What seems to help?
I'm not talking about medications, or about things that are important psychologically but have no direct physical effect, such as meeting a friend, or taking a weekend break.
I'm thinking more of activities, tricks etc that seem to ease the pain, even if just for a little while. But I'm also not talking about 'miracle cures', as most of us have experienced enough of this condition to know these are a fallacy. So nothing along the lines of 'a spoonful of tumeric a day will cure joint pain' or 'my friend did yoga for a month and her PsA disappeared'.
Still, we all know movement helps, is essential in fact. For me, swimming is great. There are a couple of caveats, including the fact that lowering myself into the water and hauling myself out again are tricky operations, so the steps are much-needed. But just being in the water makes me aware of where my aches and pains are, without experiencing them as aches and pains, if that makes sense.
Plus, the rythmical, repetitive nature of the strokes is soothing. It's movement with very little strain on the joints themselves.
Walking is also good, but often involves a pain barrier. I sometimes suffer with hip pain in the first half-mile or so. That goes with longer distance, but can be replaced by aches in the ankles or soles of the feet towards the end. Cycling is good too, but gripping handlebars can be hard on bad days.
My PsA diagnosis co'incided pretty much with the start of the first Covid lockdown. Our local swiming-pool has gone through two further closures since. It's open again now and I hope it stays open.
Not a miracle cure, but definitely a bit of relief on the days I can get there.
Any other ideas?
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Hi @JamesWBA, thanks for posting this question. I really hope you hear back from members of our community with what helps them. You mentioned several activities that we have heard often from our community, like: swimming, biking and walking. One of our advocates wrote an article about the importance of stretching to improve flexibility. I am sending you over a video that I really hope can help you. We are here for you. Jill, Team Member https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/video/stretching-reduce-pain-increase-flexibility
I am also a strong believer in the water - I swim, take deep classes or (in the summer) spend a lot of time just jumping in the lake. Cycling is also high on my list - and nothing like jumping in the lake after a ride!
My physio showed me some handle bar modifications and I'm going to purchase some - they are wider, flatter grips with a little "hook" on the end. They are supposed to reduce vibration and give you up to three different options to grip them. I do wear wrist braces but that doesn't help my hands.
I do the odd spin class in the winter.
I stretch daily - either from a list I made up or on Youtube.
Totally understand the walking thing - we walk almost daily. Sometimes there is pain at the outset (kind of like standing up) and one can walk it off a bit....but too much and something else can kick in.
Rest definitely factors in there - I'm also very good at going for coffee.
Motion is lotion and if you don't use it you lose it (applies to strength, flexibility, cardio capacity, joint mobility...). It can be a hard concept to get, especially with pain, but it's best for the long run. Sounds like you've figured it out, we really do have to take care of ourselves.
FWIW, I do yoga as well, and some swear by Tai Chi but I haven't tried that. Love my kayak and paddle board, being on the water - but my hands/wrists are my limiting factor. Kayak fishing is fun...Thanks for the replies. I probably don't do enough stretches. It used to be something I did before a sports activity, rather than for its own sake. That exercise for the soles of the feet looks promising.
I rode my bike fairly often last summer, but after 45-60 mins my hands started suffering. I'll probably get a new one this year, and will definitely ask about the grips.
Water is brilliant. We have a lot of spas round here too, and they have also started opening up....I've found toe stretchers really help my feet settle down after walking/hiking/the very limited running I can do, and paired with some self-administered foot massaging can really help me feel comfortable enough to keep up the exercise routine. I can't stress enough how much eccentric calf raises (aka eccentric heel drops) help with achilles inflammation, too.
