Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; NSD & AS > able to perform labourer's work ?

I'm 3 weeks into NSD. 37 years old, female, HLA-B27+, but without diagnosis so far (clear x-rays & bone scan), still waiting for a Rheumy referral.

I'm a horticulture apprentice so 'luckily' I'm currently seasonally laid off, as I go through this, my 3rd, and worst flare-up (on-going since mid December, had 10/10 pain for 2 weeks). Mainly hip & lumbar/thoracic/cervical pain, stiffness etc. Better since starting NSD. Only take Naproxen, down from 1000mg to 500mg/day. No muscle relaxants anymore.

Any others out there performing "labour"-type jobs?
Has the NSD helped you go back to this type of work?
What have people's experience been with heavier work, i.e. heavy lifting, digging, stooped over for long periods etc.?

I've had to defer my 6 weeks of school this winter, am using that time to hopefully get better. Due back at work April 4th.
I have a hard time picturing how things are going to work out this spring, worried I'll lose the job. Right now just going for a 1/2hr walk makes the next day an achy and tiring one.

Different for everyone I'm sure, but would love to hear thoughts none the less.

Cheers.

hi Kleb
I am labourer too in a lighting company.
Sometimes heavy lifting is involved.
I started having problems with my left knee since November.
Before i had trouble with the sacroiliac joints but i managed to continue work.
From my experience if there is no inflammation around the knee everything is fine.
But if there is a constant inflammation and no so much pain, if i try to overdo it , i end up with a terrible pain and most of the times i am not able to work.
I started from yesterday this no-starch diet and i told them at work that i am not able to lift , pull or push heavy staff.
sometimes i have to sit on a high chair to do do the work.
for me it seems that i have to stop the inflammation with any way i can, because i feel it makes my knee weaker and more stiff no matter what pain killers i got or anti-inflammation tablets.
but don't count on my opinion because i start my research and effort to stop that disease few days ago. this site is so valuable that will help a lot both of us.
My opinion is , no matter if we are working or not , we have definitely to stop the inflammation which slowly is causing the damage which can be very serious.
and again don't trust me , i am just new here,
I am like a sponge , sucking as much information as i can from everywhere and your site too
Costas

Hi there
What does your work involve? (just from a general interest point of view) I always admire anyone who does any sort of work outside as I am the sort of person who can kill a cactus! Maybe that is because I don't take the time to learn what to do

As costas says, anything that causes you pain and inflammation is really not great... it means that you may cause yourself damage - especially if you get caught in a regular cycle of inflammation (this is where the danger of permanent damage might begin to occur). It might not mean giving up the job you do - but just knowing your limits and taking your condition into consideration. It is not like someone healthy (not sure if that is the right word) straining themselves and then recovering again - we are a bit more vulnerable. Not wanting to be a drama queen, more just concerned about you.

I'm sure others will have much more practical advice than me.

My message to you is - please look after yourself, hon

Thanks for the input Costas & Tinker.
Keep "sponging" Costas... so will I.

Hi,

I'm someone who doesn't have much long term damage from AS (knock on wood) but I'll weigh in. I was a server in a busy restaurant when I started the NSD several years ago. At the time, the pain was waking me out of bed at 4 am and it would take me a long time to get myself mobile and able to walk. I thought the NSD was possibly a crock but tried it anyway out of desperation. It took about thirty days to work for me. I was very strict. I can be less strict now but will occasionally have pain if I cheat. I just had a particularly brutal flare up after Christmas that's now back under control. I've also been doing some serious kettlebell training in the last month with great success.

Good luck to you!

Karrie

Hi,
Well, I just wanted to say that I totally understand that deep fear of "how can I take care of myself?" It is such a vulnerable feeling, not knowing. It reminds me of a sense the poem Question by May Swenson.
However, I wanted to give you encouragement and hope by telling you that my AS mentor is a horticulture therapist. She gardens and plants with people who have special needs. She puts in hours in her garden, doing lots of lifting. She paces herself, and she gets lots of treatments throughout the week, takes good care of herself. But basically she is kicking A$S out there and she is in her 50s.
Rest, laugh, relax and heal. This flare too shall pass.
Your blog looks amazing and I'm planning on curling up and reading it later today this rainy day.
Awfully nice to meet you, glad you are here even though I wish you didn't have this pain.
Take care,

Thanks Karrie & Jan - just the stuff that I need to hear!
One day at a time - just difficult not to get carried away sometimes (will it ever get better?! yadayada).

Good to see a fellow Canuck on the board Karrie

Yeah, I think we all bounce between being positive and worrying. Human nature, I guess. : )