These posts are driving me nuts - miles and miles of bike riding - miles and miles of hiking and running.

I just don't get it..........there must be a really big variance in the severity of RA.

i stuck to the personal: what a "ride" would look like for me and how I would accomplish it.

that's my glow, the 11 minutes all taped up and held up :)

I feel speechless when reminded that "everyone" has "everyday aches and pains" - RA pain does not feel like my prior life of "everyday aches and pains". there is no correlation. I feel that is like saying that monthly cramps feel like childbirth. do they? or that a little hot glue from a glue gun feels like being burned in a house fire, does it?

I don't need a discernment meter, the disease took care of that for me by limiting my body. If my limitations are not what another person's limitations are it is not because I have less willpower, get up and go, or I have been sitting on the couch and can not discern between delayed muscle soreness from routine exercise and the hell of RA joint pain.

If I had everyday muscle soreness I would not be shooting up biologics, chewing nsaids, eating clean and going through 11 minutes of hell, otherwise known as movement.

Kind and gentle. kind and gentle to every human being on this planet that has a chronic disease that is either not mine or is not at the stage that mine is in. supportive, a kind word, an encouraging smile about being where you are, a high five about your 11 minutes.

oh! and to all the full time working folks whose spoons are gone after working 40 hours and are sleeping in their cars, to the full time parents who find all the exercise they can muster in kneeling to apply a band aid on a child or hugging a baby, to everyone using up their spoons in their activities of daily life or the activities of daily life of small people or elders that they care take, and for those bringing home the bacon and collapsing on the stoop, that is your endurance race. you get the gold medal. the medal of survival.

Depot

My motivation is to provide encouragement to nomorera. She has a goal to ride 18 miles. If you are fit and have your disease under control, it is a very attainable goal. It certainly sounds like she is fit to me, if she is weight training and doing spinning classes. If her classes are anything like the ones I've taken, she'll be well-prepared to ride that 18 miles (and will likely find it easier and a lot more fun!).

I understand that everyone is at a different place with this disease -- no two people have the same symptoms or respond the same to medication. I am very fortunate that I have responded well to meds, I caught the disease early, and I was very active before I was diagnosed.

What disturbs me is to see someone willing to fight the good fight, in whatever way she can, and then receive comments that discourage her from trying. While 18 miles may be too long of a ride for you, it may be a great personal challenge for someone else suffering from this disease.

Like I say, I know many people who suffer from RA who are much "greater" athletes than I. I bike and hike on the weekends, and walk about 3 miles daily. I do not run anymore, because I have both osteoarthritis in my knees and RA. And for me, pounding my joints just doesn't seem like a "good thing" to do. However, I know plenty of RA marathoners, whose doctors have told them the disease will likely do far more damage on its own than running will ever do. Many feel like it keeps their flares under control, and reduces their pain when they have flares. There's also research that suggests running can help lubricate the joints. relieving RA pain. So, like you who choose to eat a certain diet or follow some other way in which you manage your RA, these people are managing by staying active.

I'm just trying to help people understand that there is hope. When I was first diagnosed and I started reading this forum, I almost lost all hope. And then I realized that... wait... I CAN get back to doing *most* of the things I enjoy doing. I CAN get back to some level of "normal". Yes, I am reminded every day by the pain that remains and the fatigue that lingers that I have a chronic disease. But I will still try to do all the things that bring pleasure into my life and provide me with a sense of accomplishment, and I will try to serve as an example for those who, like me, were active adults, newly diagnosed, and may be giving up hope.

In my own life, I often think of a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." I am truly sorry if I have hurt anyone by trying to be an encouraging example, but just remember, that when it comes to your feelings, it is "I feel". Not "you make you feel". If your personal challenge is a walk around the block and you did it, then congratulations! I'm sure you feel proud.

If you tolerated Humira well most likely you will do fine on Enbrel.

Velllly, intellesting...

Is this post about drugs or bike riding?

First off, my own opinion... if you feel up to an 18 mile bike ride, then go for it. If you feel like you need to abandi=on the ride at any point... do it. What;s the bif=g deal? Do what you can. Right?

#2, 16. Coaltrain, you've already given ample evidence that your drug (Endrl, isn't it?) is not working well for you. Why are you suddenly intrigued about the differences in how RA affects us? YES, differently. How do drugs affect us, individually? YES, differently.

@14, 14, 19. Jestersbabbles.Tryng to help nomorera (sorry, a brief aside... everytime I see that, my mind reads nomorena)? Then stay out of the discussions. Let her figure out what;s good for her, what she needs to do, etc. Let her do her own thing. What a bunch of crap. Elanor Rosavelt. Sheesh.

RASally-I think what is trying to be shown here is encouragement! Even if you can't go out and ride a bike like this-it is trying to show that even with a disease we can find our own way of accomplishing SOMETHING! ANYTHING! Our life is NOT over and we don't have to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves-we will find a way to LIVE a life :)

GOOD LUCK!! Kick the bike ride's butt :)

Glad I didn't upset you RASally,or anyone-just trying to be encouraging...even with my pitiful pom poms :)

Since this conversation is still going on, I do have a couple of other thoughts.

1. I have had numerous "remissions" in my 44 years with this disease, and, come to think of it, in some of those earlier years, I went on steep hikes for hours with my late hubby. I guess I had just forgotten about that! Now I have been suffering an almost year long flare and can't imagine doing an 18 mile bike ride or a three hour hike in the mountains, but I did at one time! I just forgot.

2. In my case, it was a year ago this July when I was feeling so good after having been on Humira for a couple of years, I thought I could join the Y and take part in a water aerobics class. Unfortunately, all of the stress on my wrists from pushing the water using floatation devices caused the flare I've been fighting for the past year. So, in my case, I have to be very careful about how much I do, even if I feel like a million bucks.

Yes aforte this disease affects us all differently but we all feel the pain of it rather we are out there doing sports or sitting on our arces! You feel it no matter what you do, I guess the point is having respect for the disease because it will and can kick you in the arce and you can make your joints worse if you don't stay grounded with your thought process, they don't call it a progressive disease for nothing!