The least bit of torque in my knees and ankles causes a lot of problems...walking a straight line on a flat surface is much easier. When I know I am going to be walking more than usual, or on uneven surfaces, I make sure to put on my ankle supports and knee supports. I have noticed that they do help. (I try to not use them constantly, though, as I want to try to keep the surrounding muscle tissue as active as possible.)

Not sure if I answered your question, but I hope this helps.

Renee...for some perspective: My rheumy thinks I'm doing great, even thinks it may be time for me to try to return to work. Great news! But even so...
I've not been told I have permanent joint problems, but even when I am somewhat stable, yes---I have a LOT of continuing things that limit my abilities. I used to do yoga, but there is no way for my wrists to bend AND take pressure at the same time. My thumbs, wrists, and small bones in my hands always hurt and feel "out of place" but especially if I use them for anything repetitive (haha...like typing THIS!).
I can NOT kneel---ouchhhhh!! And my ankles do exactly what you described. My knees and hips also join the party if I have to walk very much, say a big grocery store trip or something like that. I have bursitis in my shoulders as well.

And so, like you, I also wonder: alrighty then, is THIS the best it gets??

thanks, I guess I get it. We will not ever be really normal and yes we can have limits but when we are feeling up and moving and doing, its very good compared to a bad time with the limitis and fatiuge. I know we have to keep working towards the good, with exercise and meds and use all the tools we can to achieve that and be ready for the bad times and try to keep your head/emotions in the right place no matter where we are. I was just wondering!

Thanks,
Renee

I don't think tehre's any set pattern. Sometimes, I'll twist a joint (say kee or ankle) and I get immediate, stabbing pain, but usually not. I have old injuries to both knees and right ankle, so I've spent a lot of time strngthening and stabilizing them, which is bound to help RA related issues. My hands are another story. My thumbs are pretty much shot, such that if I stress them, they make me suffer. My wrists are my bell-weather for how well I'm doing with RA pain and inflammation. If they're good, I'm good. If not, I have to find alternative ways to do things, like eat out instead of holding a fry pan.

It is very likely that everything will work well, if not always, or all at once. Keep things moving and strengthened, as best you can.

Good luck,
Doug

Hi Renee, I can totally relate to that. The experience I had after my first major flare of my achilles tendon/ankles was walking on soft sand on the beach....I could hardly walk again for about 5 days. Uneven ground is really tricky, we seem to lose that fine motor skill of placing our foot in the right place at the right time.

I cant weight-bear on my wrist/arms - either they are too weak/painful or I have put on too much weight, lol. I can just kneel on one knee but not on both, cant squat down and dread getting down on the floor, because of the effort/strength it takes to get back up again.

I guess that why the less weight-bearing exercise the better, we dont have to be acrobats, just keep those muscles working to hold us up! Anyone seen a weight lifter with RA? Probably not.

Cheers

Hi Renee - I have similar problems. Kneeling is very painful, and it's hard for me to get back up off the floor anymore. As for my ankles, I find I have problems walking on uneven ground - my problem is that my joints are also very hypermobile, so any little change from a flat surface can make my ankles give out under me and I fall down. Same goes for my knees. As for my wrists and hands, opening a doorknob can cause me severe pain sometimes. My fingers don't work well for typing lately either. RA really sucks!

I'm the same with my wrists I can't put weight on them without some discomfort. Pushing myself up off the ground is not fun so I avoid that as much as I can. My right wrist has actually been playing up for the last day nothing major, just a bit of an annoyance.

I really want to do gardening and have a cushion with arms. Can't us it yet (still not strong enough from my surgery) but I'm looking forward to getting there.

Lynne

Have had RA for probably close to 20 years now. Both elbows are permanently crooked. Not just slightly but very noticeably. I love to play golf but could not for probably 15 years. Have started playing again last 2 years with medicine and lots of prayer. Will always have crooked elbows and it still hurts to play a little but just thankful I still can. You have to find your limits and then adjust to them. Hang in there.

I can't do alot of the Yoga moves either. I do try though. I can't bend my knee right now either it is still swollen. For about a month now. It hurts when I move it too, with walking. I do swim 3x a week and that helps alot . You have to move your joints a little everyday and also take lots of breaks in between.
bigi