Competing with human arthiritis

wellsat

wellsat

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Any experiences? I know this isn't strictly a CR post but I feel much more at home in here and I don't want lots of people telling me they manage a weekly hack:(

For the last three months I've had pain in my hands, elbows and shoulders and I finally got round to going to the doctors earlier this week. Doctor has sent me for tests but thinks the most likely cause is arthiritis.

While I know there are far worse things I could be diagnosed with its really affecting my ability to ride and to care for G and, more worringly, its got rapidly worse in the last few months from being a bit sore occassionally to constant pain, even when on pain killers.

Any advice or experiences that people have would be gratefully received. I'm worrying about how winter is going to affect me as I'm already finding it difficult to muck out and to sweep up etc. A friend has suggested I get loops for my reins as my grip isn't what it should be but I'm not sure what it would be like to ride with them.
 
I can't really help you and hope that others can. I have arthritis in one of my knees and earlier in the year was finding it difficult putting boots on horse as if I bend down I was having to haul myself up by holding something. Fortunately it seems to have eased a bit recently.

I looked at the arthritis society website and there are suggestions there re working with arthritis which may be worth looking at if you haven't.
 
hi

I have rheumatoid arthritis so understand what you are going through. I use rein bows
http://www.reinbows.com/

they help a great deal and are easy to ride with.

I hope that you will get an appointment to see a specialist as treatments can work well.
The main thing with the winter is too keep warm!! may sound obvious but we tend to neglect ourselves a little. I have found that over trousers makes the biggest difference they just make you warmer all the way through including hands!

The trick is not even allowing yourself to feel chilly, you must always be WARM.

While this won't cure it, it will stop the cold/damp weather making it worse

I find riding helps a lot with mine. I have recently not been able to ride much and it sure shows! I'm not sure whether it is because the horse moves the body parts for me, a friend mentioned maybe its the exercise getting rid of toxins?? who knows but I know I'm worse if I can't ride

Foods can be a trigger too, I can't eat eggs and unlike most people if I don't eat cheese regularly it plays up more (most have to avoid it)


Also if you are offered injections into the joints do try them but remember they don't always work the first time

I don't want to tell you a load of stuff you already know or aren't interested in so Pm me if I can help any more

Hope you manage to keep going!!

Edited to say I only do unaffil but do both DR and SJ hope to do some XC next year again as not doine any for a few years due to repeated ankle surgery. Did GP mention rheumatoid? as in so many joints at the same time especially the joints you describe it sounds likely. Other symptoms include tiredness, sometimes a fever, especially in the evening if you over do it
 
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Biggest tip is to keep warm. I also suffer from RA and I find that doing some stretches to loosen up the joints before riding is beneficial too. Riding I actually dont really find a problem as it is a gentle & constant movement, but I find mounting on and off can be a bit tricky at times.

Depending on what type of Arthritis you have been diagnosed with, I have found the thing that has helped me the most is diet. I went on to the Elimination Diet and it is amazing how little it affects me now. Once again, not too sure how beneficial that will be to you as it depends on type & cause of the arthritis.
 
Thankfully I do not suffer from it, but my dog did if thats of any help! We were recommended a homeopathic remedy called Rhus Tox, which you can buy from any good health food store. I cant recommend any dosage etc as it was a dog we were giving it to. She suffered from hip displasia (was a GSD), and we gave her this for most of her later life, and did not have to resort to steroids at all. She was PTS for something unrelated to her arthritis.

My mum suffers from it, and all I can recommend as before is keeping warm and dry as much as you can. I know this is very hard with horses, particularly in the winter, but my mum always makes sure she keeps as warm as she can.

Hope you do manage to get is under control, as it must be awful living with it.
 
what about trying one of those powerbalance wrist strap things. i've read quite a bit about them and i don't know how they work but lots of people rave about them.....
 
Hi there,
I have Chronic RA. I compete regularly, dressage (novice) and eventing (pre-nov). I have fused wrists, bad knees, feet, shoulders and jaw. They are currently looking at replacing at least my left wrist.
It is possible!
Some days I really don't feel I can ride, but I make myself, and I generally feel much better after I've ridden. I am VERY careful about what I get on, and only really jump my own.
In winter I find I need to keep warm, but without bulk as my movement is limited already. So polyprops (layers of), good quality fleece and a good jacket (snow boarding jacket or goose down puffa) works for me.
You will find gadgets and things that work for you and your particular limitations brilliantly! Keep your eyes peeled.
Having a kind horse you trust is a must, my big guy knows when I'm having a bad day and looks after me, couldn't do it without him!
If you have any questions PM me :)
 
i have OA in my hip joints & am struggling to keep riding due to the pain at present but have also found that keeping warm (proper "hot" warm) helps. my biggest problem is for want of a better way of putting it getting my leg over!
my little lad knows when i need help & lets me use him as a leaning post, hauling up post & even a walking fram when needs be, he has also got used to my stick very quickly despite being hit in his past.
 
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I have arthritis in my hands and feet, so bad some days I struggle to open a jar or to squeeze the petrol pump at the garage.
I also have very stiff knees which is a bit horrible!
With mine I find some days can be really painful and some days I hardly feel it. The most important thing is to keep doing what you are doing as that will keep the supporting muscles strong, some times my hands kill when I ride (I don't notice my feet so much riding, wearing heels I do though ;)), but I just give them a shake and carry on.
I used to find writing with a pen OK but now it hurts and that's because I rarely write with a pen whereas when I was at uni and wrote with a pen a lot it didn't hurt as much as I was regularly exercising the muscles and joints.
I do on purpose choose horses that aren't strong, I'm slight anyway and I just would not be able to cope with a puller. The horses I choose are sensitive which helps a lot as they don't need as much leg or hand :).
 
Oh also my sister feeds her dog rosehip for his artheritis and it's made a massive difference so I'm thinking of giving it a whirl!
 
Not really a sufferer, but know people who are.

As others have said, warmth is your friend and cold your enemy. Keep moving what you can, riding is grand for easing things up (if I don't ride I turn into a stiff, ouchy and achey board).

This lot are brilliant :D. I have one of their heated gilets and cannot recommend it enough! http://www.blazewear.com/
 
I was diagnosed with arthritis in my hands earlier this year - I have found it only really affects my jumping as I tend to lose my grip easier on the reins but those reinbows look amazing - Im going to look into them :D

I ride more now than I did before I was diagnosed and I find its eased - I always wear gloves and try and keep my hands as warm as possible all the time - this year will be the test though, as the weather gets colder I will see how I get on - Im doing indoor jumping schooling at the moment so fingers crossed I can get through without too much pain
 
Thanks everyone for your messages and encouragement. The doctor thinks it may be RA but I'm waiting on test results. All I know at the moment is that I feel like I've fallen off, went for a lesson yesterday and now my whole body is protesting, particularly my hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders.

Keeping warm certainly sounds sensible, will be investing in some good gloves for this winter, have never bothered before. MrsM I love the idea of that heated gilet :D

Has anyone got any good diet advice? Cutting out dairy isn't a problem as I'm lactose intolerant but also cutting out meat, eggs, wheat, potatoes and citrus fruits doesn't leave much. :(
 
wellsat said:
Has anyone got any good diet advice? Cutting out dairy isn't a problem as I'm lactose intolerant but also cutting out meat, eggs, wheat, potatoes and citrus fruits doesn't leave much. :(
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I highly recommend the Elimination Diet. Basically, you need to cut out Dairy, Sugar, Wheat, Caffeine & alcohol (well.. I didnt really cut out the alcohol tbh!). You can eat most fruit, veggies, meats & seafood. I found a huge difference after 1 week of being on the diet.

If that doesn't sound to appealing, it maybe worth going to see a Nutritionist to work out a suitable eating plan? I also take cod liver oil tablets, Litozin and liquid collagen.
 
firewell said:
Oh also my sister feeds her dog rosehip for his artheritis and it's made a massive difference so I'm thinking of giving it a whirl!
Click to expand...

My sister's a health visitor and also into homeopathy and herbal remedies. She recommended I try Litozin (rosehips) after one of her patients had good results. The benefits have been amazing (I'm 50 and have osteoarthritis in both hips) and I've also recommended it to friends who have had similar results. Worth trying for several months to see if it works for you. I have also taken Glucosamine and Chondroitin for a few years but it was the addition of Litozin which made it possible to ride for more than half an hour and walk the dogs for a couple of hours each day.
 
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My mother suffers really badly cold and alcohol are her worst enemies.

OH works with horses, he laughed last year when I bought him a heated waistcoat, but when he realised how good it was he was recommending it to everyone:) It is possible to get heated gloves as well ave seen them on a website but cant remember which one, sorry.

I have been tested for arthritis, due to my family history, but so far the tests have been negative, have done a bit of research though and now take Turmeric capsules. Have started one of the older horses on it as well, both of us seem to be moving slightly better!

Hope the pain gets better soon
 
Thanks everyone. Cutting out alcohol isn't a problem as I haven't been drinking anyway with the amount of painkillers I'm taking, doesn't seem like it would be sensible. Caffeine isn't an issue either as I don't drink tea, coffee or coke. Wheat and sugar seem like the obvious things to try cutting out and lets face it, even if it doesn't help the pain I'll be thinner after a few weeks with no wheat or sugar!

Will try holland and barretts as well for some turmeric or rosehips.

*Passes tuna salad for all helpful suggestions*
 
The most important thing is not to push yourself - know when to rest & when you can do things! If you push yourself on a bad day you will pay for it by having a week of bad days! I was diagnosed with severe RA earlier this year & this has been the hardest thing to adjust to!
 
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