Does anybody struggle with exercise?

Jamielee

I find it so painful to do any sort of exercise and it gets me frustrated, does anyone else struggle with this?

Mike1

I am beyond exercise due to being too crippled, physios have said they can do nothing for me, hydrotherapy not applicable either. Depressed when so much is made of the need to exercise without recognition that some of us simply cannot. My "exercise" consists of getting dressed - sometimes that is enough effort for hours; hobbling from the lounge to the kitchen to make a brew; feeding the cat; and generally doing what I need to do to survive as I live alone and only have a Home Help once a week. Promoting "exercise" all the time is depressing and could even be construed as being a form of discrimination to those of us who are unable, indeed Disability Rights UK in conjunction with Durham University have labelled this "ableism" and are to publish a letter in theBritish Journal of Sports Medicine.

Jamielee

@Mike1thank you for replying, physio also said they could do nothing for me last year I would cry every time I tried to even lift my leg , I’m glad it’s not just me, I thought i would of been the only one!! Thanks for answering my question x

Mike1

Regrettably you are not the only one petal, OA is a real bugger when it takes hold all over.

Christian78

@JamieleeI have OA in both of my feet and have had my big toe fusion in 2012 because of the pain and have OA in mind of my left foot since 2014, have had loads of steroid injections for pain which gives temporary pain relief and on daily painkillers.

I have sports massage once a month which helps abit and I am going to take up swimming as it's ment to be good if you have arthritis.

I hope you find some type of exsersice to relif your pain it's not easy living with pain.

Christian78

@JamieleeI forgot to mention I am in my early 40s and it's not easy living with arthritis I understand were your coming from pain is very difficult to live with.

Jamielee

@Christian78hi , I have RA and I have also had steroids, infusion and drips every month from age 10-15, my arthritis calms sometimes then it goes so bad it’s hard to move atal, and yes swimming is better, I’m going to get into that once we can all go back out. I’m also 20 years old :) nice to talk to you xx

Christian78

@JamieleeI live on the Isle of Man so getting access to correct treatment is very restricted on a small island as there is only one main hospital to go to and only have one pain management consultant and waiting lists are huge, I am currently waiting for more steroid injections into my left foot to reduce the pain.

Christian78

@Jamieleevery young age to get arthritis 10-15 you have had a lot of treatments then and you have been suffering a long time, yes swimming would help you especially with pain and give you excersise nice to meet you 20years old is still only young and must be difficult for you, I hope your family and friends understand your condision.

Jamielee

@Christian78aww I’m so sorry to hear that☹️I hope you get the right treatment you need, I was on methotrexate injections once a week that really helps but caused me so much sickness and i had to stop, I also have amitriptyline once a week, that’s good and doesn’t cause me to feel sick, I find that codeine works when I’m really bad but I take them at night coz they make you feel a little bit drowsy. Also I think hot water bottles or a nice warm bath helps. I really hope something helps you soon. Best of luck x

Christian78

@JamieleeI see so you have been on injections but they didn't agree with you, could you not take amitriptyline every evening, because I take Nortriptyline every evening and it helps me sleep, and I take Etoricoxib 90 mg every day which are a painkiller, codeine are very strong but do work but like you say causes drowsiness, yes hot water bottle is very helpful and warm baths help ease pain , best of luck to you also.

Christian78

@Jamieleeplease keep in touch with me let me know how you are getting on stay safe,I have had AO since my late 20s and have given up work in July this year lucky I am entitled to I'll health pension so financial I am in a good position.

Christian78

I did a manual physical job and it wasn't doing my feet any good at all pain was terrible and the cold made the pain even worse.

Jamielee

@Christian78是的我当然会保持联络,寒冷的让我pain so bad and aslo have never been able to have a job due to too much pain, I tried college for 3 years but they kicked me out due to low attendance :( I did try but it was to hard. I’ll definitely keep in touch I hope you do aswell :) x

Jamielee

@Christian78你也保持安全。和大的拥抱:)

Christian78

@Jamieleemy uncle died yesterday, and my auntie passed away in September, so it's been a difficult year, and covid on top of this be a awful year, plus living with OA.

Jamielee

@Christian78I’m so sorry to hear that ☹️You are a strong human! Just Always remember that, I’m always here to talk if you want a chat x

Christian78

@Jamieleeyou have had a difficult time not being able to carry on with your collage course, yes the cold weather makes the pain worse my feet ache alot and have pain in my feet but warm water helps alot, stay safe, keep warm help ease your pain, I will keep in touch with you, take care X.

Christian78

Yes I am strong been through alot lost my mother when I was 11 years old so I am strong person.

Christian78

@Jamieleekeep in touch take care stay safe xx

Christian78

@JamieleeI also forgot to mention that I have hypertension (high blood pressure) which I have had since 2007 and I am on medication for this and have blood test done and my blood pressure monitord regularly and have my AO in both of my feet, take care speak soon xx

Lilymary

Hi@Jamielee, I really struggle with exercise too. I was still just about able to do mild pilates till lockdown, but after a fall in March my hip kicked off like crazy and just climbing into bed and lying down was agony. My physio, GP, MSK consultant and general advice on this site was to do particular exercises to strengthen the muscles around my rubbish hip, so I gave it ago, but the pain was so intense and it set off lingering inflammation in my hip, and it just made it so much worse that I stopped.

I have tried some of the exercises with Leon on this site a few weeks ago, and it was very gentle and nice to stretch other parts of my body. I still have some residual fitness from pilates, so I’d slot in a few gentle stretching moves into the routine as well, but after doing 10 gentle squats, two days in a row, I could barely walk around the house. So much for building up those muscles! The stretching exercises that pulled on attachments to my hip also aggravated it.

i will have a go at some of the other exercises, but it took so long for the inflammation to settle, and my job needs me to be on my feet quite a bit, so I can’t risk setting that off again. Any real exertion just sets me back further, so I’m finding it hard to know what to do for the best.

I’m sorry to hear you’re having to deal with all this so young. I’ve at least had the pleasure of abusing my body for 60 years, I hope you can get a treatment and exercise regime that works for you.

Jamielee

@Lilymaryhi, I’m sorry to hear about your hip :( I hope it starts feeling a little bit better soon! And that is so good that you are trying some exercise, you should be proud of yourself I always have hated physio since diagnosed, before I had any pain I was a normal child, my mum said I use to run everywhere and loved playing out, but it all changed when I was 8 I use to miss Christmas sometimes because I would be in bed in too much pain to go downstairs with my family.

I know I really need to start exercising more but it gets me in that much pain the next day and then I never want to do it again and nobody understands that.

It was lovely hearing your story and I hope you keep in contact. Stay safe and well ❤️ Xxx

Lilymary

@JamieleeThanks for your good wishes. I do think it’s important to try to maintain the whole body, and any activity or exercise we actually can do will help. It’s difficult to find the tipping point or trigger for pain, which may change from week to week, and we have to learn to spot them and avoid them. I started gentle pilates a few years ago as I could feel my body gradually seizing up as I could no longer go for the long walks I used to enjoy, and I really noticed the difference.

But there are so many beneficial side effects from exercise (however gentle or strenuous) both physically and mentally, that it’s worth trying to do what little we can, and I need to make myself try again.

一个好多样的均衡的饮食也有助于,keeping the weight down a bit (which is really hard when you can’t exercise). I managed to lose a stone during lockdown just by dumping junk food and alcohol and eating smaller portions. (I’m normally rubbish at dieting). Then I had to carry a backpack full of heavy files to my office, and I couldn’t believe how much pain that triggered in my hip, which was such a stark lesson for me about the link between weight and joint damage. Need to lose at least another stone, but that’s showing no sign of happening yet!

Hope you have a good weekend, just waggle those limbs around from time to time! Every little helps! Xx

Christian78

Hi@Jamieleehow are you today?, How is your pain today?, Is it raining in Manchester?.

Christian78

Hi@Jamieleehow are you?, I am okay feet aren't to sore today but the last few days haven't been good, how are your hands and elbows ect?, It's cold and cloudy here today but dry, how are you getting on with your excesises, take care keep in touch:-)