I think I have developing arthritis in my left hip joint and other areas. It has not been diagnosed as such yet, but that's my guess to what the problem is. Anyway, just wondering if anyone around here rides with arthritis and what they do to minimize any pain or discomfort. Exercise, stretching, yoga, diet, etc.? I'm not at all overweight, eat pretty well as far as healthy foods are concerned. I have limited my exercise to low impact and walking until I get this diagnosed, which may be a while out yet.
I've ridden and commuted everyday for about 5 years now and think it may be contributing to my situation (putting the joint into a position it doesn't like).
I don't want to quit riding due to this, but if it progresses that may be inevitibile. :thumbdown
So... yeah. My left hip was bone on bone for so long, it actually fused itself. X-rays look like the Elephant Man's head (not exaggerating). It's been non-stop pain, but it becomes background noise. In addition to riding street (about 12k a year, weekends only, good weather only), I started racing about 4 years ago.
So last summer, I began the process of moving... figured I'd move as much as I could with my trucks, and then hire movers for the heavy stuff. All that hiking back and forth, carrying heavy boxes, limping onto the good hip, was too much. Started getting pain in it, pretty uncomfortable... but I figured once the move was over, and I finished up the race season, I'd have all winter to rest up.
Didn't quite work out like that.
Left Round 6 (early October), got home, backed the trailer in, unhitched it, unloaded the truck, went to bed. Got up the next morning, and nearly went through the window... right hip WENT. I mean, agonizing pain, couldn't walk, missed several days of work.
Eventually got a cortisone injection, but I'm walking with a cane, can't stand or walk for very long (still raced the last round of AFM, though! :teeth ), and it's looking like hip replacement is on the horizon for end of this year.
I've found that taking glucosamine supplements (specifically Nutrilite's
Twist Tubes have actually helped, as long as I take them daily. Strongly encourage you to take something similar (and it needs to be 1,500mg or it doesn't do anything), and avoid things like carrying heavy stuff (puts a lot of stress on the hip joints). I've got a collapsible utility wagon that's been a life saver. And if you run, stop. You're just pounding on your hip/knee joints.
It's impacted my ability to race, because I can't do all the pre-race stuff (unloading the trailer, setting up the bike, tire warmers on and off, all that), and my limited mobility since then has cost me a huge amount of muscle tone in my legs. But I can cycle, and just picked up a resistance stand so I can cycle every day in the house.
And I can ride street (just need to figure out how to stash a cane on a sportbike... :laughing ).
Nothing is going to keep me off the bikes... just gotta figure a workaround!
If I can do it, so can you!!
:thumbup
