I used to be a huge gym rat and loved lifting and running but over the past year I've had to modify everything because of my RA. I've actually noticed that I have less pain if I do about the same amount of working out each day rather than having harder days and having rest days.

My knees are my enemy so I can not do any sort of squats or long distance running without them swelling the next day. I had to find leg workouts that require minimal knee bending (which is frustrating).

Overall, I try to do SOMETHING every day. Like I said, usually about the same workout each day instead of pushing myself on certain days because then I just feel worse.

So awesome you are able to do crossfit! Keep at it! :)

First an PT confused the heck out of me...first she said that once the pain started to push a little bit more...then she would contradict that and say that pain was a warning signal to stop once it started...
They have these portable pedals that can sit on the floor or on a table top..you can use them in different positions and at different tensions to get movements in your knees/legs and arms/shoulders..a couple minutes to start with and then you can add to the time..
Also there are just arm movements to help your shoulders..like bringing your arms up in front of you as high as you can... then take them back behind you..shrugging your shoulders,,

For me, it is hard to discern what is, "this hurts because of RA", and "this hurts because I haven't done it in 9 months, and it would hurt anyone who's been sitting on their butt". :)

If it is, "this hurts because I've been inactive", the pain should subside in a few days, and the next time you do it, it won't be as bad. If it's a, "this move makes my RA worse" kind of thing, you will never see improvement, even when your fitness improves. There's also the hurt where you don't see improvement, but it's not RA -- it's old age ;) It may take some time to figure it all out. I was very active before RA, and I'm still quite active, but I'm still trying to figure it all out. My butt was so tender yesterday and when I sat on a wooden stool it felt like it had a knot in it, to the point where if I hadn't known better, I would think I had become delirious, blacked out, and fell on my butt. I still have no idea what I did! (maybe I did black out! but then... someone would have mentioned it :)).

Couch to crossfit is pretty radical, so do try to listen to your body and build up to the boot-camp like workouts. It sound like you have a good coach.

delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) which the entire world gets is completely different from i have had synovial fluid for so long in my joints and now they are shattering a little every time I use them. i can tell.

as the disease progresses you will NOT even notice your DOMS - you will be in so much RA discomfort that the little stuff before from the wonder years of yore work outs you won't even notice.

1. because there will be no more wonder work outs more like I can't believe i got through THAT :)
2. because you will be too busy icing, wrapping, and elevating and resting after extertions

:)

it's a freebie. the people at the gym who now have DOMS will make you smile.

If only

Depot

My shoulders were that bad, too! There were days when I could not dress or undress myself!

I would not push the shoulders to workout. In the past three months, I have finally started getting a handle on the shoulders with those stretchy bands. Google "rotator cuff exercises with bands" and you'll find a variety of approaches. To strengthen the rotator cuff, you need to strengthen it all the way round. I also have shoulder bursitis, so I understand the pain!

Maybe you can do band exercises when others are doing pushups or (heaven forbid!) burpees. I'd avoid softball, too! When the shoulders hurt, ice them down.

Now, three years later, I am finally in a good position with the shoulders. Rehab took longer than I wanted because I am stubborn and often try to 'power through it'. Lesson learned by me!

i say you are half my age so if you can get down on the floor and push up do it now, before the ra lady sings. in fact do and post the pictures and live to tell the tale :). i don't care if it's a full, a modified, a "ladies" push up or you are just snoozing on the mat. :)

on the other hand there are always walls, walls make great places to place your palms on, it's called a triceps wall push up and during those wonder years of yore i laughed silently at them. i think you know where I am going with this, I don't laugh anymore

go for whatever you can do.

Depot

Thanks everyone! great advice! I'll take it a bit slower and see how it goes :)

Oh my gosh stop crossfit now. I cannot imagine a worse way to get back in shape with ra. The focus is so completely different than slow strengthening. Ouch, it hurts my joints to think of it. I spent 9 months getting back in shape and learning how and when I can push. Well I still don't stop soon enough all of the time. If you want to do crossfit, get back in shape first then go try it with modification. I think you will then find that other methods provide you with more benefit within whatever ra constraints you have. I do some p90x3 now but still have to be careful.