Rhuematiod Arthritis - Back to 10mg

After a steady decline in movement and a increase in pain it was time to visit the Doctor again today. Ulcer had also flared up and looked angry, there was also an increase in the itchiness which had caused the ulcer to increase in size. Walking has become painful again, the pain is not a muscle growing pain it is a joint inflammation pain. Hands are stiff. Headaches continue to cause periods of the zombie state. 

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 3

Today's session was a continuation of previous exercises for pelvis and foot movement, but I am suffering some neck pain and want to work on that. I have noticed due to medication and more movement that the swelling in joints is reducing. My knees and left shoulder feel loose and sometimes click or grind, I think it will take time for muscles to adjust and tighten.

Ulcer update: Toe ulcer has healed and leg ulcer has reduce but is incredibly itchy

Christine worked on the feet especially the right foot not sure how this is helping my neck, finally she works on the head neck and top of spine muscles

When I regain any movement in a joint there is a muscle soreness and a grinding noises or feeling

The front of the ankle tendon/ligament is stiff and sore not sure how much movement will be regained there

Rhuematiod Arthritis - The Specialist 2

Today was the second specialist visit at the hospital discussed headaches, specialist was surprised I was suffering side effects from the prednisone. It was suggested a reduction in prednisone to 7.5mg to see if it reduced the headaches. Although I had increased movement from doing Feldenkrais, specialist continued to advise I would see little improvement in movement and treatment was more about pain management. We discussed bloods which had got close to normal.

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 2

Today's session had a little bit more movement exercises. Feldenkrais seems to use a benchmark movement then some treatment then back to the benchmark movement to see the difference. Today we used a furniture slider and a foot roller to do some ankle exercises. There is also always a healthy discussion on how you are feeling and what you would like to improve. Like the gradual decline in movement and well being you need benchmarks to compare your improvements as time goes on hence my notes here in this blog. I had up until I got ill used what I called the sock treatment, If I could put my sock on and cover it up then the problem was solved (I do not recommend this method of treatment). My feet had been put in shoes and the shoe had contact with the ground any flexing in my feet was caused by the weight of my body not a natural foot movement, I guess you get lazy with age. I must explain that what I mean by natural movement is if you have to think to make the movement or your brain says hey wait a minute that might hurt, then it is not natural. A non-natural movement is going to effect your life as it will deter you from doing things involving movement which in turn will make the problem worse. Performing the circles foot movement on the sliders caused calf and knee soreness. I have a slight lower back pain/soreness from moving pelvis I guess. Overall feeling is better, standing and walking there is a slight improvement.

Rhuematiod Arthritis - Feldenkrais Session 1

This is my interpretation of my Feldenkrais experience and are notes for my journey I am not a Feldenkrais practitioner 

Today was my first session of Feldenkrais with Christine Cutbush as I have decided to become as healthy as possible and I remain open minded to any techniques. After filling in a short questionnaire and then having a short discussion it was time for the session to start. Feldenkrais is about connecting or in my case reconnecting the brain to the body. My body is very broken ankles have little to no movement, wiggling toes not possible. The session starts lying down on a table my legs can't straighten, knees bent feet can't be flat on bed I can't stand vertically properly. Apparently my pelvis is fused which is the shock absorber of the body so we do some pelvis stretches and foot massage to relax the muscles (I guess). As Feldenkrais is about the brain connecting to your body foot contact with floor or bed is a must at all times. I must note that most body movements at this point are not natural and my brain thinks of the pain and difficultly before performing any movement. The session ends with a sequence of sitting on the bed then standing up and walking a few steps. As I have mentioned this is about connecting your brain to your body, so sitting up and standing up are critical indicators I think for two reasons 1) you can't tell if your sitting or standing up straight 2) speed of movement is an indicator if the movement is natural or forced. I leave the session feeling lighter in my body weight on my feet. I have an overall more positive feeling

Rhuematiod Arthritis - The Specialist 1

Went to the specialist today met with the doctor who was pleased with the reduction in the ulcers. No medication change until leg ulcer has healed which is on target for end of the year. No indication of when or how much movement I will regain, almost suggested this could be the best it will get and it was more about pain management. Dr showed interest in my eagerness for some physical treatment for movement

• Walking with slight pain
• standing from sitting still difficult
• Standing feels unnatural
• can't stand up straight
• sleep uncomfortable 

Rhuematiod Arthritis - The Beggining

Warning this is only being published as my record of my road to recovery.

Today I am in hospital after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I jokingly called it my "rigor mortise disease". It happened rather quickly over three weeks I went from being mobile to almost totally immobilized. Not only were my joints shoulders,elbows, hands, hips, knees and feet sore all muscles had also locked up to stop the pain. I had fluid on my right knee and the following activities were almost impossible:

• walking
• stand up straight
• turn head without pain with very limited movement couldn't look left and right while driving without turning body. Couldn't look up above me 15 degrees above vertical
• sleeping and rolling over took thought
• lifting a coffee cup
• moving toes
• bending ankles
• bending fingers more than 20 degrees - couldn't make a fist.
•  sitting in a chair with knees bent 90 degrees with feet flat on floor
•  Lying on my back with knees straight was not possible
• Lying on my back on a hard surface with knees bent couldn't place feet flat on surface

Physical descriptions:

• Feet swollen no gaps between toes, no veins or ligament visible
• Nodes on elbows and forearms 

 I had been regularly taking voltren before this episode to control pain but in a health drive to improve my health I had reduced voltaren and alcohol to almost nil.
Although I had been to a emergency clinic and prescribed 75mg Voltaren - Tramadol the pain was still intense after 5 days of medication. All drugs were stopped when in hospital with only panadol to ease the pain (it didn't work). I had two ulcers one on my right foot on the second biggest toe the other on my left lower leg which was 5cmx4cm and 0.5cm proud flesh, but no infection. After being discharged from hospital I was taking 40mg Prednisone for two weeks then 20mg for two weeks then down to 10mg and Ibuprofen 200mg for pain.