Pilates class. Or should that read "farce". - NRAS

NRAS

36,431 members45,077 posts

Pilates class. Or should that read "farce".

Bon1 profile image
Bon1
21 Replies

So here is my latest tale of woe is me. On the advice of doctors and seemingly everyone around me I have been exhorted to keep moving and doing exercise. As a former yoga aficionado I figured surely a gentle Pilates class would be manageable. What a joke. I literally couldn't do anything. I mean never mind the exercises - I couldn't even get up and down in order to fail to do them. And all these elderly overweight ladies just leaping up and down with gay abandon. Great morale booster. LiMped home, wept, now realise I feel feverish and worse than ever. Just to clarify the current situation with me is that I am off sulfa due to sky high liver results. On 20mg pred but even that seems not to be working. Due to start metho next week but terrified that if I couldn't manage the 'gentle on the liver' option then I maybe won't cope with methodrexate. Hobbling back to bed now. FAIL.

Written by
Bon1 profile image
Bon1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
21 Replies
Ali_H profile image
Ali_H

Hey you got off the sofa which more than a lot of people... Success!

Ali

Amy_Lee profile image
Amy_Lee

Dear Bon1,

It is very hard to get into any kind of normal exercise that we normally do when we are at our peak of suffering. I was unable to do any exercise while I was at my peak of suffering too. After taking the methotrexate for about 4 months, the doctor sent me to the physiotherapy session. I started to only use the 2 1/2 feet long stick to move my hands up and down and front and back. I practically could not do anything beside that. Slowly, I picked other exercises up. Today I am doing yoga, pilate and foam roller exercises without any problem. So do give yourself about 6 months, you will slowly see improvement in your mobility and strength. However, to see the improvement, you must continue the little movement everyday without fail.

sylvi profile image
sylvi

Don't give up darling try swimming instead as doing pilates with a room full of larger ladies would put anyone off(find the funny in your statement,I did and i daren't repeat it on here,) If you try swimming the water will support you and you don't have to swim loads of lengths to get the exercise,just gentle walking in the water wil be as good as a matathon.xxxxxx

Cathy777 profile image
Cathy777 in reply to sylvi

I have never learnt to swim. Is walking in water really beneficial? I could manage that I think.

sylvi profile image
sylvi in reply to Cathy777

Yes it is as beneficial and you don't need to be able to swim to do it and it might be more fun than struggling with pilates.xxxx

Cathy777 profile image
Cathy777 in reply to sylvi

Thanks sylvi.

Cathy777 profile image
Cathy777

Oh I had same experience! I started a so called easy Pilate's class and couldn't manage getting up and down. By the time I got down every one had jumped up again. So embarrassing! No one knows its due to RA and not just lack of exercise. I didn't go back :-(

89TNA profile image
89TNA in reply to Cathy777

Hi there, I can sympathise here altho just want to say.. my condition may be vastly different to yours but i did pilates twice a week for 6 years.. and yes somedays i would get there and could not do a single thing... sometimes for weeks in a row.. but the days i could do were amazing and now that i dont do it anymore i look back and wish i had kept it up.. as Im a lot worse off now from stopping it.. altho i do have 2 babies that try to keep me mobile!.. :)

Cathy777 profile image
Cathy777 in reply to 89TNA

Well that's just as energetic I would think! Maybe more so!

89TNA profile image
89TNA in reply to Cathy777

LOL yeah.. it is rather wearing... right now im exhausted from keeping up with them its been a painful day... but i refuse to say NO i cant lift you darling... and no i cant bend down to bath you.. its just too mean.. looking forward to a drug that can help!

Hobnobbing profile image
Hobnobbing

Don't give up. I was lucky enough to have a Pilates class put on in work. Three of us attended and it was one of the first things to help me. I've never been flexible but I saw improvements over the weeks. It also helped being in a small class. The instructor was aware of my health issues and that I was recovering a flare.

Cathy777 profile image
Cathy777

I have found these podcasts on YouTube ... Look interesting thanks.

Cal48 profile image
Cal48

Try tai chi , no getting up & down on the floor ,you can do it sitting on a chair ,find a class helps me .Good luck

EmmaS-NRAS profile image
EmmaS-NRASNRAS

Dear Bon1,

Exercise is often the last thing on people's minds when they have RA but it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you do something - so you definitely haven't failed! The pilates class just maybe isn't right for you now and you may have to wait for the Mtx to start having an effect. However if you start small and gentle with exercise (with the help of your rheumy team) you hopefully will be able to work back up to pilates again.

NRAS has a exercise section on their website nras.org.uk/exercise which has lots of stories from other Members including on Tai Chi, seated classes, swimming and much more. We even have videos of exercises which can be done at home and with little or no equipment needed. Have a word with your team, or try and get referred to a physio, and I am sure they'll have lots of suggestions for you.

Kind regards

NRAS-Emma

smithfield profile image
smithfield

Hats off to you you tried it .And just a suggestion, if you go back you will gradually become more and more flexible. Then you can bounce jump and bend with the best of them.

A lot of people come out feeling despondent after the first session , but achieve benefits in the end.

Just trying to be positive here.

Bon1 profile image
Bon1

Thank you everyone I take great heart at your responses. The tai chi sounds really interesting. I am going to look for a class in my area. Has anyone else had positive results from tai chi?

bradfordjoanna profile image
bradfordjoanna

I tried Pilates - impossible for me too and for the same reason - could not get on or up from the floor. Felt terrible after my failed attempt.

I do manage "silver"keep fit and with the help of a great disability advisor in our local gym (East Dulwich , Southwark) I do some simple exercises at the gym each week (bike, and some machines) and I can see the improvement

I hated pred - made me feel ghastly mentally and did not help with RA. I take 20 mg Methotrexate by the injection pen and it does work to some extent (do not feel nausea with the pen)

Heres to a good solution for you.

rawillbebeaten profile image
rawillbebeaten

Hi Bon 1

You definitely did not Fail. I couldn't cope with Pilates either, getting up and down off the floor is not something I can do quickly, and something I try not to have to do at all! I am still fairly mobile so do Zumba which is uplifting BUT I adapt the moves to what I can do, and do not do any jumping or spinning around. I stopped for a few weeks when my foot pain and foot drop were at the worst but am back now. The first session I just marched on the spot and did the arm movements. Last week I did a bit more and am going again tonight. Hopefully will be back to twice a week in a month or so, I will take it steady.

My liver went Hay-wire on Methotexate but has been fine on other drugs that can effect the liver. There will be other options for you. After 14 years on Enbrel I had to switch to Rituximab and that seems to be finally kicking in, well the consultant is happy anyway! Due to have another 2 infusions soon

Best of luck and keep on doing as much as you can do, and what suits you.

Michele

lornaisobel profile image
lornaisobel

I have been doing yoga for years until I got this bloody RA. Now I cant (like you)) even get off the floor. Tried line dancing which was ok for an exercise type class but hardly anyone spoke to me so next on my list is Scottish Dancing - Never say die !!!

Fra22-57 profile image
Fra22-57

Aww bless you.The only exercise I can manage is walking. I litter pick now round my small village every few days. .well maybe one day a week. I tried swimming but it kills my arms n hands. Loved water aerobics as gentle n fun but may hands kill.

I am on sulfasalazine and ok liver wise but methotrexate gave high liver readings. Every one is different too

Cathy777 profile image
Cathy777

Thanks Kai I will check these out more fully

You may also like...

What a frustrating farce

two weeks just to be able to get out of bed, I failed my DAS score by half a point. The nurse was...

How good should it get?

diagnosis I was struggling to walk due to my knees and ankles and couldn't dress myself or open a...

Treated like a second class citizen.

Would you class this scenario as effectively managed?

methotrexate plus etoricoxib and amitripylene for pain management. A couple of months on I am...

Sore throat, neg LFT x 2, should I take my tocilizumab?

The sore throat appeared on Monday evening, I was due to inject Tocilizumab on Tuesday but was...