Tired legs

[Conster]

I have gone from being active all my life INow Have ra and on mtx

But I now can't walk far at all my legs are so fatigued my question is do I push and do more or will that do more damage

[KittyJ]

you should speak to your doctors for advice as we can’t answer that. I hope you feel better soon.

[HappykindaGal]

Mine always feel like I have lead boots on and walking through treacle. Looking back, that was the first sign I had of having RA. Sometimes it was an effort to walk a dozen steps

[stbernhard]

Hi Conster, it's highly unlikely that you will do damage if you keep on walking, unless it causes severe pain. This has been shown in many scientific reports.I'm 5 months into recovery from s major operation. I started walking half a mile and gradually increased the distance. Some days my legs just didn't want to go at all, so I gave them a rest. I pushed it, but never too far. Now I'm back on 4 plus miles 5 times a week. There are lots of good exercises to strengthen your leg muscles on YouTube, but I'd recommend you have a look on the NRAS website, the SMILE RA module on exercise. Walking alone doesn't quite do it in my experience.

I've done my preaching! All the best to you and keep ou up to date on your progress.

[Nicola-NRAS Administrator in reply to stbernhard]

Further to stbernhard's post, this is the link to register free for NRAS' SMILE e-learning modules which aim to help people feel more in control of managing their RA. There are lots of different topics to choose from such as exercise, managing pains and flares , tips to get the most out of a consultation: nras.org.uk/smile/

[stbernhard in reply to Nicola-NRAS]

Thanks Nicola. I should have supplied the link.

[Nicola-NRAS Administrator in reply to stbernhard]

Thank you for recommending it!

[Conster in reply to stbernhard]

Thank you

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to stbernhard]

I’ll second that stbernard some days my legs are happy to walk further than others so on those days if it’s all a bit heavy going I just do what I can and leave it at that - I don’t push it probably because I know it’s only temporary and I’ll be able to do more next day. I often find a bench and have a rest for a while then carry on, that works too.

I know that I’ve got to keep doing some sort of walking though because otherwise I would lose the ability to move. In my Pilates class we say ‘use it or lose it’. We can’t all be gymnasts and marathon runners but we can all do something to keep our bodies ticking over. If something causes actual pain though don’t do it.

I’d definitely recommend nordic walking poles, they help your balance and take the weight off your knees and hips as well as encouraging movement in your entire body. Worth finding a group for a few lessons first.

[Brychni in reply to stbernhard]

I'm persevering too. It's good to hear others with the same view. Sometimes it's torture and then I just do something else. It's very frustrating though because I just want to run 🏃‍♀️ 🙃. Feet are very painful pretty much all the time.

[MjohnB]

This is a great question, and one I've never had answered by my rheumatology team or GP.

I've learnt through my own experience (and that of others on forums such as this), that pushing through the tired legs and fatigue will often result in payback. Pacing is key, and it's different for everyone, and for me requires constant adjustment as what is too much on one day is fine on another.

Exercise intolerance to some degree or other seems to be fairly common in systemic autoimmune conditions, but is not commonly addressed by those providing our healthcare. There's still an attitude of exercising yourself to better health, and that's not always the case, or it's certainly more nuanced than that. Hopefully these attitudes are changing, but it would be great to have better acknowledgement and guidance from healthcare providers.

All the best on your journey to better health.

[Conster in reply to MjohnB]

Thank you

[Amnesiac3637 in reply to MjohnB]

Great reply. I think ‘constant adjustment’ covers how we should think about coping with this disease and accepting that we have to constantly adjust and often hourly if not daily!

Been doing it for 34 years worth of RA now and have had very little if any input from healthcare providers about the level of exercise and how much depending on what state one is in. I was a clinician and as much as fault as any of my colleagues about not treating the person holistically. Unfortunately, time being the limiting factor in all consultations, anything other than symptom presentation gets very short shrift and is often ignored totally. We do some things well but not very well and it always grieved me that that has been the case in the NHS for the 50 years I’ve been working in it. Hey ho, something better than nothing and it’ll be patient power that changes the process eventually.

[welsh12 in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Yes sums it up I had a list of questions on my first visit to the rheumatology nurse as she was getting through her speel it was off a website she may as well given me the booklet her face said it all she was ushering me out through the door. I read and pseek evidence am mostly a positive person who had done my reading prior to the appointment but but feel for others who would have been devastated by this approach.

[smilelines]

I don't think that you will do damage but you'll be very tired. Sometimes, I push through if it is something fun and I pay the price but it is worth it to me.

[Conster]

Thank you

[rabbits65]

I do hope you feel better today. Some days I really have to push myself , I won’t give up . I walk my two poodles and I come back with very painful feet , sciatica plays up etc. I try and keep going as I really don’t want to seize up . I’m 71 years old. Think they call it “ pacing yourself”. Good luck.

[Conster in reply to rabbits65]

Thank you