Totally know what you mean about discovering aches other than RA ones, "merryberry". It's wonderful, really. Have been persistently thwarted in last 2 days in attempts at normal exercise regime but have done some walking. Busy week-end. Enjoy your fitness training!
Alice

I'm reading a book by Allison James & Jenny Hockey about health and personal identity. They ask: what is it about illness that seems to challenge our identity and can lead not only to an altered sense of self, but also to changes in the ways that others see us? For me, the challenge is not to see myself and perhaps also not to be seen by others as someone with a defeated sense of self. That is what sport does for me. Today, when I went swimming again, I had improved my performance compared to yesterday's tired efforts and could do 14 lengths with the last fast length really fast. Perhaps it's not just about health then, but also a daily strife for identity, n'est ce pas?

Thanks, Lizzie. I need the encouragement too! I have been sporty all my life or at least since going on an Outward Bound course at 16 when I first arrived in this country. Loved it and went on to be an active member of my College's climbing club, etc. We are now a sporty family - my OH is into long distance running, hillwalking, windsurfing, etc., my teenage son is a keen climber and has recently joined the same gym to get into weight lifting with a vengeance. We used to go skiing every winter - I think the lowest point in my RA path was taking them on a skiing trip the year before last. Not being able to ski and having to mooch about in the village all day just brought it home to me very painfully (pardon the pun).
Today, I have been swimming again and managed 2 extra lengths plus 2 rather than 1 length really fast (it's called fartlek training, where you alternate fast and slower endurance activity - it's supposed to be more efficient at training your body than simply slogging the miles).
Lorna, everybody else, where are you all?
And now I am off to a siesta. I'm exhausted.

Thought for the day: how to get funds for a personal trainer -

Save 50p every day you don't eat a Mars bar or a pudding or a second helping of that lovely maccaroni cheese.
And hey presto!
in 40 days you have lost some fat and gained £20: which is how often you need to see a PT anyway

I am resting my muscle cells today and activating my neurones with a bit of reading: I've googled the price of a Mars bar!!!

I must say that I totally agree with you Jenni. Would hate for anyone to further damage joints. A gentle stroll or swim is one thing but the rest sounds a bit too much for joints already weakened by RA. Be careful folks. Better safe than sorry!

Eleanor x

Hi

Thank you so much Jenni for posting this ... I am so relieved!

I was concerned when this thread appeared as it is certainly raises many questions, not only the common sense ones but moral and ethical issues. Whilst there is evidence that this type of exercise improves muscle strength etc and is thereby great for supporting weakened joint structures there is absolutely no evidence that gives any long term outcomes. Everything you have said Jenni I wanted to post but having caused a couple of controversial arguments already didn't feel I should post my thoughts on yet another thread!

I too have asked two health professionals, a rheumatology consultant and an RA Physio currently doing a PHd, and both were horrified that anyone with RA would take this sort of regime on board. Whilst I am sure it was meant with the best will in the world it could have extremely harmful consequences.

If you are on an anti-TNF, you are pretty much towards the higher end of RA and you need to think about how much you are pushing yourselves. The Anti-TNFs do slow the progression and make you feel better (when they work) but the RA doesnt stop and your joints and bodies are at risk of trouble if you over do things.

I can confirm this from personal experience. I have been on Biologics for 8/9 years and my RA, on the whole, is well controlled. I have been off Enbrel for 4 weeks for surgery and a serious flare has shown me what a bad state I am actually in. I will spare you the details, it is not pretty. My joints are deteriorating despite feeling so much better on Enbrel. You may feel fine on a Biologic treatment, you may think you are "cured" and your body can do anything you throw at it, actually NO!

If you have been prescribed an anti-tnf costing £8K a year it is because you are ill. Many still do not get the opportunity to even try these drugs! Pushing the boundaries as if the treatment is a "cure all" is neither sensible nor is it sympathetic to the plight of others in a less fortunate position who use this forum for information and guidance.

I too used to be very keen on physical fitness, a county athlete and tennis player alongside other sports at club level. I was devastated to have to give it up, I now swim.

At the end of the day health dictates. Please guys do be careful as Jenni says
"It needs to be gentle and about maintaining range of movement."

Lyn

Hi, folks. What a spirited defence of the status quo! I can understand where you come from but it reminds me of the furore when people first started telling chronic backache sufferers to start exercising instead of taking bed rest. Now, it's an accepted form of medical advice for people with unexplained backache.

But do have a look at this summer's issue of Arthritis Today, which carries an article about resistance training for people with severe RA -
It's based on the December 2009 article I quoted earlier from Lemmey's group in North Wales. It is certainly catching on. It shows that "weight-lifting could make quite a difference to their quality of life - not to mention the quality of their muscles and overall strength".

My consultant rheumatologists tells me that he is well aware that there are consultant rheumatologists out there who still tell their patients with RA not to exercise. But if you have been following this thread you will know that, throughout, the emphasis has been on making sure that your own rheumatological team approve your exercise regime first. If they say no, then no it is.

But I don't buy this idea that as someone with RA I should hide the fact that I can do more or less than someone else with RA. Life is not a competition; if I was in a wheelchair, I would probably be training for the paralympics. Should the media keep quiet about paralympic athletes and their extraordinary achievements in case they upset other people, with or without disabilities, who don't engage in sport? I say no and know that others might disagree. Life is full of variety and different opinions. It doesn't mean that you or I are wrong.

My own consultant rheumatologist has encouraged me to do exercise even when I have complained that I get some ankle pain (so long as the joint is not acutely inflamed) and has been very supportive. So long as the ache doesn't get worse, he says it's ok. I have always stopped exercising when there is any hint of actual pain.

As a result, I have been able to walk much longer distances than before and my quality of life has improved. I was frightened for the first 2 years and doing very little. But he kept telling me that getting aches after exercise was normal and a few months ago, I took the plunge. I carried on and feel much better in myself.

But by the way, some clarification is needed. High impact exercise means jumping about (as in running or landing on your feet with a thud). I would agree that high impact exercise is not recommended for RA and I certainly don't engage in high impact sport myself.

Perhaps someone from NRAS could invite Dr Lemney to speak to people with RA on the benefits of weight training in RA. So, we could have a debate on these hot issues live.

Well I did my first swim as per consultant instructions, but will have to hold that back as purely recreational for now, it proper twanged my old shoulder tendon problem and i could feel the joint rub like it does in no other activity (it needs resurfacing one day). I tried all kinds of variants of breast stroke and a smooth front crawl but didnt risk back or butterfly. It was utter bliss though to float and to do my favourite thing (go in the deep end and float upside down). Swimming was always my thing, I swam like a fish and looked like a swimmer (long and lean and triangular shoulders). So of course the last few years have been an enormous loss to me there ALice and my identity as you describe. Still, at least now I have the confidence to spend the time in the water teaching the children to swim, and am really looking forward to that this autumn.

I've been away a few days and quite busy being out, so noticing raised activity levels from summer. My fave was bending down my Mother in Laws cherry tree branches so we could pick and scoff the fruit. Mmmhmm:)

Hope to do a Wii resistance session later today. I've read the paper about resistance trainings benefit to joint protection and find it sensible. From the small amount I've done I've found it actually helpful.

I hope people who do need activity and can do it and whose doctors say do it don't get completely put off by the lovely caring comments about exercise and RA. There is a whole range of benefit to be gained I think, while being very sensible and cautious. For example I've already lost a stone and 9 lbs in the last 2 months, and now 'only' have another four to go. I need to make these losses and embed very healthy eating routines while I am so well, so that I am fit enough to deal with whatever gets thrown at me next by RA.

This is my last NRAS post this summer btw. I'm voting with my feet over the recent moderation debacle. See my post 'more flounce per ounce' for more info. I hope to see some of you around on my blog, facebook or twitter. I will start to blog my fitness stuff there. Such a shame, I will miss this thread. All the best, Franky.

What with RA and other horrid stuff going on in my body, it takes me more than all my time and energy to walk my dogs for a couple of hours every day, and then I am completely exhausted and in need of a good rest.
So I do what I can...and there are days when I can't do as much as I would like, but according to my consultant, that's fine. So I think each one of us should push to do a LITTLE bit more than we think we can,(whether its formal exercise or peeling two spuds instead of one!!!)) and be proud of ourselves for having a go, without feeling pressurised by those who are more able/capable/ energetic. L