Oh, Sally, don't even get me started there! I live in one of the New Age meccas of the western world, and you need to wear waders just to get down the streets some days, it's flowing so thick and high! After a woman I used to work with told me that my sister was dying of pancreatic cancer at 47 because she was bitter about something, because that's what gives you cancer . . . it makes me rethink my longstanding commitments to non-violence and the abolition of handguns. I've gotten to where I just don't say anything to anybody 'cause I don't want to hear about the evils of gluten or the wonders of someone's "body worker."

As far as exercise goes, I find there is a very fine line between too much and not enough. I still walk to work, and some days it's a forced march. I was followed for a bit by a state cop one morning- all I can presume is that he thought I was drunk. Hills are out, though, as are uneven surfaces these days. If I don't get a walk I definitely hurt more. I'm going for the "use it or lose it" for as long as I can. I know that for others, walking from the bed to the bathroom is herculean. We're all trying to do what we can, no?

well and as much as society would love it all to be ONE SIZE FITS all easy, it is not reality. Each of us is different, in build, personality, body chemistry, genetics ...she says exercise works well for her, awesome (tho after reading some of her stuff I am not sure she is being completely honest) but for others exercise is an open invitation to massive pain :P and that is just how it is!!!

I think it is very nice she can run marathons. I am a bit jealous. I used to hike, even scaled a small mountain in 2009. I thought I was on top of the world, a grandma that could take such grand hikes!
I certainly understand all the negative thoughts, I really wish I could do that hike again. I am not going to look at this tread again!

DepRA, I am truly inspired by this story. Thank you for posting this link!

Happy New Year's :)

colleen did not realize that she had RA until she was 25 when she had a stunning weight loss and took up the hobby or running but now diagnoses herself retroactively post childhood and post morbid obesity as having suffered from this disease?

my rheumie's grandmother had juvenile RA and then of course RA and was in a wheelchair at teenage hood, marriage, birthing and lifetime. no treatment. I guess Colleen got off easy at birth and had the kind of RA that all juvenile arthritic patients could only dream of.

Ros

I am a member of a Facebook group of athletes with RA. There are many marathoners there. I once asked if they were not concerned about the accelerated deterioration of their joints from running.

Several responded that running keeps their flares at bay, and one said that the doc said her body was wreaking more havoc on her joints than running could ever do.

I think we all have our ways of coping and dealing/alleviating the pain. For me, staying active is part of the key. Studies show that people with chronic illness who exercise report lower levels of pain. There have been other studies that suggest running may even help build cartilage to a certain extent.

I know it's not always possible to "get off the couch", but I think the more you can do, the better. And if someone can manage their disease with exercise and ibuprofen, then, "You go girl!".