In grateful pain we suffer.

[Spring2017]

So this RA thingy.😜 has me wondering where is my limit and how bad is it? Is it just in the joints that we know of from the scans?

I have friends and family members that died of cancer, have survived it not just once but three times.

I feel so at awe because there is similarities to the illnesses in the way it uses the immune system against our bodies.

With all this in mind as my best friend asked me if I would please join her in some quality time walking for a charity to raise funds for cancer research, I thought what a great way to test my physical limit.

Now I have always been fit, and handled long walks easily. ( until my ankles and big toes starting to hurt.)

But boy oh boy I think I need to talk to my consultant as after a few hrs of walking in great supporting shoes meant for this.... my hips were aching in the joints. Still no pain in my ankles or toes.

We took a break then got up to keep walking as some of our team mates came back to camp. This made my hips fell really stiff and painful along with my knees slowly starting to ache. 😩

We had a target of rounds to do to raid as much funds as possible and to show our support.

My friend was equally in pain as she is dealing with a slipped disk.

But we kept walking in memory and dedication to help those who we know will need the support.

How ever... we walked for 9 hrs in a 24hrs charity walk. I feel proud that we did it and helped raid lots of money.

I also think I found my limit.

It is the day after and my knees have got big bulges the size of a golf ball behind the knee, it is swollen at the front too.

My hips so sore that I feel I can't lift them.

Now it all got so painful that tears came and I thought this is what I'm facing in the future?!

I will have to get my self together and hope to dear who-ever that it is just one of those things where my body says uh oh... too much in too short a time.

anyone else have knee pain and hip pain like that?

[Downtime]

Oh yes!

I used to be a hill walker, golfer and tennis player but no more. When I'm flaring which seems to be a lot of the time these days if I walk for an hour I get painful knees with swelling behind the knee and lumps in the front.

I think you did amazingly well to walk for 9 hours!

My hips are better after a series of steroid injections for tendon pain, but if I walk any real distance they start complaining.

I'm getting to know my limits but I'm finding it very hard to accept.

Most of the time I feel so tired I can't be bothered to physically do much anyway so it's not an issue, sadly.

This disease really is a life changer.

[stbernhard]

Hello, it's definitely your body saying toooooo much in too short a time. I hope you'll only pay with pain for a few days. One of the most important things in self managing RA is listening to your body and pacing yourself. There is a lot of very helpful information on the NRAS website. Their helpline is also to be recommended. I was an avid walker and sports person, but had to stop when I got RA. After 4 years I was back to 75% capacity and in remission. So don't think what you are going through now is the rest of your life. Everybody is different, but with the great medicines and self management tools we have today the future is POSITIVE. All the very best. (Pace yourself!)