Recently I received a Maxine cartoon that read, "I don't exercise because it makes my coffee spill." My first thought was, I can relate to that!
In all honesty, I like to exercise, but I don’t do it on a regular basis for the same reasons as most of you. I have severe limitations due to arthritis and when I do exercise, I risk causing further damage to my body.
It may sound like an excuse to avoid exercising, but it’s not. Over the years, I have tried several exercise routines and various styles, but I’m unable to continue because of the need for surgery, or I damage a body part that was already weak. I’ve attempted to do tai chi and yoga (including altered versions), but my limited range of motion makes it almost impossible. The few moves I am able to do are minimal and have no real benefits.
Being unable to exercise in a traditional manner is frustrating, but I haven’t given up!
Instead, I try to incorporate exercise into my daily routine. On good days, when my legs are able, I take the stairs instead of the elevator. If I take the escalator, I walk it rather than stand still and ride the whole way. When removing clothes from the dryer, I take one item at a time instead of pulling a bunch out at once. That way I bend and reach several times. I'll stand on both sides of the dryer to balance out the routine and stretch the right as well as the left arms. After grocery shopping, I carry one or two bags at a time into the house, making more trips back and forth to the car. When I let my dog in and out, I pull and push the sliding glass door a few times with each arm. Since she goes out multiple times each day, I consider it a workout.
To some, it may seem like a silly routine, but it gives me a small sense of accomplishment and it does challenge my body to do a little extra. On the days when my body aches or I’m feeling bad, I don’t have to do it. Then it’s not as much of a let down and I don’t feel as guilty.
For years, I’ve been doing isometric exercises, a type of strength training involving the contraction of muscle without moving the angle of the joint. I can do them anytime. While driving, standing in line, watching TV, drinking coffee, whatever ... It's extremely important to keep my muscles active and it does increase my strength and abilities. I have pictures of my arms bone skinny in the ’90s, but since doing isometric exercises for more than a decade, they look better, feel better and I've had a decrease in atrophy.
Do you exercise regularly? Have you had to alter the way you exercise because of an illness? If so, please share. Your ideas or creative ways could motivate the rest of us.
My pain was severe and constant, and I would sometimes have flare-ups that were so bad I couldn't even stand - I would use a walker to go to the bathroom, but that was all I could tolerate. Those flare-ups would generally last about a week. The first time I had a flare-up, I had gone to a flea market that was off the road a bit, at the end of a field. After walking around for a while, when I went to go back to my car I hurt so much that I just sat in the middle of the field and cried. After crawling to my car, and crying all the way home, I knew I had to get help.
I had done Iyengar yoga for 15 years, water aerobics, low impact exercises at a gym... I didn't decide on surgery until there just were no other options for me.
So now I have these new joints, and have healed nicely (for the most part - I did get an infection in my second hip surgery) but I'm not sure what kind of exercise to do. My orthopedic surgeon says to just walk, walk, walk, but because of the spinal stenosis I can't walk very far without my back becoming very painful, and I was told not to do twisting exercises - which of course is a major component of yoga.
How about Tai chi or QiJong? I haven't tried them - would they be good for someone like me?
Also, I want to say, I applaud your efforts to have people use natural methods to control their pain, but I think they should know that despite their best efforts, their joints may very likely continue to deteriorate. I have heard many people say they would never have surgery, but it is a viable solution to getting your life back. It is definitely not something to be taken lightly, and there will be some minor limitations after, but you will be pain free after your recuperation.
The point is, don't discount it when your pain has become intolerable. If all the supplements and exercises and medicine aren't working for you anymore, talk to your doctor - and make sure you have an orthopedic surgeon that does hips and knees - only.
I think Shari pinpointed how we all feel. It's a struggle to find a balance between helping and hurting.
I'm guessing we've all done our share of screaming - I know I have. At least our lungs are getting exercise!
Hang in there, Friends! We're in this together :)
now that I found you I will follow your blog!
Thanks and God Bless
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