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Originally Posted by Dagny18
Kaplods & others-has there been anything else other than a specific shoe that might have reduced your arthritis and fibro pain?
A heating blanket has been a lifesaver for me, when my joints are really hurting, especially if it's because of damp, cold weather. I went with an electric throw rather than a bed-sized heating blanket, because of the cost.
Before I was able to exercise, I would take my pain meds and would lie under the heating blanket until I was comfortable (or as comfortable as I could get) and then I would gently stretch and move all my arms and legs in bed (I even rented videotapes for bed-exercise from the library and then chair-dancing tapes).
When I was stronger, I would go to a warm water arthritis exercise program - super amazing. These programs aren't all that difficult to find, but you do have to know where to look/who to ask. The Arthritis Foundation or your local United Way or Department on Aging and Disability Resources (the name can vary from state to state so you type in your city and state into google search bar along with the words - department aging.
Or you can call local indoor pools (such as the YMCA) and ask their water temperature (you want a minimum of 85 degrees, and the closer you get to 90, the more comfortable the water).
It's amazing how much my joints were relieved by exercising in water. Not only could I exercise in water, just being in the water relieved my pain.
However, to be fair, my doctors actually encouraged me to use my stronger pain meds in order to exercise. I wouldn't have been able to get in the water without my pain medication.
It is important to make sure her pain is being treated properly. It's a lot easier (and takes far less medication) to prevent pain and keep it away, than it is to treat pain once it's taken hold. This is almost the polar opposite of what we've been taught (that a good, "strong" person refuses all pain medications until the pain becomes unbearable).
However pain specialist doctors will tell you that you can generally take fewer meds and get more relief if you're on a steady medication schedule.
For anyone who thinks they have too much pain from arthritis or fibro to exercise, I would recommend that they see a pain specialist, or a rheumatologist if at all possible (or both).
Until you have good pain relief, exercise is torture, so you have to have a good treatment plan from your doctor, and good pain relief.
I was shocked that my doctor was willing to give me stronger meds so that I could exercise. At first I thought it was a really bad idea to drug myself up to exercise (won't I hurt myself, I asked?) My doctor told me that if I chose warm water exercise, and was careful, the risks of injury were lower than the risks of not exercising because it hurt too much.
My mother also has severe arthritis, and she wasn't really able to exercise her legs until she had knee replacement surgery. Surprisingly, a Wii game helped her get some movement in. She would play the games with the grandchildren, and she couldn't do it long, but it was fun, so she got in at least a little movement that way.
The hardest part about exercising with pain, is that every instinct tells you that it's wrong. As my doctor joked, pain is the body's way of saying "STOP DOING THAT!)
So pain control really is the first order of business (I know that will sound controversial to many people, but it's why I recommend a pain specialist, or a doctor who specializes in painful conditions, who may or may not make a referral to a pain specialist).
A lot of times people are afraid that a pain specialist is either going to push very strong narcotic drugs - or that they're going to take away pain meds that are working. Both are misconceptions. Pain specialists help you find the most effective pain relief and medication schedule, with the fewest side effects.