Healthy Habits #5 Taking Control of My Life...Again

 Degenerative or Osteoarthritis

I have now been to three doctors in the last few weeks and have one more appointment in June. Things are progressing forward as I work to take my life back from pain. My family doctor diagnosed me with Osteoarthritis. Yesterday, I saw the orthopedic doctor who gave me an arthritis steroid shot in my hip. I have had cortisone shots in my hip for bursitis, but not steroid shots for arthritis. The pain was easily cut in half, but some still exists. According to the physical therapist  today, the pain that is left is being caused by the bursitis.

These shots are band-aids that can last for months or a year. They do not fix the problem. Degenerative or Osteoarthritis is a condition that involves the chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints leading to painful joint inflammation. It is common with old age, but even more common if you have had issues caused from car accidents, improper cheer leading, and some of my other falls and injuries. 

The bursa is a fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between moving tissues of the body. There are two major bursae in the hip. Bursitis, or inflammation of a bursa, is usually not infectious, but the bursa can become infected. Unfortunately, both of my hip bursae are inflamed.

I was given the all clear to go do my 5K walks. The first one is tomorrow. I am not doing any permanent damage to the bursa or the arthritis by working it, but I am making it really mad so that it inflames or causes pain. The physical therapist said that cold or hot compresses are fine. So use what feels the best. They would like to see me do some swimming since that is the least impact on the area, but my elliptical and bike are also fine. 


Although the actual cause of osteoarthritis and bursitis are unknown and incurable, there are a lot of things you can do to ease the pain. The low impact exercise is one area to focus on. Another is to strengthen the core and the muscles around the area. Finally lose weight and take omega 3's. These will all help, but in the end when the pain gets too unbearable it will be hip replacement time. 

At least I know I am not causing more damage when I down the ibuprofen and push through the pain. So now I have 1 stretch and 3 exercises to do at home until my appointment next week. I am also going to see someone that is a Certified Bowenwork Practitioner. It is a unique form of neuromuscular re-patterning. It works primarily through the nervous system on both structural and energetic levels.

By taking control I am hoping to be able to alleviate some of the pain I have.  Especially the pain at night that causes havoc and keeps me awake. My advice to the younger generation: take care of yourself now so you don't have to go through what I am!

Enjoying Exercise #4 The Catch 22

I am overweight and I need to exercise. When exercising, I have a lot of hip, leg, and back pain. So how do I exercise to help with the weight and not aggravate the pains? This dilemma has been plaguing me for years. After a 2002 car accident, I went through years of off and on physical therapy and chiropractic work. I have dealt with pains from sciatica, the sacroiliac, and bursitis.  Cortisone shots have helped but you can only do that so many times. I have an elliptical and a recumbent stationary bike to minimize pain but lately they even  hurt to use.

So I went to the doctor today to see what he thought was going on. After x-rays, the doctor informed me that I have bad arthritis in my hip. I now have a physical therapy appointment  and an appointment with a specialist in non-operative treatment of orthopedic injuries. Maybe something here will help. I hope so because my first 5K of the summer is in less than two weeks!

On to the exercising. The best way to exercise is to make it fun and be with friends! I love to walk 5K's with a little jog every now and then. With my hip and knee issues, walking is best for me. This is the time to start looking for what is in your area. Then invite your family and friends to join in the fun. Such a healthy way to spend time together instead of socializing around a table of food. These 5K walks are fun and are a good way to bring family and friends together. Last year I survived my 2nd Dirty Dash and my 1st Hit and Run. Not bad for a 56 year old that is out of shape! The cost of doing these walks is worth the money. I have saved by not having a gym membership and you get a cool t-shirt!

This is what I have planned for the summer so far:

May - Color Me Rad 5K  (tons of fun with lots of color!)
June - Still looking but there is a run in my area put on by the local hospital
July -  Bubble Run (this one looks wet and wild with soap bubbles)
August - The Color Run (another 5K filled with color)
September - Obstacles of Obesity (we run the 5K in blow up suits)
September - The Walk for Suicide Prevention  (this is a fund raiser and I will post the link)


Having lost my husband to suicide, this walk is dear to my heart. I wish I had the support of a group that taught suicide education and prevention. If it was out there, I didn't know it. More people need to be aware of the helps available. That is what this fundraiser helps with. Please contribute to my goal of raising $1000. Every $5 or $10 dollar donation helps. Thanks

http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=738997

What ever you choose to do, get out there and have fun! Here is hoping that I find a solution to my catch 22 and exercising won't hurt and I can lose some weight.