Exercise and Lupus

Hello everyone.... I wanted to ask your advice. I know exercise is very important to our disease but when I am am feeling lousy, I'm sure you can all relate, the last thing I want to do is exercise. When I went through my bad flare this last year, I felt terrible so I of course never exercised. My accupuncturist called me a noodle. Not something I want to be called. so when I started feeling better, I have had every intention of starting to exercise again. I am nervous of overdoing it and feeling lousy though. Maybe I'm copping out and don't want to exercise. But also, this week I have been feeling lousy again, I can feel the inflammation and just have been down for the count. My daughter wants me to walk with her. Do I push myself and walk? Or will that make me feel worse? What's your take?

Monica

Monica,
I can relate. I keep thinking I should get back to our 24 hour fitness club and get on a treadmill...but it's soooo hard getting to that point. My husband is always trying to get me to walk with him (when the weather isn't freezing cold) and I know that even just a few block walk in the evening helps me. There have been times when I had to use a cane when my knees were really bad, but most of the time I don't. Just make sure you protect yourself from the sun!
I would really like to start water aerobics again...low impact and great for achy joints, but the chlorine used in most pools and hot tubs makes me sick, so I'm still trying to find something that will work. Good luck!
Hugs,
Beth

Monica

I can relate to the exercise stuff also , but i am getting
set up to start phsy therpy plus this new thing of hydro therpy the 10th of this mth. My rheumy even gave me a RX for it so my ins is paying for it I have gotten to the point i needed to do something more active because of the winter mths i don't do much of any thing. And some times i just don't want to get off my butt

But what ever you decided listen to your body, it will let you know, if it likes it or not.

Like that saying GIT R DONE but take it slow and easy!

Wishing you the best and take care

Beth i hope your feeling better also

Ray

Hi Monica, Beth and Ray,
I too can sympathise with you all, there is nothing worse than knowing you should exercise and haven't got the get up and go to do so .

A short walk is always a good way to start, I also count a shopping trip as excercise because I figure walking up and down the aisles of the Supermarket counts as a walk around the block , another way to excercise is to park as far away from your intended destination as is practical and walk the extra distance. Just remember not to overdo it because you will most likely suffer with Delayed Onset Muscle Strain (DOMS) which can be very painful

I hope I have been of some help.

Take Care
Love and Hugs
xxxMaz

Hi evryone...

Maz....I have note heard of DOMS before but gee, I know it well!!!!

I have recently bought myself a gym ball. Not used one before but I am finding it to be EXCELLENT. I can do stretches I couldn't before because my bod (such that it is ) is SUPPORTED!!! AND I can do SIT UPS!!!! I have LOTS of trouble with them but not anymore and I am moving the whole time I am at the computer because I sit on the Gym Ball and not a chair.

Hope this helps. I do get out occasionally and go for a walk but not regularly enough to call it 'proper' exercise.

Hope this helps.....

Hi Jenny,

I had never heard of DOMS before either, but knew what it was as soon as I was made aware of it on another SLE forum. I use to think I was incredibly unfit when I would wake up a day after doing a bit of gardening or vaccuming with incredibly sore muscles, I was glad to hear that it is quite common among SLE sufferers .

I like the idea of the exercise ball and just might invest in one!

Take Care
Love and Hugs
xxxMaz

Maz,
The ball is great. You can do as little or as much as you feel like doing. it is probably best to buy one from a sports store rather than the $2:00 shops as I call them....

Waking up feeling as though you have been just hit by a Mack truck is NO good!! (Not that I really know what being hit by a Mack truck REALLY feels like!!!) I hate it.....

Must go and take little K9 out for a run..... He has been locked in Harry Potters Cupboard a bit too long!!!

Catch you later......

I am sure I will learn about DOMS soon enough...I purchased golf clubs about 1 1/2 years ago and started to go to the golf driving range. I was ready to start golf lessons when I had my first flare 1 year ago (March 6, 2008 to be exact). Needless to say the golf lessons were put on hold.

I have now registered to take my beginner's lessons beginning mid-April. I will take 5 weeks of beginner's lessons and then 5 weeks of intermediate lessons. I was able to find a class provided by the local parks department that goes from 7:00 to 8:00pm so I will not have to contend with direct sun. The only thing I will need to deal with are the pterydactyl sized mosquitoes!! I have decided to take it slow, but will do my best to go to each class no matter how achy I may be.

Hugs,
Beth

Hello everyone

I started physical/Hydro therapy in a pool about four weeks ago and it is great. I am set up for twice a week and i can tell it has aready starting to help me over all.

Ray

Yea, Ray!!

What exactly does "hydro" therapy involved? Are you placed in a pool or tub for this? I used to run long distance track events way back when I was in high school, and the locker room had a great huge metal tub with jets in it. Worked great for sore muscles, that's for sure!!

Hope you continue to feel better!

Hugs,
Beth

BETH
the Hydro pool is a small swiming pool that is temp and water flow controlled. You can swim in it but your not going anywhere the flow of the water keeps you in one spot. And you do all kinds of movement agains the water flow, it even has a treadmill in it and it does help with the joint pain.
the water temp is set at 92* which is nice also
Whats also great is my Dr gave me a Rx for it so my insurance pays for it, but i think i would do it even if they didn't.

I would highly recomend it
Take care
Ray

Hey Ray,

Where do you go for your "hydro" therapy? I have an exercise room in my home, literally a huge room that is filled with every piece of professional equipment a person would want, a tanning bed, a wall with mirrors, the whole wonderful world of fitness that I was once highly involved in prior to lupus and when I was in "remission." I do try to get back there and get on the treadmill now and then, but it really depresses me more than anything to go back there and see all the stuff back there and see all the stuff I can no longer can do! Does that make sense?

Anyway, perhaps "hydro" therapy is something I could do. I have seen one of those small pools on tv that is like a stream of water coming at you and swim into it and essentially don't go anywhere. I have thought about purchasing one to put in my backyard, but now that I am not working the funds are not what they once were, you know what I mean? I used to be able to purchase pretty much what I wanted too, because I had a great job, great income and my money was my money, I am going to have to learn to live on a whole lot less. I can do it, it's not a big deal, I mean, heck I don't go anywhere anymore to spend money so it shouldn't be a problem right?

Anyway, any details you can share Ray is greatly appreciated. As I have the same problem as everyone here. I hate to exerecise lately. I've gotten way to used to sitting around on the couch and watching tv, now I just need some bon-bons to go with it!

Melissa

Melissa

I go to a therapy / wellness center here in town. Its a new place and i like it a lot, before i didn't have to many choices where to go for things like that.

i havent checked to see if there is a web site for the type pool it is but i am sure there is one.
the name of the style pool is
SWIMEX AQUA THERAPY POOL

I just got back from therapy and i LOVE IT

Hope this helps out some and PS i want some bon-bons too

Take care
Ray

Hi Monica:

Yes, exercising is not my cup of tea, either. However, I have been exercising for a few weeks now because I have, finally, started feeling better (not in pain). I would be careful if you are in pain - not to push it. Your body is inflammed and you may only make it worse pushing yourself.

I do exercises in my hot tub and have been lifting weights, 5 lb, for strength. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you are not putting stress on your joints - do something like walking or gentle stretches to start out with. If you start hurting - cut back a little to let your muscles heal.

Good Luck!

I may be getting some Hydro therapy whether I like it or not. This is from the AP article of 3/19:

The Red River of the North along the Minnesota-North Dakota border faces the nation's greatest threat of spring flooding, the federal Climate Prediction Center said in its spring weather outlook.

Our home is 26 miles from the Red River, but I work in downtown, Fargo, ND. The Red River is only a few blocks away, so I may be swimming to and from work!

Hugs,
Beth