this is like the dietary threads. do the best you can.

the same as the non ra population.

do whatever is best for all humans and for all co-morbidities - each case of ra is different but then again so is each person (who may have been sedentary and or overweight for a lifetime before RA). this is one of those lifestyle commentaries. i think it hits the athletes much harder emotionally than the couch surfers. and i can't think of a single doctor who is going to say don't do a little to a moderate to even a lot of whatever it is the hell you can do.

there's a grand range of function on here from those in wheelchairs to those that can still run. functionality is sometimes thrown out the window without one's consent. so no one size fits all post will work. if you are still going, kudos, keep going.

depot

USE IT OR LOSE IT!!!

I'm almost 70, so all things in moderation.

My exercise consists of long walks with my dog, EVERY day. But I really need to join the senior center and take some muscle building exercises. Muscles are turning to jello in the past year.

I weight lift 3 times a week, 4-5 if I'm feeling really good. I try to ride my bike every chance I get. Personally I feel better or maybe it's just my mind thinking I feel better because if I'm concentrating on muscle soreness due to the gym then I'm not thinking about the other weird pains from RA?

I do an hour-long class 3x week. Warm up, stretching, balance, aerobics, cool down, stretching, weights.

As for: Do I do it in a flare-up? NO. But MY definition of a flare-up is pain ALL OVER - every joint. Other people call it a flareup if one joint hurts. I call that break-through pain and when i have it, it depends what joint. I will usually go to class and give it a try. I will be able to tell pretty soon if working it out helps or if it is too painful. I am 71, going on 72. I do a lot of immobility, and a LOT of sleeping!

Every BODY and level/severity of RA is different! Some get controlled enough on medication that they can exercise daily. In 7 years, I haven't been controlled enough to exercise. I tried to start an cross fit exercise regimen and did well for two weeks and then had a flare that started in my hands and went all over my body! So while exercise is good for the RA joints to prevent further damage, it is hard to do when you are uncontrolled. :( My rheumy says walking is best! Not in a flare!

Whether you're controlled or not, you've got to keep moving.

Use it or lose it.

I totally agree about walking, but add swimming to the "best" list.

I do now, but it took over 2 years to get back to the point that I could. I have been doing the c25k program...it's a 9 wk program but for me it's been about 6 months and I'm on wk 7. Sometimes I have to take days or wks off....just depends on my pain. I also do extra walking along with c25k. My goal is to run a 5K. Somedays my feet just hurt too bad, other days the pain subsides when I walk. Crazy!

Funny, I had to rejoin to make a replay to a post I strted. Such a stupid site.

I have no idea what c25k program is. I went through water, walking, stationary bike, weights, and now I hike. Long time coming. I workout when I want, but I've been depressed for 10 days, and only got back to the gym today. Your state of health is always a delicate balance between state of mind, how your body feels, what's going on in the way of flares, infections or wounds. My credo has always been bee: do what you can. If you hurt anf can't do it, then why do it? If you just don't have the energy, incentive or inclination, then don't do it. If you need to make excuses to not exercise, then give up. Do what you can, when you can, and test your limits. If you want to live a full, rewarding, active live, then do whatever exercise you can, and then... se if you can do more. Seriously, don't be your own limitation.

The first 7 years I had RA, exercise was not a possibility. I was more concerned with getting from the bed to the bathroom. But when I got on a good combo with a DMARD and a biologic, one day, I was lying in bed, and decided to do some leg lifts. That was tough stuff! A few days later, I managed to get to the floor for the first time in years, and added some more stretches. A few weeks later, I made it downstairs where there was an old exercise bike, and rode for 1 minutes! That was hard.

I keep at it, and got up to 45 minutes outside on a bike. I was hooked! I started lifting weights, and eventually got up to 30-35 km on my bike, and in the winter, I rode on a trainer inside. I got up to 15 lb free weights. I was feeling great!

Then a med failure. I took prednisone and pushed through it. I was determined not to lose my conditioning! Well, Feb. 2015, my meds failed totally. I remembered what it felt like to not be able to go to the bathroom. I was even worse than initially and this time, my husband had to put me in the wheelchair, wheel me to the bathroom put me on the toilet, then pick me up back in the wheelchair, and back to the bed, where the poor man's back was now killing him as he picked me up again.

So I had to stop working out. I would try, but it was pathetic. I've been trying, but the new meds have just not gotten me back to a level where I can exercise without damaging my joints! Sigh! I just hope this is not forever. 10 great years, and now I am a weakling!

As for food, I have always been an organic vegetarian, and grow my own veggies. Plus, I live in a fruit growing area, so lots of free organic fruit coming my way. I have had raised bed boxes my husband built me in two different places, and they give me enough produce to eat well into late fall and freeze stuff for winter. But it never helped the RA. Well, at least it is healthy for my body!

As for recommendations, if you are able, swimming and bicycling are the least hard on the joints. And always stretches! Hand stretches and stretches in the bed if that is all you are able to do. Disuse is not good for muscles and joints.

It's funny, I use a cane to walk, which my clumsy hands often drop. People always race to pick it up for me. Except I can touch my toes and curl my hands under the toes, so bending down is not an issue at all. I am grateful people like to help, but picking up my cane is not one of the things I need help with! That is because I always stretch!

By the way, you should never use a joint, or exercise with it if it is really flared.
Back before I got on good meds, I had very bad flares in my thumbs. My son and his future wife were staying with us, and they volunteered to pick the horrible rocks my husband had put around my raised garden beds, and replace it with black plastic and mulch. My husband demanded that I help, because "I wanted it done" so therefore in his mind, I had to help. Well, I picked and picked. But when I went in the house, I cried my eyes out the pain and swelling was so bad! I didn't even know to ice the thumbs in those days.

At the end of 3 days, the rocks were gone,and I had permanent deformities - huge bunions for my thumbs. Even my 4 year old granddaughter noticed them the last visit and asked me why my thumbs were so different. My OT says the thumbs are on the verge of not being usable, they are so loose and unstable. All because I didn't listen to my body, or remember that one should never use a flared joint. I suppose that applies to walking on my feet too! I was so embarrassed to use a wheelchair, I now have terrible, foot deformities. I had one foot reconstructed, and it is worse than the non-reconstructed foot, pain wise and usefulness. Surgery is never going to be an option for that the unreconstructed foot. Let me tell you!

Oops! Long post! Sorry about that!