Sport and Arthritis

So, here I am...43 soon.

I have always been active...Football, Hockey, Trampolining, Martial Arts, Boxing, Table tennis, Badminton, and most of all Tennis and Squash. I have at some point in time actively persued all these pastimes and currently play at least one hour of football, 2 and a half hours of tennis and 2 40 minute sessions of squash per week every week. I also Weight train 2 to 5 times per week from anywhere from half an hour up to an hour and a half.

I was fine until approximately 18 months ago when I had a massive pain in my groin , as usual I just carried on, I'm not one for resting or going to the doctor.  I have only had 4 days off work ill in the last 18 years.

Anyway, the pain got progressivly worse. I could hardly walk but always felt slightly better after exercise. But then a few hours after in complete agony. This went on for about a year, then the pain started to ease a little and my flexibility started to come back a little. A ha I'm on the mend I thinks. My only problem now is the not being able to sleep properly. Some nights I get a couple of hours sleep, some none at all.

Due to the fact that after a year and a half of very little sleep and the constant pain I was getting a little tired and irritable. So like a fool I go to the doctor, initially he says Mmmmmmm...could be a little Artritis...we will get you x-rayed and find out.

2 weeks later I get called in to hear the news that my left hip has no gap and my right hip has a redused gap in the joint...this basically means my hip left hip can not get much worse than it is.

No wonder it hurt. I will be seeing a specialist some time after xmas. But basically I have 2 options

1. Put up with the pain for the rest of my life (scares me thinking about that)

2. Have the op and give up my sport.

Now initially I can't even imagine giving up sport, but pain for the rest of my life.

Again anyway it's only pain and I have almost got used to sleeping with a pillow between my knees.

I have been told to keep doing as much of what I have been doing as I can manage and live with the pain. My only real concern is this. When I play football I do a lot of running, almost non stop. My squash is vey quick and fast moving....am I doing any more damage to my hip joint?

The funniest thing is I am finding it harder to do now what I have been doing for ages just because I know whats wrong. The pain is actually less now I am taking anti inflamitries but I feel like I should be sitting down with my pipem and slippers and just taking it easy.

Isn't the mind a funny thing.

Well that was a long post

Thanks for listening

Pat

Hi Pat and welcome.

I'm sorry to hear about your pain. I have not had any experience personally or through friends regarding the surgery - but wanted to wish you well in your quest to feel better.  I'm quite jealous of your activity level.

The mind is a funny thing and it is amazing how your body can react to concern, stress, and other emotions.  I wouldn't pull out the permanet pipe and slippers just yet ..this is still all very new for you and your body as well and your mind are adjusting to this new information and pain. I don't think you should have to or need to give up your active  lifestyle, but you do need to do research and see what you can do to avoid making things worse, keeping pain to a minimum, and learning to listen to the new "voice" in your body.

Take care.

**

Welcome Patd94!

 

Continue to do what makes you happy.  It is all about quality of life.  If you need painkillers....use them.  If that helps at all to help maintain your mobility than that's a good thing.

 

With your concerns about treatment.  Having a consult with a few orthopedics and a rheumatologist and maybe even a surgeon might be beneficial as to how to "keep optimal joint functioning"...without having to jump into surgery right away.

 

What NSAIDS are you on?

 

The activity you do will help your range of motion and joints stay fluid and mobile...but heavy duty pounding like running and stuff can perhaps make what you have left...a little worse.  Have you ever seen a physical therapist?

 

You sound as if you are pretty well in tune with your body.  Take your time, get some consults if you feel they're needed....and you'll make the right decisions.  Just listen to those hips! 

There is a member here, Tom, who you'll probably share a lot in common with!

The very best to you.

Sincerely,

Erin 

 Hey Pat,

Make a calender with your best photos!   LOL....all proceeds going to Healingwell! hah!   I bought a Gazelle about 5 years ago when my RA got  bad & the gym was a waste to pay 60 dollars a month.  I was disapointed because it had almost no resistance, but it did feel great on the hips. Streatches them nicely.  But maybe they make a better model now, I'm sure.

Now I just walk when & for as long as I can.  My weight is not a problem (94 pounds)...but like you know...I'm used to having a very very lean physique [ photos available...my agent is Ducky]....LOL! Trying to embrace my "squishiness".

I can definitely see the football causing the major pains...try something lighter...say Rugby, just kidding.

Do you bike?  Cycling is pretty much joint sparing. 

The best to you Pat.

Cheers!

Erin

My people have advised against the calendar as it may cause mass hysteria in the shops.
Not only that it would have to be body only as the face would scare small children and animals.

I have found someone who lives near me who has bought one of the new Gazelle elites and I am going to try it out. They do look extremely good on the TV. Tony Little wears me out just watching him.
I just need it to keep my hip flexible.

I Bike to work and Squash and football. It's not far but it is a good warm up for me.

I have just lost 1 and a half stone to take some of the stresses off my joints.

Pat, allow my to throw you a big welcome to HW!!!!! Sorry for my tardiness in welcoming you. Christmas season is always very hectic for me and to get an hour on the comp. a day is very hard. So welcome........

Congrats on being so active. It is great to see people who are able to be as active as they want around here. It is an inspiration to all of us!!!! Now to answer your q from your first post, in my opinion of course.......Are you doing more damage by continuing to be as active as you are?........The short answer would be yes.....however there are many areas that you need to look at to answer that q for yourself..... what would the emotional impact be if you were to slow down your regime (?)? could you cut back on how much you do and yet still keep most of the benefits of the physical exercise intact? would you realistically be able to cut back on how much you do? These are the important questions to ask yourself. Only you can answer them. I am not saying that you need to become a couch potato but what benefit is it to maintain the amount of exercise you do, if in a year (or more, or less) you have added to the damage so much that you are not able to be active at all? Would it be better to slow done now and let your body heal some more or keep up the level you are at and possibly do more damage to your joints? Sorry to be so blunt but I tend to call things as I see them if I think it gets my point across better.

Now that I've given you my opinion let me say that I think it is great that you are willing and able to keep pushing past the pain and stay active. It takes commitment and will power to do what you are doing. Thanks for joining us here, we have enjoyed getting to know you. Keep posting and let us know how you are making out.

Oreo

Pat, you are a true inspiration to all of us... How wonderful for you to have done all that and continue too.... I'm sure the Gazelle will help as well as the meds, like you said, your body will let you know when you need to rest.. I wish you the best of luck, and if you ever change your mind on the calendar, well, let me know! :) Please let us know how you are doing! - duck

Mmmmmm, don't actually get out much myself.
Sport sport sport, work work work..don't do much else. Not much of a sight seer myself.
They will almost certainly see the London Eye (Big wheel lets you have a good view over most of London.)
There is also Harrods which is a big department store over here for people who are richer than me. I think the Japenese visit it a lot when they come over.
I am up for a game of Squash if they get down to the South West of England. I'll have $20 on this cripple.
There is also Madam Tussauds (Wax Museum).
Buckingham Palace (The Queen lives there so I am told).
They could also come and watch me play Football(Soccer) with my 16 year old Son on Boxing Day(Knee permitting. I have just come back from the hotspital, knee has really swelled up. Can't walk at the moment)
Crutches dished out and MRI scan next Wednesday.
Sorry can't be much more help than that (never realized what a boring old git I am)

Fooled you! hah!  I'm not too computer savy and do not know how to transnfer photos onto a written post!  So the cartoon people will have to do.

Aha!  I forgot about Madam Tussauds.  They have quite a bit of money (well, her husband does...he works on Wall Street in New York) so I know they will hit Harrods.

My sister studied English Literature when in University...so she holds the UK dear to her heart.

When I traveled Europe I did the opposite of what the "tourists" did!  And I was pretty much "under the influence" in London on my journeys around the city...so I cannot remember where I went!  But, I did get mooned by 6 British guys outside a pub near the big VirginMega Store....they were singing, "You are My Sunshine"....and down with their pants they went on the last verse.  Priceless.  

Thanks for thinking though!

Cheers!

Erin