Hi,
Can you wonderful people tell me if exercise makes the pain worse as I always thought that it was beneficial to keep your joints moving and active.
I ask because the pain in my foot had been calming down over the last couple of days until today when I went for a long walk with my dog. I am now back to limping again and i quite a bit of pain.
Thanks for reading
Moggie x
Generally if I don’t exercise I seize up and everything is achy and painful. BUT you have to take care about exercising an inflamed joint, and if you have not been able to exercise for a few days then build up again gradually.
Your dog will have to cope with very short walks for a bit, increasing gently over time.
(Ours is so fed up with only getting an hour a day now that he’s being completely wicked. He stole a pair of gloves yesterday and buried them in the garden, and I can’t find them anywhere. Today he stole the washing balls...I long for proper walks again!)
One of the dogs we used to have years ago used to pick up my husbands underpants when he took them off and as quick as a flash run down the stairs and outside, then he would run around the garden with these pants hooked over one of the bottom canine teeth. Just as well we only had one set of neighbours. 😀
That made me chuckle.
Moggie x
When I was 3 or 4 our little dog was jealous of me and would pull down my bloomers every time a car drove by if I was playing outside in the summer! He also would drag my toys outside. 😆
What a little rotter 😂😂😂 He was a bully!
It's good to laugh and you certainly did that so thank you. What a naughty little dog you had and one you will never forget.
Moggie x
I have a very rude story involving Black Dog and a pair of my pants. Too rude for the forum!! 
There is always PM - no excuse. 😁 Spill!!
Thank you for your reply.
Although I walk every day with my dog I have been at work the last couple of days so she only had 20 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening but today I took her for an hour and a half. I only woke up this morning thinking that my foot pain hadn't bothered me as much for the last couple of days but I was struggling on my way home from the walk and am now back to square one pain wise. Maybe short and frequent walks are now the order of the day (although how I am going to manage that when I am back to full time work I haven't a clue).
Sounds like you have one naughty dog there!!!!! lol
Moggie x
Good dog! 🐕
Hi Moggie,
I have found exercise a god send at times. If I don't do something the stiffness is unbearable. My physio told me to let my body be my guide. If I get a flare in my feet I use ice foot bath or heat, I let it settle then start walking again short distances at first or I have an exercise bike so takes the weight off but keeps things moving. The correct foot-ware has also helped a great deal. By changing my trainers I can now go running which really helps with my upper body pain. When I say running, at the moment its just slow jog for a minute then walk 
I hope this is helpful.
Thanks for your reply.
Can you tell me which works best for you, the ice foot bath or the heat???
So trainers are a no no are they because I live in trainers??
Moggie x
I took a few pairs of trainers to the podiatrist and she told me the ones I used for running where making the foot pain worse. Once I got the proper support the pain eased considerably. She also said slippers and flip-flops where out. : (. I use heat before I go anywhere to warm up everything, then ice in a bucket and plunge my feet in for as long as I can stand after a run. It works for me, but only when pain is low. If I get flare then warmth and rest.
Thanks for the explanation.
I did have an appt with someone regarding insoles etc but it was cancelled due to the medical climate we are living in at the moment. They will make me a new appt when things quieten down a bit.
Got a bad feeling they are going to make me throw my favourite trainers away!!!.
Moggie x
I have a Morton's Neuroma. My Podiatrist (NHS) made me some insoles, they were marvellous , took the pain away. I have them for both feet even though the problem is one foot only. You need to wear the pair in order to balance your walking. I wear Hotter shoes, and swap the insoles when I swop shoes
Insoles really helped me. Walking became much less painful.
Have you got a Mortons Nuroma ? that really hurts and if so you need to see a podiatrist for an injection that stops the pain straight away.
Sorry but I have never heard of one of those!!!! Pls tell me more.
Moggie x
Its non malignant tumour between toes usually 3 and 4 th toes. But feels like walking on broken glass like agony when walking. At rest it doesn't hurt. If you have such symptoms your GP can arrange for you to see a podiatrist who can see it on an ultra sound. Often associated with RA its treatable I've had mine removed twice no problem its minor surgery. I never found insoles helped and also advised and I think its true that very soft soled shoes seem to improve the situation but in reality make it worse. A small heel can help and flat shoe always made mine worse. I think its to do with how your foot strikes the ground. Walking on pavements was so painful although walking across marsh was bad but not so bad. Horrid condition I could not even change gear in the car as the pressure hurt my foot so much.
Before diagnosis I was convinced I had it even gp thought that it might be the case as I had the exact symptoms and was really struggling to walk. Even felt a lump on my foot between toes where neuroma usually is. (it just felt like that coz of swelling) But after visit to specialist it wasn't confirmed it was RA in my foot. And once I started RA treatment it got better but I still had pain in my foot long after all the rest of my joins stopped hurting.
I was told by Rheumatologist its one of the symptoms of RA and often the first. I wonder if this about the personal opinion of who you see. I had an MRI same day on my left foot and the Neuroma was large so removed the following week. I had private medicine so that could have been a factor in treatment. Although not insured now as retired we do go private for some stuff.
My gp sent me to podiatrist and he didn't confirm it was neuroma in my case. The pain and swelling also gradually gone with RA medication.
It's definitely worth checking it though. I heard so many different opinions from different doctors about my individual symptoms haha
I often get pain in various joints. I know if I have a flare then exercise for me is a no it prolongs and makes the pain worse. Like you walk the dog I can walk daily when I can and just when I think things are going well . I start limping and my feet hurt . I Haven’t walked any further or walked a more rocky route 🤷♀️🤷♀️
Thanks for your comment.
That really sounds like me. The pain had almost gone until the long walk today and I am now back to square one. My foot was that swollen the other day that even my daughter commented on it (and she NEVER show any compassion or sympathy), she is convinced my thyroid illness is all in my head and half the symptoms they go along with under active thyroid are a figment of my imagination!!!!!
Moggie x
I reread your post from last year can you tell me how do you have you control of Hashimoto's disease (under active auto immune Thyroid Disease) by diet?
I'm interested as was hospitalised due to low thyroid way way back and started very slowly on thyroxine as its dangerous to take too much suddenly. I was told if you don't take the replacement medication Thyroxine (its the medication which exempts us from prescription charges as we can't make it ourselves) you fall into a Coma and just die in about 6 weeks because its irreversible.So I've been taking Thyroxine for about 30 years and never think about it. So if it's possible to control by diet it's a really interesting new development. Did you have blood test to confirm Hashimoto's as I did or advised its low Thyroid function? I hope you don't mind me asking but the different takes by the medical profession on these conditions is very interesting. And I do have Pernicous Aenemia with injections every eleven weeks as well. My blood test was for p ANCA antibodies which was positive.
Sorry for late reply, have not turned on my lap top all over the weekend.
I do not control my thyroid condition through diet alone as I also take thyroxine but not the NHS rubbish as I buy a German made, lactose free, thyroxine which is a much purer tablet with a lot of the rubbish that the NHS thyroxine contains (commonly known as fillers, like talc) taken out.
Yes I have the auto immune version of thyroid illness, which makes it much harder to control as you are at the mercy of your immune system and when, if or how it is attacking your thyroid at any one time and this can vary greatly from day to day.
The comment in your answer to me about dying in 6 weeks if you dont take thyroxine did make me wonder if you actually had what is know as a thyroid storm, which is very dangerous but to say that you can die in 6 weeks if you have thyroid illness and dont take medication is just not true, my mums doctors left her un-medicated for over a year until I stepped in, with a few choice words, and got it sorted. My mum also had un-diagnosed PA and no vitd at all in her body so you can imagine my reaction to this when her GP told me the didn't treat her due to her age!!!!!!
I was one of the unlucky ones whereas medication alone did not stop my symptoms or control my illness so I went down the restricted diet route as well so I am gluten, dairy, sugar and legume free plus I have also been meat free for nearly 40 years, so a very restricted diet. This has been a life changer and really helped me to control my thyroid illness as I got to the stage, before I altered my diet, that I was going to have to stop working due to one of the worst symptoms I suffer, which is brain fog (the only way I can explain this is that it felt like I had the onset of alzheimer's). Since changing my diet I am now 200% better and can function to a reasonably standard most of the time. I am not trying to control my thyroid illness with diet, I am trying to control my immune system with diet and reduce the attacks on my thyroid.
I find the way the medical profession look at autoimmune illness, or more to the point how the DONT look at autoimmune illness, very disturbing. Some autoimmune illness's are not understood at all and you are palmed off with old and out of date practises from GP's and consultants.
Hope this helps, any more questions just ask.
Moggie x
Yes I was hospitalised as could not be given the right amount of Thyroxine as was too dangerous. The expression Thyroid storm does ring bell and I was ill. I don't have problem with Thyroxine and relatives in Germany so thats really interesting, You could ask about the pANCA test which I had as it is a particular form of auto immune and I also have kidney failure although that not due to auto immune but an injury through medication. So my blood is taken a lot, and yes I think a lot that is not understood and in particular rarely do we see an endocrinologist that might look at things overall not just bits of us. I'm Celioc too but do eat meat and don't have any other gut issues and fortunately no diabetic issues which my sister has had from childhood and is also auto immune. She doesn't live here and her doctor did'nt do this pANCA test. So no overall method of diagnosis which is really disturbing.
Hi Moggie,
it’s possible that you need some insole support but you need to ask for a referral to a podiatrist who will assess and then, if appropriate, they will refer into orthotics who make up the insoles. Clearly that’s not going to happen any day/month soon.
So the best I can suggest is make the soles of your feet wet and stand on a surface which will show an imprint of your wet foot when you move away. Take a photo and look at it carefully. How much of the sole of the foot can you see? If a lot/most of it then this would suggest arch support is needed so choose the most supportive pair of shoes you currently have to walk in and that may help with the pain....
This explains more clearly heelthatpain.com/foot-arch-... and you may be able to get some insoles over the counter in a chemist or online from a reputable company but they won’t be as good as custom made insoles.
Sorry I can help any more than that.
All the best
Ali
Thanks for reply Ali.
Had a appt with the hospital regarding insole last week but it was cancelled due the the current problem - plus it's not a place you want to go at the moment is it unless it's a real emergency.
Please dont be sorry as your reply helps a lot, especially the tip about standing in something soft to see what the soles of your feet are doing. Will certainly have a read of the link that you posted .
Thanks again
Moggie x
Exercise is essential especially stretching out all joints. I carry on walking, no matter what but if I am hurting too much I take a shorter walk. It is more a matter of moderating movement for inflamed joints while keeping everything moving.
Scientists have studied this and they find that complete rest is the worst thing for RA. Find what works for you, keep moving but listen to the joint.
I still make bread, it is excruciating at the moment because my wrists don't want to play, but I think a 10 min workout is ok, they scream a bit afterwards.
Take it easy, take care and stay safe
Greetings Moggie,
I find that 3 x 20 minute walks each day is the kindest to all parts of the body. Once I go for longer jaunts the pain erupts. When we could all behave in a natural fashion, I set off each in the morning around 9.30 am and walked 20 minutes to public transport and went for a ride to wherever looked fun and/or beautiful. Then I walked another 20 minutes to a cafe and had a cuppa and maybe a treat/lunch. Then after 1 hour I set off again and repeated the first steps and couple of times. All this often took 4 hours and I had walked around 4 kilometers without realizing it and enjoyed every bit of my adventures. I would suggest to not overdo things and honour your health situation. Your dog will be happy to join you wherever you go. Now that we are in lockdown, still do shorter more frequent walks wearing a spacesuit and flippers. It makes people laugh. Perhaps you could dress your dog up as well (they love dressing up) with goggles and cape. I am finding now that the initial shock of the Covid-19 pandemic has had time to settle in peoples' minds, our innate sense of the ridiculous is shining through the mire. We are all in this together and will make it to the other side much better people.
Happy Walkies!
Dee
Thanks so much for your reply - you seems to have a very sunny nature which comes across in your reply.
I have not exercised since Friday, as my dog has not been very well, and the pain in my foot has almost gone again so am not thinking this may not be caused by PA at all - all in all I am very confused as I have pain in my fingers most of the time now, pain in my knee on and off and hip pain that will flare up sometimes.
Thank you for making me smile.
Moggie x
Hi Moggie,
Ali again! 😎
One good exercise for feet is rolling them over a rolling pin.... something that is decades old and the first I heard of this was in the book 7 Years In Tibet where the process was used to heal sciatic. I have a foot roller at the table and when ever I sit down I roll my feet on it from toe to heel all the way to stretch the toes and the achilles.
This link - same site as last link.... not intentionally promoting them and not had any direct dealings with them but they talk sense! heelthatpain.com/plantar-fa...
I hope things improve soon for you.
Ali
PS I also recommend the book as a good read!!! 👍🏼
I've found exercise really helps my joints, but don't overdo it and if you have any pain then have a day off.
Thank you very much for your reply,
It seems that the more time off from exercise the better my foot is feeling, which is confusing me even more. Am now looking forward to my podiatrist appt when things get back to somewhere neat normal as I think this is really going to help me.
Moggie x
I have found that exercise is good but my feet, ankles, knees and hips gradually deteriorated last year and I started picking up injuries when I walked relatively short distances. Being unable to get an NHS appointment with a podiatrist, I saved up and went to a local private clinic. They charged me £150 to examine my feet, film how I walked (surprisingly strangely) and made a set of insoles for my shoes. The pain disappeared within a couple of days. Although I believe this was a result of RA in the first place, I was finding difficulty walking whether I had stiffness in the morning or not (i.e. active RA) and it has taught me that not everything is a flare. I know this is not the time to visit a podiatrist but it might be something to bear in mind.
Thank you for your reply and thoughts as I am now thinking along the same lines.
I did have an appt with a podiatrist but that was cancelled due to the current climate but will certainly be attending my appt as soon as they rebook me in. I think it's shameful that some people do not get the treatment the need and deserve and have to pay privately to get help. I am so glad that your money was not wasted and you are now reaping the benefits of their advice.
Moggie x
Thank you. I hate spending money but this was the best thing I have ever done. Hope things sort themselves out soon and you get the help you need.
Thank you for your kind words. Glad you feel your money was well spent but it doesn't make it right does it??
Best wishes
Moggie x
I totally agree with you, it does not make it right.
Hi Moggie
Exercise definitely helps me. I used to be extremely fit before I was diagnosed in 2019 and couldn’t exercise for quite a while. But now back on my road bike (Shorter distances currently) and the gym (at least before the lockdown) and it makes me feel healthier, mentally better and eases the pain.
Thanks for your reply but I have got to warn you that I am a exercise hater. I admire all the joggers and bikers I meet whilst walking but doing either of these things is my idea of hell.lol.
However I do enjoy a long walk and this is the problem as it looks like I am now relegated to short walks only.
Keep up the good work and do an extra mile on your bike for me!!!!!
Moggie x
Definitely exercise is good as long as you don’t overdo it, which I always do by the way 😂 I do yoga and that helps x
Hi moggie
I exercise everyday. Low impact cardio easy yoga and strength exercises all to help the joints. Normally swimming two to three times a week but due to the situation we are all in we can't.
I have a bad left knee and right shoulder at the moment, so I am taking it easy and doing seated exercise that's kind on the joints. And like others have said, do what your body tells you.. if you are in too much pain then don't do anything that will make it worse, and rest, then the next day you may feel up too it.
I also do Thai chi which is really good and keeps you moving and a bit of meditation which gives me time to collect my own thoughts, lifts me up, great for mental health and gives me time away from demanding family and time to myself. Which we all need.
Basically find what suits you.
Thanks for the advice and tips on ways to keep mobile.
I will certainly been looking at your suggestions and seeing if there is anything near me that I can join, although I would hate to give up walking as I do like to get out in the fresh air and be amongst nature, especially after a hard and stressful day as work as it seems to calm me down and helps wash a lot of the stresses of the day away.
Moggie x
Hi moggie
I know exactly what you mean, being outside in the fresh air nothing beats that. I too am lucky the beach is only a few miles away, l love walking on the beach.
If you cannot find any Thai chi classes look up on u tube. I practice mine in the garden.
Take care
I lived only a few streets away from a beach but never went!!! I am more a tree person as I love to walk in the woods - dont know why but it seems to throw a cloak of calmness over me.
Thank you for all your help.
Moggie x
Sounds just like me!! I have been rather cock-sure of myself with my running daily and taking the dog out for at least 3 miles. Thought that exercise cured everything. Yes, I have had pain but I have run/walked through it but now I find that often the pain gets worse and won't go away. And of course, just as I want to ramp up my exercise after diagnosis, I find it's getting worse. One has to adapt, but if you're anything like me, if you try a new exercise, the muscle strain afterwards is so bad, you'll really know about it.
So I have accepted running isn't always the best thing, so I have incorporated cycling and after my first excursion out with my daughter the other day, I woke the following morning feeling as thought my entire body was on fire. Same thing happened after my first day of painting the dining room - anything different seems to trigger a sort of rebellion! But it does get better.
As I understand it (others will probably have more facts) the inflammation causes the damage - I imagine it eating away bits of the joints, whereas osteoarthritis is caused by usage of said joint and I deduce that exercise doesn't cause damage for either condition because it keeps the muscles healthy and strong, BUT exercise doesn't really reduce pain with inflammatory arthritises as it might with OA. And this is what makes it difficult to know what to do. People say swimming but I can only imagine what the backlash would be after the first session.
Also, more worryingly, my 'puff' seems to be greatly diminished and I know you need a lot for swimming. I run really, really, really slowly and that has got worse recently.
One thing is for sure, if I don't exercise I become very stiff and that causes other problems especially with my coccyx and sacroiliac joint, so I feel I need to keep going but my enthusiasm is waning because of the increasing pain in my feet and knees. to put it into context it has been getting worse only over the past month, which is scarily rapid. I've only been on my medication for a few weeks and I know it won't start working for a while so I wonder how much worse it's all going to get. My wrists feel stiff and weak - it isn't just my feet and ankles.
Gentle exercise for now.resistance exercise ( I use bands or when having a good run I do a pump class) NHS have exercise online a good range . Aerobics yoga Pilates etc worth a look. When your meds or the right mix work then you push your self a bit more but until your stable it will only set you back
Hi J1707 - yes I like Pilates too, I do a quick stretch workout most days and it feels heavenly. I joined a class one week before lockdown! but I have a book which I should really get into.
Just reading your reply has me out of breath, running, cycling, decorating - I think I would be in bed for a week if I tried that lot.lol.
Do you need a lot of puff for floating in a pool on your back and gently swishing yourself about??? I remember when I was pregnant being told that swimming supports the body like no other exercise - give it a go and let us know.
Thanks very much for your reply and I hope your meds kick in real soon and you get some much needed relief.
Moggie x
Hi Moggie - floating maybe not but actual swimming I find really hard getting enough breath. I can't bear the thought of becoming disabled. I'll do the floating when I can no longer do anything else! I always get a pounding head after only about 2 lengths.
I only run 3.5 miles every other day and walk the dog about 7 every other day. It's not much but it's getting harder. I've got children - one primary school age- and the thought of not being able to look after them properly terrifies me.
Am very aware of vascular issues too. i generally don't get depressed but physical and mental infirmity fill me with horror. The answer is to keep moving.
when lockdown is over I will be adding swimming to the repertoire as I am beginning to see that varied exercise is the way to go, I'll see if I can build up slowly.
It's interesting that I find running slightly easier than walking and it shows that different joints and muscles are used. No doubt that will change as time goes on.
Feeling headachy today. Taken 2 paracetomol and feel sick. urrrggh. sh** day.
I have a flare up if I exercise a lot I have RA so I moderate it now I have to or I suffer I used to run 3miles a day not any more sad times walking do it enough for me
Thanks for your reply - sounds like it's different levels of exercise for different people at different stages of this illness.
Moggie x
Exercise is essential for me and it really helps but it's so important not to over do it. It's all about balance. If I do too much it makes my pain a lot worse. If I have a flare can only do very gentle exercise or to have a few days of rest. After rest I have to gradually increase it or else I will just feel worse again... So it's quite hard to learn to be gentle and know your limit.
I think that's the keys isn't it - knowing your limits - which is hard when you are new to all this as you have to go from not even considering limits to having to pace yourself, which is very alien to me.
Will take on board your advice and learn to know when to stop.
Thanks for reply.
Moggie x
Definitely. The hardest part for me was and still is to accept that now there are limits and to find a new balance to whatever I do.
I am quite new to all of this too...
Stay well x
Thanks for your reply and sorry for the delay in answering.
It's easy to say that you are going to pace yourself but to actually do it is a different matter isn't it - take today, I went and did my weekly bit of shopping (this has changed from popping into my local supermarket daily due to the "stay at home"restrictions) and then took my dog for a walk straight after and boy and I paying for it now. If I am not in pain at the time I keep going but it then seems to catch up on me all of a sudden so am finding it very hard to gauge how far is too far.
Hope you are having better luck than me at knowing when to stop.
Stay well.
Moggie x
I am better at it now. But there was no easy way to learn only through the pain because as you said it doesn't hurt then it catches up with you later. So I would do something for few hours (or minutes depends on activity) and see what happens later on or next day...and then see if I can increase activity or have to decrease it more. And sometimes when I feel good I still forget when it's time to stop and rest.
At least now you have your week worth of shopping and dog is happy 😊 time to rest and take it easy! At least for a week.. 🖤 x
If only it was that easy - dog expects two walks a day and the boss expects me to do a certain amount of work for my wages.lol. not to mention the field attached to my house that some would call a garden and I call a huge, huge headache as I hate any form of gardening, especially when it's as big as it is (not to mention that it's hard work), still shouldn't complain she I as some people dont have any garden at all do they?? but boy do I know when I have had to spend a couple of hours out there mowing the lawn.
But that's the real worry isn't it, there are certain things that you have to do isn't there, especially when you live on your own (which I have always enjoyed and am now, for the first time in my life, realising there are quite a few pit falls).
Take care.
Moggie x
I am one of them people I am on furlough and live in a tiny little flat no garden not even balcony. Wouldn't want a field haha that would definitely be too much but would love a sunny corner outside where I could put a chair and read. If my joints hurt these days it's probably from the lack of doing not the other way round. But hey it's ok.
We do what we gotta do
Stay well x
Bless you, if I could cut a fair size square off of my field for you I would.
Yes I moan about my huge garden but to have no outside space at all must be awful, nowhere to just sit and feel the sun on your face and the heat soothing your bones is worse than trying to cope with the hard work that a large garden entails. I cannot imagine not having a garden at all as, even when I lived in London, I have always had one - maybe no where near as big as the one I have now but it was somewhere to sit and think.
Wishing you well.
Moggie x
I exercise about 5 times a week. Use to love walking 5to 10 miles. however it makes the pain in my feet worse. My walks are much shorter now and vary from day to day. Gradually increased over the months and I can manage to walk further but it has to be done gradually.
Hi Moggie, I walk a little not a whole lot. I do things in the house to keep me busy till I get tired or hurting more. I can't be moving around no longer 20 min at a time. But I go grocery store an most of time when I am done my legs an hips is very painful. So i guess you just have to walk dog in moderation an see how far you can go before you start feeling that pain. Good Luck!
I'd like to thank everyone who has taken time out of their day to comment on my question and all the helpful advice and information they have shared with me.
You are all truly amazing.
Moggie x
It's all the info that you don't get when looking RA up on a medical or specialist website. Personally, I would keep doing what you're doing until you can't and then modify it. I think it's great that you and others on here are into exercise in spite of RA (and related conditions) there are so many people who just take to their sofas and do nothing or feel that they have to 'take it easy'.
I even do squats while waiting for the kettle to boil!!
Squats!!!!! I doubt very much I would get back up.lol. If I have to get something out of the cupboard under the sink I have to heave myself up using the sink!!!!
Couldn't agree more re advice from sites like this one (I used the thyroid site for years). There is nothing that compares to getting advice from those who suffer from the same illness as they can tell you things a doctor, consultant or health care worker never could.
Moggie x
Moggie: my squats are very noisy!! Both knees crunch and crackle. Although thinking about it they did that when I was a girl too.
Not sure where you are with your exercises but as others have I can recommend Pilates. Not for aerobic exercise but gentle stretching. It's so energising. I got my kids doing some in the garden yesterday. They usually dismiss anything from their mother, preferring advice on such things from their stepdad and older brother, but actually they both had to concede that it made them feel energetic.
there are loads of videos on YouTube for beginners and people like us (!).
Have fun!!
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Exercise or not?
