Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Monday night on the 9:00 news where I live (Texas) they did a health segment about RA. I stayed up to watch it as you usually don't see this topic covered. Boy was I pissed off after the segment. They (the news) interviewed a lady who is a former bodybuilder and now has RA. She talked about how it changed her life but with the right diet and exercise she is doing fantastic. She now manages a gym. The video showed her lifting weights, doing all kinds of exercises, etc. They (the news) said that her doctors, along with others, say RA can be controlled with the right diet and exercise. They talked a little about medications and what the disease does to your body. It upset me that the news portrayed this as an easy fix. I have kept the RA and Lupus very quiet as only a handful of people know what I am going through. Any of them who watched this would probably think "well, that isn't so bad." I am trying to find out where they (the local news station) got this segment from. I would love to contact the originators of it and tell them they need to do a follow-up on the RA as she was an exception and they need to show what 99% of RA sufferers deal with and stop throwing diet and exercise out there as a cure all for everyone!
Getting off my soap box now. Thanks for letting me rant. Hope everyone has a great day and a blessed Easter.
Dana
Getting off my soap box now. Thanks for letting me rant. Hope everyone has a great day and a blessed Easter.
Dana
I have come to understand from all the reading I have been doing that there are people who benefit from diet and exercise but they are exceptional few. For those that it works for I am sincerely happy. The majority of us, though, it doesn't matter what we eat or do. That was one of the first things I tried when I found out and still ended up on a biologic within 6 months because of the progression.
Thanks,
Dana
BigCountryHomePage.com
I personally have tried the all natural way with ONLY diet. That alone did not work for me. I eventually got on 2 dmards that have helped a great deal.
With that said, diet and light exercise has helped me feel better in general. It does not CURE RA, but it does seem to give me an advantage of my overall health.
Without my med regome i would not be able to walk, lightly jog, or lift light weights. Strenuous exercise wears me way down. So for me it is a balance. Meds keep me active. And the activity gives me a little edge even mentally.
It is misleading ...
She probably would not be able to crossfit without meds....and her time in the gym may become limited. Until then i celebrate with her and anyone that has found the ways to keep RA in check.
I just don't get it. Much like the Dr. Oz episode that had the lady who "cured" herself of RA. It's misrespesenting & bad journalism.
I can see wanting to air success stories but back it up with facts & statistics.
This is not the "norm" or "average" RA patient.
The auto immune aspect of this disease is over looked or gets liitle to no attention. The threat & cause of RA, very frustrating.
Sure does not help educate but contributes to ignorance.
Great job Sally. If I can pull enough brain power together I'll sure send my thoughts on the segment.
Sammy
RASally love what you wrote - very well spoken.
I am going to write to them tonight also.
Have a great day :)