Feeling down

Hi @PaulaJ ,

I am sorry you are not feeling yourself right now. I dont know anything about you, so this may not be relevant but I found losing weight helped enoumously with the horrible pain in my hips. I have RA and bursitis in both hips. After going for a walk one day, I was in so much pain I had to physically lift my legs into the car. it was truly terrifying. I was about 2 stone overweight at the time, I wanted to lose weight anyway and managed to lose a stone and half. OMG! the difference, the last half stone was the best and I got full range of motion back. I hadnt thought about my weight tbh I put it down to old age before RA diagnosis. I found out for every pound you lose , you also lose 6 pounds of pressure from your hips and 4 off your knees. I did put half a stone back on (as you do lol) and sure enough I lost some range of motion and suffered some discomfort and stiffness. Im back at my chosen support group and I am going to lose that other half stone too. The pain is a good motivator for me. I dont want that back again ever. I found exercise to be helpful, strenghining muscles and joints has to be good for a start, the natural boost of dopamine and other "feel-good" chemicals like endorphins and serotonin helps low mood and pain management too of course. i have found a anti inflamatory diet helps too.

Hope you find something that works, xx

Have you been seen by a physiotherapist? They can help advise on suitable exercises. I have to say my experience of NHS physiotherapy has been very mixed. Some just palmed me off with some leaflets of exercises, and that was that. Others have done a proper assessment and figured out a personalised program, that has been very beneficial If you experience poor NHS support then do consider a few private sessions, if you can afford it, and try to get personal recommendations from others. In the private sector there are also good and bad!

Its hard work and still a battle tbh. I find being accountable helps so I drag myself to my chosen fat fighters lol. The lady who runs it is very good at motivating me. Its been 2 steps forward and half back and some times one back. Holidays, celebtations and dinner with friends dont help. Im not doing brilliantly at the moment. I dont go for huge losses, Im happy with half a pound or a pound. Ive noticed quite a few lose too much too quickly and just end up putting it back on. Losing weight is relatively easy over a few weeks or months, its keeping it off. I think people cut too much and then the metobolic system slows right down meaning they have to cut out more and more. Its not sustainable. For me gradually and making real forever changes has been the way. Learning to say no to desert when eating out 9 times out of 10 and then treating myself on the 10th. Ive stopped baking huge christmas cakes with royal icing because its only me that really eats it. I cant have a packet of buicuits because I will just eat the lot lol. My anti inflamatory diet has opened up a whole new world on the other hand. My meals are full of fresh produce, rainbow food and much more diverse now. I enjoy my food a lot more. I now have to work on portion control.