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nutjob
Trad climber
Berkeley, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 26, 2009 - 06:42pm PT
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I just saw someone mention this in another thread and thought it deserved it's own thread.
I was diagnosed with Arthritis in 2000/2001, took medication for a few years and climbed very little (also coincided shortly thereafter with birth of kids), but then in 2005 I had a full recovery and climbed every weekend in Yosemite during the summer (wife + kids were in India).
In my case, the Arthritis is massively correlated with emotional stress (challenging marriage). And when I didn't do any activity, that just made the arthritis worse... being active helped improve matters for me.
On the negative side, it was all a feedback loop: emotional stress, minimal plans to take care of myself, working too much and not getting enough sleep, not getting exercise, feeling worse because not recharging my spirit doing activities I enjoy, feeling bad about being in pain, feeling resentful about not doing stuff I liked and in part blaming it on my spouse....
When I cleared out all that crap, the physical issues took care of themselves and it's not at all a factor in planning my activities now. I now have great respect for the power of our minds/emotions to regulate our physical condition.
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Oct 26, 2009 - 06:44pm PT
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glad yr better. stay healthy.
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Ray Olson
Trad climber
Imperial Beach, California
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Oct 26, 2009 - 07:27pm PT
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very thoughtful and progressive post, nutjob
lots o stuff on the mind/body connection
coming around these days,
glad U R well
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Phil_B
Social climber
Hercules, CA
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Oct 26, 2009 - 07:27pm PT
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Yeah, as soon as I learned how to take care of myself emotionally, most of my problems resolved. I still have to take some meds, but mostly for the psoriasis that goes along with my arthritis. I was on other, stronger meds for a while, but they really mess with you. Glad I'm not on them anymore.
Sun, sleep and a non-stressful work environment all make my life better. How many people have their dermatologist tell them to spend more time in the sun with their shirts off, eh?
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Oct 26, 2009 - 10:10pm PT
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Yikes! Aren't you sorta young for the big A, Nutjob? -you too, Philb.
I wonder if having climbing droogs bail on you with no notice, induces arhritis causing stress?
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gunsmoke
Trad climber
Clackamas, Oregon
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Oct 26, 2009 - 10:44pm PT
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>when I didn't do any activity, that just made the arthritis worse... being active helped improve matters for me
Nutjob, good for you for finding a way to work things out for the better. Stopping all activity at the sign of pain is not a good prescription. Another aspect of this is figuring out what kinds of climbing you can do and what you should avoid. There are many types of arthritis, however, and different people get different responses to the type of joint stress inherent with climbing.
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cragnshag
Social climber
san joser
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Oct 26, 2009 - 11:04pm PT
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I have Psoritic Arthritis and got to the point a couple years back that I could not get up a flight of stairs. After diagnosing the problem (took a couple years) I spent 7 months on the Remicade IV treatments, and then scaled back to MTX and Embrel. The stuff was miraculous in that I became mobile again, but it's not that great for you (side effects)and can give you lymphoma.
But man, once the PA was under control, did I get out there and climb! I even joined the PG gym in Sunnyvale to regain the finger strength (and goof off with friends).
I hear you guys about the lifestyle/ mental aspects of treating the problem. I have a very stressful job that no doubt contributes to the PA. I'm working on going part time (at less pay, of course) so as to reduce that stress load and hopefully scale back on the meds.
I never appreciated climbing more, than when I was unable to do so...
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mrtropy
Trad climber
Nor Cal
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Oct 26, 2009 - 11:33pm PT
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I too have a bit of Psoritic Arthritis. 17 years ago it wiped out a finger and then went away on its own. My skin looks like a leper but my joints are fine except for a knee injury not related to the psoriasis. It has slowly been getting worse for 25 years since my mid twenties. Never seemed to be stressed related just waxed and waned on its own. Also every cut wound develop in a patch; luckily my jewels, face and hands are pretty much spared. My old mad just brought over a new medicine from a friend who got it in Germany, HautBaut going to try it in 15 minutes.
Cheers Jeff
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drljefe
climber
Old Pueblo, AZ
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Oct 27, 2009 - 02:53pm PT
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Nutjob- thanks.
I can relate, as can others, obviously.
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