Exercise making things worse?
Posted , 4 users are following.
Since the beginning of December I've been swimming 3 times a week (nothing major 30 minutes most days with the odd hour long swim). My RA at the time was mostly just in my fingers (my hands a little too). Then it seemed to develop in my elbows, my Rheumatologist and Physio both suggested using a tennis elbow brace to help take pressure off the elbows, I even swam with the braces and it certainly helped in terms of easing the pain. For a variety of reasons I took a 2.5-3 week break from swimming. I was feeling great, thought the methotrexate and cortisone shot in my wrist were doing their job.
Monday I swam, it felt great elbows were fine without the brace, the numbness I had experienced in my hand while swimming before, was gone. Felt so good! Went for my Wednesday swim, had some sore muscles but nothing major. Since then my hand/wrist is feeling worse off and now my knees hurt (not really my knee but more where the Fibula meets the Tibia).
I've been very careful about what I eat, taking my meds and thought that the exercise would benefit me. But it feels like it set me back?!? Anyone else experience this?
0 likes, 3 replies
tony35673 jane62726
Posted
Not that unusual, I can't exercise at all. Can't do anything for that matter.
Jayjay1959 jane62726
Posted
Hi Jane
I do exercise where possible Knees are funny things
I swim x3 a week 45 min 60 lengths. The only time I don't is when my
shoulders are bad.
Depends the level of pain really. And how easy it is to dress and undress
I do take pain Meds at least 1/2 hour before exercise usually take 100 mg of tramodol, then after paracetamol. Lodine anti inflammatory where hot
Or swelling.
The secret to supporting your knees is strong muscles/ tendons around
them
If your knees are bad you will notice the pain around your knees changes
Constantly.
You may find going down stairs is harder than going up or vice versa
Sorry I'm rambling I know!!!
When laid up it only takes about 3 weeks for your muscles to start
loosing strength, but it takes about 6 weeks to build them up again.
I keep swimming as told from specialist that it will delay the need for
Knee replacement
And when I do get replacement will need strong muscles to support it
As with RA a fine balance between rest and exercise is best. I was a
competitive swimmer when younger and I have found my swim stroke
changes sometimes I find myself dragging my legs up the pool
unconciously protecting Mt knees. Other times I just tread water
Keeping moving is the best you can do for yourself.
And it should be manageable with creative pain Meds and excessive.
If your wrist is stolen it may be putting pressure on your carpel tunnel
Nerve
When I am too bad of a morning sometimes I switch to evening aqua
zumba at our local pool
See if you can tap into something like that tai Chi is good too
Sorry doesn't answer your questions though.
lyn1951 jane62726
Posted
Are you swimming too hard. I do about an hour twice a week and on good weeks three times a week, a god send.
I don't swim so much as tread water, not very fast, just keeping moving the whole time, also mix it up with some rowing on my back with my arms, and breaststroke only with arms, not too much, as have very sore shoulders as well, working on getting them back to my normal with physio's help, and not over extending and hurting myself even more.
In between do some faster exercises a couple of short spurts of straight swimming, across pool rather than length, just cannot manage more, and stretches in the pool, look up post hip replacement exercises.
Physio approves of my efforts and general strength, said I am doing very well with core strength, even surprised by how strong I am.
One thing the physio has empthasized, is don't hurt yourself, just until you feel the pull, hospital said the same after hip replacement, repeat repeat and repeat the little movements and the flexibility will follow along.
I found that to be correct, hurting myself only makes the muscles contract more and cause more pain.