somewhat hilarious ironies/unfairnesses

[seventhe]

#1: I have arthritis, at 30. It's what broke my toes off earlier this year; it's part of what's causing my neck problems, as it has moved into my spine. I'm 30. With arthritis. In my spine.

#1.5: I'm currently having anxiety attacks over whether this is rheumatoid arthritis; I haven't gotten the blood test yet, but i have other symptoms too (constant inflammation of tendons on equal sides of my body, constant pain/ache, etc); an autoimmune disease would explain why my body has never actually worked correctly, and I'm terrified that that's going to be it. I hate self-diagnosers so I'm trying to ignore it, but it isn't working.

#2: One of the fundamental reasons I work out - including weight lifting - is because it can prevent the osteopenia that hit my mum at an incredibly young age and the osteoporosis that is tearing my gramma apart.

#3: Lifting heavy weights is the most efficient way to weight train. Heavy weights, few reps >> little weights, lots of reps in terms of efficiency, bone strengthening, muscle gains, etc.

#4: Heavy lifting and high impact activities are probably what's aggravating my arthritis so badly.

#5: I don't like having to choose between arthritis at 30 and osteopenia at 40. I don't want either.

#6: I guess maybe this is a good time to try that gym with the pool.

#7: physical therapy is expensive, I don't want to do it, and I don't need another thing taking up my already limited time. However, I would like to not be in high levels of pain every day.

#8: Ugh.

Comments

Great sympathies... It sucks, yep

[auronlu]

SWIMMING IS YOUR FRIEND!!!!

Even if I've gotten out of the habit because I had swimming nearly every day as physical therapy when a kid. I had bad JRA, which has now turned into "fibromyalgia plus some kind of RA-like arthritis we don't really have a name for since your joints are not swelling up like mushy hot water bottles like they did when you were a kid yet they still hurt and are stiff and occasionally your neck completely locks up and requires acupuncture."

Swimming is definitely the way to go. Also sane as opposed to macho yoga.

Also look up aqua aerobics stretches and exercises. You can do a sort of reverse weight training using floats and pushing them down into the water. It's less stressful on joints than out-of-water weights, I suppose because the water supports you.

I remember so well the anxiety when it would come out of remission or target a new joint / area, and you're wondering "okay, how far is this going to go?" However, speaking as someone who was diagnosed with RA at age 2, even if that's what it turns out to be, you CAN live with it. It's just a nuisance.

Also, on the bright side, meloxicam is put out by Lupin. It's silly, but I rather like taking an anti-inflammatory provided by Remus Lupin.

Re: Great sympathies... It sucks, yep

[seventhe]

This is so good to know. Down to the "your neck locks up" because that's exactly what happens; my neck locks up and it's impossible to move even when I'm willing to tolerate the feeling of being stabbed with a red-hot knitting needle: it actually is not going that way. No.

I do like the idea of taking Remus Lupin's medication. :D

Re: Great sympathies... It sucks, yep

[auronlu]

Meh. Neck stuff is annoying.

Get friends to massage the Root of All Evil (as I call it) and see if that and vigorous showers make it let go.

Sorry you're dealing with it. It is not much fun.

[thene]

Sympathies. I have a friend who got diagnosed with arthritis in her early 20s - she also has Hypermobility Syndrome, which causes her to dislocate joints constantly. It happens, and it sucks :(

[whitemage]

That is beyond unfair. :c

I hope you get it sorted out somehow.

[novel_machinist]

Dude, swimming is amazing for everything and all the things. I think you may have to go with the gym with a pool, since it's getting cooler pretty fast these days. If there's anything I can do for you, let me know. <3