Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips How far can you push your body with as?

this is my first post here. i am 32 years old. i have had ra and as for years, just di 2 years ago. i was working up til a few months ago, factory work lots of lifting, i pushed myself to do it. then something had to give,with work 3 kids and house cleaning, so i quit working i stay at home, babysitting a little. i just want to know if everyone else feels like this, like everyone expects you to act like nothing is wrong even when your in pain so bad you dont want to move ? i still have to push myself of course, but where do you draw the line? or do you? i am talking about pain in the entire body i dont think there is a place on me that dont hurt! i also made the decision to not see the dr's and take any meds for a while, dont really does not help either. anyway i just would like to know what you all think about pushing our bodies, and i dont know about you all but the more i push myself the more pain and then i get so grouchy and i dont mean to but when your in that much pain you get grouchy i guess? hope everyone can understand what i am getting at , i am not real good at explaining things, lol

Here's a hint. Do not push yourself at all. Take it easy and do what you can and no more until you get proper treatment. Pushing yourself can cause more damage and in turn more pain. You need to see a Rheumy and get his/her opinion on the progression of your disease and what you should and shouldn't do. Good Luck... Scotty

Hi Electric, i'm a bit of a one for pushing myself, well not necessarily pushing myself, but making myself keep going when i want to crawl away and hide. I'm better than i was, last year i finally had to start making changes and my social life has suffered primarily. I probably shouldn't be working, every couple of months i get to the point of collapse or massive flare and am forced to take time off from work, but I always go back, I don't know what else to do, I don't want to give in just yet, not when I can pull some more reserves out of the bag. I luckily have a great rheumatologist, do you have one? I also watch my diet, I rest as much as I can, I come here to get some strength and understanding...and whilst i do push myself a lot, i know when not to from past experience. As for being grouchy, you should ask my boyfriend! I'm tired, in pain, stressed...i can be a real narky cow, often if i'm not snapping i'm crying, must be a joy to be around!

I'm waffling a bit without a point, but you're not alone. I would suggest revisiting your med options though, is there a reason you don't want to take anything? I don't take much because of dreaddful side effects I have suffered with, i'm now hoping to start anti TNF.

Anyway, take care, there's lots of info here that might help make things more bearable.

hello, i quit going to a dr several months ago, i dont know how it is there but here the dr's are limited, unless i want to drive 2 or 3 hours a visit lol! the first dr i had was good but after i went to him a few months and he di. me, he left the area, he was just here on a contract! so i went to one here in my town, and he was no good, so i am running, out of ooptions there. besides that point though, i felt like a test animal. they had me on like 8 meds at the same time. indocine, methotroxate,predisone, and some others at high doses.they said it would be alright, but it could make me bleed to death inturnally. and like just soon after i started taking them,i had my kids in the car, and was in ivolved in a wreck,my fault. i know it was the meds and pain pills! (SORRY BOUT MY SPELLING) so i desided to just try and live without a dr. The pain pills alone were bad enough i was on a high dose of flexiral, and told to work, i couldn't even stay awake let alone work. the pain got so bad i did have to quit work, because i was in a factory with alot of heavy lifting! now i am just babysitting a couple of kids at home. dont know what to do next. need to go back to dr , but dont know where, cant aford to drive for hours to get to one. need to calm down too! glad to know i am not the only one who cries and gets grouchy! lol

Sounds like you've had a tough time with Dr's and meds, but if you're in a bad way and struggling I would try again, have you spoken to any docs about anti TNF? OTherwise, you could have a look on the NSD diet forum, perhaps you could give that a try to see if you can alleviate your pain a bit, many have brilliant results. If you're feeling overly stressed and anxious it might be worth having a chat to your doctor about that too, lots of chronic illness sufferers find themselves in this position. I've had a small stint on anti-depressant, along with 6 months of couselling when it all got a bit too much for me about 18 months ago, the counselling especially was so helpful. Just some thoughts...

Hi
I understand about pushing urself! For me it has not been a choice tho, i have had to to survive and look after my family. I actually dread to think where i would b if i hadnt pushed myself to my limits on many occasions. I am a single mum, i have to get myself up and dressed in a morning and ppush myself whatever i feel like toget my kids dressed and take them to school. When i am so shattered and the worse for pain, i push myslef to still clean the house, i cannot live in an untidy house, i guess thats a psychological prob, cus i feel worse than ever if its untidy. I have to push myself to exercise when my body really just wants to curl up and dont want to know. I know if i dont exercise i will get worse! i have to push myself whatever state i am in to go and shop at the supermarket, now that makes me real grumpy! Pushing a heavy trolley and people knocking into u! I have no one to do this for me, so if i dont do it we dont eat! I have two boys that need picking up and running round after! As if on my worse days this isnt bad enough (dont get me wrong i am no saint theres prob others have to far more than i) I have now had to start working! As i was on state benefits and thats barely enough to feed ourselves and put gas and electric in the meter, let alone run my car which is absolute necessity as i cannot walk to far, bus service is non-existent here, and my kids go to a school 3 miles away! Even tho working (only part time there is no way i could manage it full-time) is so hard work i need a decent life, e.g clothes and shoes for my kids and to keep the bailiffs away from my door!
Sarah i get just as grouchy as u if not worse!
In answer to the original question, i think the amount u can push urself is variable everyone has different limits. The only suggestion i have is if ur gonna push urself it is possible to gauge it, to push enough but to not push too far and lay urself up. as for not having taken any meds, i salute u! i really dont know how u have done it, i cannot manage without mine. But everyones different. Is there anyway with the help of nsd or alternative therapy u could unclude it in ur as treatment if ur not happy with meds?
Hope u r feeling better soon
take care
heather

I'm no doctor, and also have no clue how much pain you are going through at the moment, but I would say stay active.

Activity in the long run has no equal when it comes to quality of life. It's not a quick fix to our problem, but what i've seen pills are even a worse option in my opinion. As long as you do as much as you can activity wise without causing harm then you are doing the best thing for your body.

hello, yes i stay very active. so much some times i can hardly get out of bed in the morning! i have a high pain tolerence, but this is just so overwelming some times. but have to keep on going.

i have a problem with pushing myself too far.i have learned the hard way that its not worth it. i push too far, too hard, and i wind up off my feet for days, and i fall further behind. i had to give up working, i have 5 kids, and not enough help. you just have to learn to pace yourself, and dont push yourself beyond your limits.

hello, i am sorry i have not been on here for a while, but i am now so i can reply lol.there are just so many everyday things that must be done i feel like there is no choice but to push on, right? i am going to have to go back to work and suffer through the unbarable pain once again, because , well we are broke and i dont have a choice, it just isn't fair but i guess life is not fair, right? i have three kids 14, 12 and 9. i know what you mean when you have to keep up with them! i hope you can find some time to relax for yourself,good luck, i am there with ya! lol