Hi I have psioriatic arthritis and am on MTX for last 5 months.I have been doing quite well on it ,in fact ,well enough to take some exercise at the gym,I have been going twice a week for last 3 weeks and enjoy it once I am there.but last week I suffered lots of arm pain (same as R.A. pain) and extreme fatigue for 4 days and my psoriasis has gotten a little worse,so I assume its a flare up.Usually after gym I dont have any pain ,just slight stiffness.My question is ; is it safe to carry on at gym if I can and will it do any damage to my joints and muscles affected by the R.A.?
Not sure if to carry on regardless of pain permitting.
Thanks for your reply's in advance
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junik53
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I do some voluntary gardening, feels like a gym workout some days! but if I over do it I'm fatigued later or the day after, have to Pace myself. Maybe you're over doing it at the gym?
I find walking is best for me and I also go to an aqua therapy wellbeing class at the local pool, exercising in water is better on the joints.
Having been an avid non-exerciser pre diagnosis I started Tai Chi for RA which is great for flexibility and balance. I then started Aquafit which I love and am having swimming lessons - I was very excited a couple of weeks ago when I managed a whole length! I find water based exercise is definitely easier on the joints but it's obviously working as I'm now walking faster and further and feeling better in myself. 🚶😊
I love exercise but I find if I exercise during a flare it intensifies it and prolongs the flare and fatigue goes to another level.Personally I rest then go back when well. Everyone is different
There is a great article in the NRAS Winter 2018 mag (which I think you can access online or phone the helpline for) which discusses why exercise is so important. The type of exercise is also discussed. I found it really useful and will certainly answer many of your questions. Happy reading.
I think still exercise if you actually feel like it, but maybe do a little less. I used to still walk during a flare but would get exhausted, so instead of an hour I'd do 20 mins.
I would advise you tod finitely exercise. Exercise without impacts is best because your joint surfaces are likely to be more fragile than normal. If you read my profile you will see that despite my RA I have maintained my competitive cycling despite RA. There was an initial pause due to severe anaemia at first but within a few weeks of starting Humira injections my anaemia had cleared and I started competing again. Until a life-threatening crash in a race in 2012. That and my induced coma/multiple operations during four months in hospital slowed me down a lot but in 2016 I resumed competing albeit I am now a Para-cyclist. s long as my anaemia is controlled I can rcae to my heart's content! In short, yes, exercise away. Muscle strength supports weakened joints.
I would advise you to definitely do exercise. Exercise without impacts is best because your joint surfaces are likely to be more fragile than normal. If you read my profile you will see that despite my RA I have maintained my competitive cycling despite RA. There was an initial pause due to severe anaemia at first but within a few weeks of starting Humira injections my anaemia had cleared and I started competing again. Until a life-threatening crash in a race in 2012. That and my induced coma/multiple operations during four months in hospital slowed me down a lot but in 2016 I resumed competing albeit I am now a Para-cyclist. s long as my anaemia is controlled I can race to my heart's content! In short, yes, exercise away. Muscle strength supports weakened joints.
I would certainly not exercise at the gym if I was in pain from a flare or any inflammation. Keeping moving is good, but using gym equipment or weights, putting extra strain on joints and muscles that are already struggling is not going to be productive.
It takes time to know your body and how it will react when you overdo things so I’d take a rest from the gym whilst you’re feeling tired, and certainly if you’re in pain. With RD you can’t just power on if your body is trying to tell you to stop, which is essentially what a flare does.
It’s important to keep active and do as much as you can to be mobile, but no point in pushing yourself.
Knowing when to stop is one of the hardest things to learn and its taken me quite a few years to understand that fatigue signals a need to rest. The gym is probably OK if you’re just stiff, but not if you’re in pain.
Exercise is absolutely the best thing you can do for your RA, short of taking your medications as prescribed by your rheumatologist.
If you're having a bad flare up, then its best to rest. But on normal days, you should push through some pain and stiffness, because the benefit to your joints, muscles and general health is worth a little short term pain. Many studies have been done on whether exercise accelerates joint damage, and even running has been shown to decrease and slow down joint damage. As you get stronger, the stiffness will improve, you'll get stronger and your flares may well decrease.
Good for you for hitting the gym, hats off to you. And keep in mind that the flare may well have happened anyway. It's just a flare. When you're back to your baseline, go back and enjoy gym again. And be proud! It's not easy exercising, but it is certainly worth it.
Thankyou for your reply,The best thing about going to gym is it lifts my mood ,so defo worth doing just for that reason,but I feel the exercise oils my joints too,dont know if this is a fact but it helps me.
I do classes and I love it .. have a laugh while working up a sweat. Have had to make myself not exercise during a flare and always disappoint nted when I can’t go.
Hi there! That is great to keep moving and exercising. I have always been a runner and I have definitely had to cut back. My joints typically will ache a bit when I first start but they tend to loosen up. Just listen to your body...it is ok to be a little sore afterwards.
Hi as my Physiotherpy always says listen to your body. Just do things that have no impact on your joints. I’ve also got Psa and Osteoarthritis. You will no if you have done to much. I do lol
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