I'm sorry you're feeling so lousy! I try to keep moving, too, and sometimes it really makes me feel worse at the end of it all. Hopefully, the Tramadol will help a little. Are you trying to study for finals? Yikes! Good luck,

HI, I hope it gets better so you can study, I'm studying for finals as well. Be encouraged.

I understand the exercise frustration. My Rheumy and PCP have told me to ride my bike, but they don't understand how much it hurts my knees. If I do the exercise, then I need more narcotics so I can just sit without crying. So, the exercise isn't the priority for me right now. It is very painful just to be on my feet for an hour in the grocery store. I hope when you wake up in the morning you will not hurt so much. Hugs, Elizabeth

I'm not studying for anything, but I run 2 businesses and the paperwork is challenging because the pain meds and all the other meds I have to take cause brain fog...I can sympathize.
And I agree with you about the excersise...I am sure it has it's benefits for heart and such, but it's done absolutely nothing for my rheumatoid pain.

Hang in there,
Missy

So sorry you are feeling so lousy. May I ask what kind of excercise you have been doing? Do you incorporate stretching before and after?

I am a huge proponent of excercise for those of us with RA, but I gear my workouts to ones that suit my condition.

Thanks for the kind words! Bizemom...I exercise with weights and run on the treadmill but only when I can. I can go for a few days and then am off for a few days because I feel so bad. I'm trying to loose some weight and build muscle. I used to be really athletic but over the years quit being active. Now that the RA has kicked in it's been a slow process of exercising. It's weird because some days it's like there is nothing wrong at all and then all of a sudden...like tonight it hurts to even walk and put any pressure on my hands or elbows! Anyway...thanks alot everyone!

It's my understanding that we aren't supposed to do major exercise during flares, because we can cause more joint damage. I'm no doctor, but I've always been a big proponent of pain being your body's way of saying STOP. Maybe something super gentle. I don't know sweetie, I'll be praying. God bless!

So sorry hope you feel better soon. Know the feeling some days are fine others everything is painful its crazy isn't it. Must be difficult studying my heart is with you:-)

Awwww, I hope it gets better for you. I know exactly what you mean. When I am told to try to exercise, I look at them like they are crazy. I feel worse when I do. Maybe this is because of the fibro, I don't know but it definitely doesn't make me feel any better.

Are you able to break the Tramadol in half? Maybe try that next time you have to study.

What if you try some different kinds of exercise, like biking, yoga, swimming, tai chi? I couldn't jog to save my life right now,(and I used to run 5K's) so I don't know how you run on a treadmill. Maybe you are overdoing it a bit and should scale back to a milder form. Just a suggestion.

Personally I wouldn't recommend running because it is very hard on your joints. Swimming, weight bearing excercises, core strengthing excercises, yoga or walking are but a few. I use light weights and am working on core stability. I try to get out and walk everyday. On the bad days I move slower and don't go as far. I use dvds for my inside excercise. Leslie sansone is a great one because you use 4 steps and it is no harder than glorified walking. I am now using Gilad for weight and strength training. I have several of his dvds but he has a show on fit tv also.

For me the excercise makes my mental state better and it is something I do for myself and my personal esteem. Did you know that YMCA's offer pools at an 80 degree temperature for arthritic persons? Not all Y's so you would have to check. Whatever you can do, start slow and build. It is always wise to stop when you are feeling out of sorts or fatigued.

Good luck and I hope you don't quit but instead find that perfect place and excercise that helps to rejuvenate and revitalize you!

I do stretches daily and cycle every other day. On alternate days I do weights. But I started very slowly, after I got the active flares under control. It is not a good idea to exercise if you are in an active flare of the disease, although range of motion exercises are necessary, or you will really end up with feet and hand problems esp.

I hope you can find a way around this. My orthopedic surgeon and rheumy have both encouraged me to keep up the exercise. I feel better emotionally, and it also helps keep the muscles strong, which keeps the joints in place. It is a win-win situation. I'm off to ride right now.