Hi LM - me, I wouldn't continue running 'cos of its percussive action on the
joints.  Then again I was never a running bloke: I did it for about a year
when i was uhhhhhhhhh mid-30s I suppose, and it murdered me, really - until
RA came along I'd never been as unfit as when I ran twice a week.  That'd
have been down to my action, I guess.

Aaaaanyway: someone brighter than me will be along in a minute to give you
better advice, but for me, no, I'd quit running right away.  There are other
forms of exercise that are easier on the system and are beneficial to the
stricken body:  I'd bet the rest of the group are sick of my batting on
about Yoga, but it's good and it's brought me on a hell of a lot.  Good for
the bonce, too, so long as you turn the sound down on your dvd so you can't
hear that pigawful music that they seem to consider an essential part of the
experience.

I'll leave it to the better qualified for now but in the meantime, welcome,
sorry you have to be here but glad you found us.

G'wan Piggy: do your stuff mate.................step in.

Cheers

AF

Good luck and do talk to the physio terrorist when you get to the top
of the list, most know their stuff so listen to them.

Here is some other info for you:

"There are two types of exercise that you need to do. Firstly,
strengthening exercise will improve the strength and tone of the
muscles that act over your osteoarthritic joint (for example, the
front thigh muscle, or quadriceps, for knee osteoarthritis). This
helps to stabilise and protect osteoarthritic joints and reduces the
pain. Such strengthening exercise also reduces your risk of falling
over, a common problem in older people. Secondly, any exercise that
increases your pulse rate and makes you breathless (aerobic exercise)
can also reduce your pain and allow you to do more. Regular aerobic
exercise encourages a better night's sleep and is very good for your
general health and well-being. Regularly undertaking both forms of
exercise can greatly help people with osteoarthritis, and over several
months can relieve pain and improve movement."

This was taken from an ARC leaflet here:

http://www.arc.org.uk/arthinfo/patpubs/6025/6025.asp

more:

"Osteoarthritis of the hip affects men as much as women and often
starts in the 40s, 50s and 60s. It may affect one or both hips. The
risk is increased in farmers. Sometimes hip problems at birth or
childhood (congenital dislocation or abnormal development such as
Perthes' disease) may later lead to osteoarthritis. However, in many
people there is no obvious cause.

The hip joint is below the groin, and hip pain is usually felt mainly
in the front of the groin, but sometimes around the side and front of
the thigh, the buttock or down to the knee (so-called radiated pain).

In severe osteoarthritis of the hip, the affected leg may get a little
shorter due to the bone on either side of the joint being 'crunched
up'. As mentioned above, for some unexplained reason people of Chinese
and Afro-Caribbean origin rarely get osteoarthritis of the hip joint."

Have you started on NSAIDs yet?(Non Steriodal Anti Inflam Drugs) what
you doc called anti inflams. Talk with your doc over the dose. With
ones like Voltarol you can get 50mg tabs or 75mg tabs to a max of
150mg per day. Thus I'd start on 50mg up to 3 times a day as required
and progress to 2x75mg, but your doc should advise.

The ARC booklet also talks about good trainers (air type) which you
may have as a runner?
And you no doubt know that running on grass has less impact than
running on tarmac.

I'm sure others will have their say also, but good luck and don't over
do things.

SP

In article <q1pok3dd4n443113r42r016b9nfclalhg5@4ax.com>, The High
Council <TheHighCouncil@TheCapitol.co.uk> scribeth thus

I am not an expert by any means but were you told that you had Osteo
arthritis or Rheumatoid arthritis as although there a bit different in
effect one is due to worn knackerd cartilage and possible bone on bone
contact, and the other is due to inflammation of the joint.

Just more out of curiosity as you didn't state which type it was..

Would a bike be really be -that- expensive?.

Hi. I've been a climber/walker/fell runner and caver most of my life
but after an immune system illness contracted OA in my hips, ankles,
one knee, upper and lower spine and left shoulder. Now I can hardly
walk a few yards. I persisted in forcing myself to continue walking
for some years and blame this for the increase in my lack of mobility.

Incidently, the places affected all relate to places where I've had
injuries over the years, all acquired via my outdoor activities.

Personally I'd suggest lighter exercise, keep off the heavy stuff.

Kay

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All replies to newsgroup thank you

No,,,,  You do not even have enough money to get good help from a doctor or
doctors.    You want to gamble with being in a wheelchair for the rest of
your life......  Welllll, run all you can stand and to hell with
tomorrow,,,, we can blame that on someone else.
Harv