Figure out this arthritis thing and get back to exercise

I love my physical therapist. I went over the whole diagnosis and conversations with the orthopedist and the rhuematologist. She spent some time explaining what movements will aggravate the arthritis (great, everything related to sex). Then we went over exercises to strengthen the muscles that support my hip joint.

Then the good news: I can bike and ski! Yahoo!

4 weeks of PT including aqua therapy. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I finally had my appointment with the rhuematologist on Monday. It was a great office. I did not have to wait long and I had a good half hour or more with the doctor. Dr. Michaels was very patient with my questions and provided comprehensive answers. She even drew diagrams.

Here’s what I know now:
1. The arthritis is probably genetic.
2. It will not get better but we can hope to prevent too much more degeneration for a little while.
3. It’s all about pain. I need to manage it with losing weight and pain meds (OTC).
4. Glocosamine Chondroitin works for about 20% of her patients.
5. I can opt to get cortosone shots for the pain but there is not enough research to know the long-term impact or if the shots make it worse. It could make it worse simply because without pain, I might do more exercise.
6. I may need a hip replacement in as little as 10 years. It’s all about the pain.
7. I can exercise how I like (strongly recommending no running) but it is a cost benefit analysis. How much do I enjoy the exercise and how much pain does it cause me as well as how it helps me stay healthy?
8. I need to being physical therapy/aqua therapy. That will help me determine what exercise I can tolerate and help keep my muscles strong around the hip to support it.

So I will begin physical therapy this week and consider biking (not as much) and skiing along with a basic exercise routine based on what I learn from the physical therapist.

Overall a very interesting visit. I am not looking forward to the challenges ahead, but at least I have a better idea of what they might be.

So I’ve been getting these strange messages from my insurance company saying I should call about so important health information.

Weird.

So I call the number and it’s a recorded message. “Some of our customers have problems with joint pain such as knee, hip or lower back pain. Are you having joint pain?”

“Why, yes, yes I am,” I replied into the automated system.

“Would you like help or advice in managing your joint pain?”

“Why yes, yes I would.”

It offers to patch me into a 24 hour health line where I can call and ask questions.

Okay, cool. Just what I need before going to the doctor on Monday. Perhaps I can get an idea of what questions I should ask.

So a very nice woman answers the phone and explains she’s a RN and how the health line works. You can call 24 hours a day and ask for health advice or even have someone help talk you through treatment options for whatever you’re facing. Wow. That’s pretty cool.

Unfortunately, I realized quickly that the person on the other end wasn’t particularly thoughtful and was just reading from an online database. She did not offer me any information I didn’t already know, nor did she have any suggestions of what I should be asking the Rheumatologist.

Oh well. I think I’m just more health literate than the average person. So I will just have to wait to talk to the new doctor tomorrow.

Here’s a list of my questions:

What caused the arthritis?
Is the tear a symptom of the arthritis or vice versa?
I’m not sure if heat is working to help ease pain because of where the pain is. Can a heating pad on my lower back help the pain that seems to radiate from the groin? Yeah, don’t want to put the heating pad or ice there.
I enjoy being active. Can I participate in my regular exercise program? If not, how should I limit it for the best balance of care for my hip, weight loss, and cardiovascular health?
Can I participate in
biking? spinning?
hiking?
downhill skiing?
aerobics classes such as step or kick boxing?
What other exercises would you recommend I participate in or avoid?
What are my long term options for improving pain and flexibility?
What am I looking at in my future? Hip replacement? How far in the future?
What symptoms should I look for that might signal further problems?
Are there alternative treatments I should be looking into?

Yes a lot of questions. Anyone have others they think I should add?

So I finally have an appt with a rheumatologist on the 24th. What great job managed care does for us in the US huh? I have been feeling pain (sometimes major) since June. I have a diagnosis, but still no treatment. I have spent more than $500 out of pocket. This is f-cking health insurance???

SO I have begun a basic exercise routine that does not hurt. Crunches, push ups, free weights, lunges and a few pilates moves. Plus stretches. I can finally touch my toes! This is very exciting. But my cardio sucks. I walked up a hill near work on Friday and wanted to cry because I was out of breath enough where it was a little difficult to talk. That is bad.

I’m thinking the end result from the new doctor will be some sort of circuit training that includes water of some kind. Just a guess.

I did a lot of walking this past week. I walked more than 2 miles at the Presidential Debate Rally at Hofstra University. I walked about 3 miles yesterday while canvassing in Brentwood.

Each time, I got really sore. And it wasn’t just at the joint site, but into the buttock and down the leg a little. Wow. Just from walking. It’s not that Advil didn’t work. But I can’t believe I’m going to have this impact from exercising for the rest of my life. It was just walking. Geesh. But I guess I will have to deal with this.

Need to get a referral to that rhuematologist. Managed care in the US absolutely sucks.

So after many, many doctors visits, pain medications, x-rays, MRIs and such, I finally get a diagnosis.

ARTHRITIS.

Seriously? I’m 34 and I have arthritis in my right hip (Probably my left one too). 34!!!!!

So now what? The orthopedist says I can’t/shouldn’t run anymore. I probably shouldn’t bike anymore or really any of the activities I enjoy. I did forget to ask about skiing and will have to do that. I have sadly given up my goal of “running a 5K well”.

He will send me to a rheumatologist. Told me to start taking glucosamine chondroitin.

In the meantime, I have to lose weight. Pretty tough without a little help from a thing called MOVEMENT. Since he would not recommend an exercise plan, I have been flat out doing nothing more than situps and pushups. Starvation is not an option.

I have to admit, since taking the glucosamine, my pain has become almost non-existent. At least I think it’s the glucosamine, maybe it’s just the weather. I really want to get back to exercising and fear the longer I wait, the harder it will be to start again.

So as I wait for the referral and some final test results, I’m growing depressed and more than a little concerned. I have no idea just how bad or not bad the arthritis is. I’ve been on the Mayo Clinic web site that gives suggestions for mild, moderate and severe arthritis. Courses of action vary greatly and I don’t know where to proceed.

I know that I have a cyst, and a labryl something-or-other tare (torn cartilage)and I have some degeneration but don’t know to what extent. The orthopedist has been on vacation while I wait. So it’s just a little bad timing on my part.

So putting up this goal, will hopefully remind me to keep searching, not give up and perhaps, get some moral support from all my 43T buddies. I could sure use it these days.