Arthiritis

[NZdressage]

Hi, I am 18 and today I was told in the next few years I will probally have severe arthritis which will limit the things I can do, its really scary. Do people with this disability compete at the paralympics etc or is it not considered severe enough?

[Abserd]

Morning NZdressage :) Sorry to hear about your arthritis, can't really help re: the paralympics i'm afraid but i know a lot of people here know about the grading system so will help. I think JaneA for one ...... nope just can't remember other names (too early for my brain). But you'll get help i'm sure.

What i wanted to say was that scary as it is, arthritis can be managed well if you catch it early, which is looks like you have. If it's rheumatoid there is a load of research going on and tons of really good treatments. If it's osteo (hope not at your age but possible) then although treatment is not so well developed it can only be helped by exercise and not hindered so riding will help strengthen your body and keep your joints flexible. I really hope you have some good consultants and support and keep riding :D

PS I'm a helpline advisor for a disability charity, if there's any info. you need i can look it up for you? You can PM me if you want :)

[NZdressage]

Morning NZ_dressage :) Sorry to hear about your arthritis, can't really help re: the paralympics i'm afraid but i know a lot of people here know about the grading system so will help. I think JaneA for one ...... nope just can't remember other names (too early for my brain). But you'll get help i'm sure.

What i wanted to say was that scary as it is, arthritis can be managed well if you catch it early, which is looks like you have. If it's rheumatoid there is a load of research going on and tons of really good treatments. If it's osteo (hope not at your age but possible) then although treatment is not so well developed it can only be helped by exercise and not hindered so riding will help strengthen your body and keep your joints flexible. I really hope you have some good consultants and support and keep riding :D

PS I'm a helpline advisor for a disability charity, if there's any info. you need i can look it up for you?

thanks for your helpful advise! my trainer is a parolympian but I am not ready to talk to her face to face yet about it, even though she was the one who made me go to the doctor!!
I am not going to loose sleep over it ( well I will because sometimes it keeps me awake!) but I am just going to carry on living life! I have learnt to ride a little different so its not painful at the moment. Its just in my shoulders right now. I would have to die before I give up riding, its my life, my job everything! Thanks for your kind offer its nice to know there is some one out there who is willing to help! thanks so much!

[Abserd]

You're welcome - i think the hardest thing is feeling like you're the only out there. Don't worry about asking anything, i'm sure between us all we can figure something out. :)

[NZdressage]

Thank you so much for your kindness!!!

[x.fat-pony.x]

Hi, I was diagnosed with teenage arthritis last year, and it's still hard to come to terms with it.
I don't think (but don't quote me on this as haven't checked) it qualifies as a paralympic disability but I suppose it depends on the severity.
For example, I cannot get up onto a horse properly, and my leg position is atrocious (sp) as my knees are in quite a bit of pain, but I don't think I would qualify.

If you want to talk, PM me. I'm around the same age as you and can relate :)

[NZdressage]

hi there, thanks for your support, I didnt think there would be someone else out there with it so young! It makes me feel like a nana, I hope it wont get too bad but we will just have to see, I am kind of confused right now and nothing has really sunk in!

[Abserd]

Had a feeling there'd be other peeps here with similar probs. Would be good to talk to each other :D

I hate to say but seems like it's getting more common for younger people to get arthritis, don't know why. But there's more understanding out there now - don't give up, you can always have a rant on here!! :) Our ears are always open ;)

[NZdressage]

Watch out I might take you up on the rant offer!!

[Abserd]

That's ok - my ears are big LOL

[NZdressage]

LOL awesome I have a huge mouth!

[Abserd]

:D:D:eek:

[x.fat-pony.x]

Hehe!
Yup, the NR community is always here to help :)

[Afellpony]

My knees are very painful as well. Had 'knee braces' on them for a few days. Took them off today and they're a bit better. Hurt yesterday when I rode Falcon though.

[x.fat-pony.x]

I had knee braces recommended to me. Do you feel they help Afellpony?

[Afellpony]

The ones I use, I make up myself from a Tubigrip bandage. I buy two, fold them in half, so they are double the thickness and support and put one on each knee so they fit all over the knee (above and below) the knee cap as well. Yes, they help very much. You can buy some really strong reinforced elastic/metal ones but...I'm keeping away from these as the stronger supports you use, the less 'natural' support (like from the knee itself) you'll get over a period of time. I would also add that when I walk, or just sitting, my hips hurt but...when I've ridden because I've stretched that part of my body by sitting astride my trusty steed, when I get off the pony, they've stopped hurting and the pain stays away for quite a while. It does come back though.

[x.fat-pony.x]

Thanks Afellpony - will look into it :)

[coyote]

after having my accident last july i have now been told that i have arthritis in my shoulder and i have since got a very painfull clicking toe,knee and hip all down the side i broke!!! im only 32yrs old with 4 children,i will watch this thread with interest for remedies and anything that could help me too,chin up chuck!!:D:D

[NZdressage]

Hey, thanks people I am really grateful for all your support! And hopefully I can offer some to other people.

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

I have Arthritis in my left ankle, had an arthroscopy done last month...

[Zimbah]

Hi NZ, I've had arthritis since I was 15 and am 26 now. It's not exactly common at this age (and younger) but even so there are a lot of young people who have it so don't feel that you're alone :). Do you see a rheumatologist? I would try to ignore the dire warnings of "xxxx will happen in two/five/ten years", it's different for everyone so you just have to find the best treatment you can and take it as it comes.

[jayze]

I hate to say but seems like it's getting more common for younger people to get arthritis, don't know why.

Ive been studying Nutrition for the last year or so (not through a University, but through a natural health school via correspondence) and I believe that the reason so many young people are getting degenerative conditions (arthritis being one of many) is modern diets. I have some unusual views on Nutrition that are controversial as they go against what the mainstream media tells people and I get a lot of debate amongst my friends because they have science backgrounds or have done Nutrition via University. But like all "natural" or "Holistic" medicine, it gets a lot of flax because its not scientifically proven, but my view is its less harmful to try control things via diet and find it doesnt help than to take loads of medication, suffer who knows how many side effects and perhaps find that it doesnt help anyway.

Anyway... im drifting off topic. What i wanted to say is that many people find they can control their arthritis through diet. There are certain foods that cause arthritis symptoms to flare up more than others and also, if your body is having to deal with removing food toxins from your body, it has less ability to concentrate on keeping your joints healthy. In addition, there are foods that help keep joints healthy and help your body deal with the arthritis as best it can. I will need to look up my notes and do a bit of research, but would you be interested in knowing some dietary things that might help and should I post them here or PM you??

Please note - I do have a Nutrition qualification but its not University recognised, Im not registered, Im not a doctor and Im not implying this is a cure! Its just a friend giving another friend some advice :)

[Abserd]

That's interesting jayze, wonder if it would help my RSI too? Do you know anything about this - my joints are bad and it's highly likely i'll also end up with arthritis like the other peeps on here. My dad had it too and his mother before that. I've also got IBS on top of it all - maybe it would help if you were able to post a little about nutrition on here? Sorry if it's inappropriate tho :)

[Jetstreem]

Just found this thread.

Sorry to hear you have just been diagnosed with arthritis NZdressage. Don't worry too much about it, I was diagnosed with a type of rheumatoid arthritis two years ago when I was 18, and i have been on treatment for it ever since. Arthritis is really treatable now and I agree with Zimbah, dont listen to the you wont be able to do this in x amount of years, just take each day as it comes.

jayze I too would be interested in hearing about how different foods affect arthritis, I am a vegetarian but I have always wondered if there was anything I could be eating that would help with my aches and pains!

Cerys :)