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Living with arthritis: How do you stay active?
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Mar 5 11:07am | Replies (94)Comment receiving replies
I think that arthritis became noticable within the last 20 years. Doctors have noted it in my neck, shoulders, hands, knees and feet - joints from head to toe. It's mainly been bothersome first in my neck, then in my hands. Turning my head while driving is moderately painful, and I have diminished range of motion. My left index finger started to hurt and is swollen and bent. I can't manipulate it like the other fingers and certain motions cause sharp pain. The thumb of my right hand has been getting increasingly painful, in the knuckle and lower joint, to the point that I had a cortisone injection a few months ago. The injection effected relief in most of my thumb, but it didn't reach all the way to the base.
I'm a pianist, and obviously I count on my hands. Arthritis pain, especially in my thumb, has made playing scales painful. The injection helped with that, but it didn't reach far enough down my thumb. The shot was extremely painful!!! I decided that arthritis would be really bad before I would submit to the cortisone torture again. The pain is now starting to return.
I think it's likely that daily practice keeps my fingers functional. I also take Meloxicam in the morning and rub Voltaren cream on the painful areas. That helps, but as the cortisone wears off, my piano playing will be limited by how much pain I can tolerate.
Other joints hurt less from spring to autumn because I don't spend as much time in my recliner. My yardwork is a 32+ hour work week, so I know that I keep the muscles stronger around my joints.
Neuropathy pain in my feet and ankles limits activities involving walking. If we lived in town, I would be at a gym, doing things that are low impact. I've been putting off fixing the flat tires on my bicycle because it's been so cold, but it's on my to do list, before the warm weather returns. Then I'll ride to the mailbox, just under a mile from the house.
I guess you can see that I love to procrastinate and hate exercising.
Jim
Replies to "I think that arthritis became noticable within the last 20 years. Doctors have noted it in..."
@jimhd, 32+ hours a week of yard work is certainly no small feet. I grumble if I have to do more than 1-2! Battling weeds in landscaping is admittedly one my least favorite and most frustrating things to deal with. I wish I had learned to play the piano. I forgot to mention that around the time I started playing golf as an alternative, I also started playing electric guitar. Those two things were my saving grace in middle school and high school. I spent about 6 hours a day playing guitar from the ages of 14-18. I also agree on the biking, it's zero fun when it's cold. I often see the cyclists riding throughout the winter here in MN and can't help but think it has to be absolutely miserable.
@jimhd Having arthritis to some degree in multiple areas must make doing many things very difficult. I am sure you are right, playing the piano has probably helped to keep your fingers more functional than they would be without that. I have had cortisone shots in my knees and hips and they were not painful, but I think hands are more sensitive.
I too am a great procrastinator, and unfortunately, I must have passed that on to my son and daughter. When my son was in HS he wrote a paper about procrastination, finishing it by saying, that yes he did write it at the last minute! He is a big fitness nut but even he says no one likes going to the gym, it just has to be done. I dread it every time but when I am done I give myself a pat on the back.
@migizii An injury really can set off a problem in a different area. When I had a fractured femur this past summer it affected my knee terribly. I am finally back to being able to walk up and down the stairs with both feet, not just one. My hip took longer to heal due to my osteoporosis also I think. It was minimally displaced but it took about 5 months. They expected it to take about 3 months to heal completely.
@JustinMcClanahan The pool really does help so much. I alternate gym days and pool days. After a gym day my legs are really aching and sore but then exercising in the pool the next day helps, even though I exercise in there vigorously. I did the pool this morning and my legs are really tired but not aching as they were before.
JK
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Hi! Migizii here.....the arthritis in my body is widespread but has only been really impacting me for about the past year, after breaking my foot (which set off the extreme arthritis I didn’t know about and had not been bothering me before the break). Eight months later it healed (osteoporosis delayed healing) and steroid injections to settle the pain later; walking a few blocks and going to a therapy pool have been what I’ve been able to accomplish, thus far. I also work full time which makes me pretty tired, so it’s hard to keep myself motivated.