IV. Had injections (hyaluronic and cortisone) and started some physical therapy. More than the discomfort, struggling mostly with prospect of never running again and stress from weeks with lack of usual movement. Glad to have found this group and hope to connect with people in similar situation.

claudsl

Hi @FerGal and welcome to our online community!

I hope you find some useful information on here, hopefully you can connect with others who are keen runners and perhaps share some tips. Here's a link which may help too.

Running with arthritis: Physiotherapists' tips on running and avoiding injury

All the best

Claudia x