 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi there!
Bit of a stab in dark!But anyway...
I'm wondering if any has any experience of skiing with psoriatic arthritis (or rheumatoid arthritis would be of interest too) that they wouldn't mind taking the time to share with me. I don't have the condition myself - I am trying to gather information for a university assignment that I am working on, but i'm sure any information shared could also be helpful for other forum users with this condition in the future.
Any information about your experience would be helpful but I am particularly interested to know:
- what joints were effected in your personal case and what elements of skiing are the most difficult for you?
- How does your performance and enjoyment of skiing differ between flare ups and periods of remission?
- Are there any adaptations you have made to either your equipment (braces, splints, heated clothing etc) or style of skiing (less challenging, shorter runs, less jumps etc)?
As i said any information would be helpful and tremendously appreciated and I'm sure will be of use to others in the future.
Thank you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
I'm probably not the best person to answer this as I have never had a firm diagnosis. Basically I have psoriasis and I suffer from widespread pain and stiffness, but it's not constant and can occur pretty much anywhere. For me it's far worse when I'm not moving so much, i.e. sitting at work or when I wake in the morning. There has been some debate between my GP and rheumatologist whether I suffer from mild psoriatic arthritis or fibromyalgia, so I never had a definitive answer.
When it comes to skiing, I feel great. The more I move the less I suffer. I often feel stiff in the mornings, but once I'm on the mountain I feel so much better. My GP should prescribe skiing as treatment instead of the crappy painkillers...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
Oh thank you ever so much for sharing. I'm sorry to hear about your pain but its great to hear that you can ski and that you actually feel better when you do! Thats really useful, everyone's experience of psoriasis and arthritis will be different so that is really helpful information - thank you very much indeed!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Hi
I have seronegative RA, possibly triggered by a bout of Lyme disease, and was diagnosed in 2014, although I had been tested in 2000, so it had been lurking and niggling for a long time. I started a thread about it here http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=113547&highlight=
I have damage to my feet, hands and wrists plus pain but no changes in ankles, knees, elbows shoulders and jaw. Pain is usually what I would call low grade and persistent, but can be also be severe and debilitating. The more exercise I do the better my joints work but the more fatigue I get, so I have to balance the two. I don't have any stiffness.
When I first started skiing again I used lightweight velcro knee supports, but probably as much as a mental support as my knees were the first joints to be bad. I now don't use anything and reckon to ski for about 5-6 hours with a short break. I sometimes don't take poles if I can't grip too well. However, because I live close to the mountains I can pick and choose the days I go out, but very rarely manage consecutive days.
Moguls and ice/hard pack both hurt like hell (knees/ankles) so I don't do to much of that, sadly and I'm a bit old for too many jumps! Falls are more painful and getting up is less easy and much less elegant than before  . Broadly, when it starts to hurt I take some painkillers and keep going until it hurts too much. My rheumatologist is happy with me listening to what my body says and that I am not making any damage worse.
When I have a flare I can do nothing as the combination of fatigue and high doses of pain killers seems to shut my brain down, possibly as they are opiates! Thankfully flares are rare and the horrible RA medication has largely stabilized the condition.
Hope this is of use to you and please feel free to ask any more questions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Just osteoarthritis for me... any good?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Thank you so much, I really do appreciate you taking the time to explain your experience. Its really great to hear that you're still doing what you love despite having to make some compromises, your flare ups sound terrible! I wish you the best of luck with your condition and hope you continue getting out into the mountains. I'll certainly have a look at the thread you started. Thank you very very much.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And thank you very much for offering, but to be honest I am looking more for the rheumatic related arthritis!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
And thank you very much for offering, but to be honest I am looking more for the rheumatic related arthritis!
|
No worries =0)
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
I'm impressed if anyone can ski with these ailments. My father had both psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and it was very debilitating - he was in constant pain and could barely walk he had to shuffle everywhere. I am interested to hear if exercise does alleviate the symptoms (just in case it is hereditary).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis last year after 6 months of wondering why i felt so stiff and in pain. Skiing last year pre-diagnosis I took a small dose ibruprofen daily to help the stiffness but was fine once i got going. I agree that the sheer joy of being outside on the mountain is the best distraction medicine. My pain is in my lower back & hips. My biggest issue was getting my socks on, getting my boots on & if i fell over as I just didn't have the strength to push myself up with out leaning on someone else at the same time. my DH was a great help in this role until one fateful day I slid down a long icy patch away from him & had to rely on the kindness of strangers to help me up from my hands & knees. I definately went for less challenging runs - I think due to fear of damaging my body & not being able to react quick enough.
This year I'm on the nasty DMARDs and I am preparing to go skiing again. Not as stiff but its still there but now i know what i'm dealing with. I will be taking it easy - not over skiing but I see every ski holiday as a little win in mybattle against my body to continue doing the things i love.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@csmith, your post does sound very familiar in places to me. Some mornings putting socks and shoes on is a real test and can bring tears to my eyes. Once I am up and about this does ease. However I do remember falling one day when skiing last year and I really struggled pushing myself back up again. It didn't help that it was really icy and I kept sliding, but it was not being able to bend sufficiently that really stopped me from getting back on my feet. Poor Scarpa stood and waited for me for ages bless him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
Hi, wow first time I have logged in for a while and this comes up. I have suffered with PA since 2007 and PS for a lot longer. I trace the PS back to a big hit on my immune system in the late 80's, have it on both elbows, both shins and calfs plus occasionally face. In 2007 a family bereavement triggered PA, massive pain in ball of foot to start with then swelling in right foot toes. Couldn't walk as searing pain in foot was unbearable. Had consultation with my then GP in Putney and they referred me to a specialist at St Thomas's London. I had injections of methotrexate and weekly pills from then on, this sorted all the pain and the PS went to a degree as well.
I have the occasional flare up during the winter or if I am stressed but it's now pretty much in check.
As far as skiing is concerned, I have had the stiffness mentioned above but generally not a problem as no major impact in skiing on balls of feet. More of a problem is hiking or climbing, which after a few hours can be pretty painful.
Hope this helps, it's a nasty issue and one which has no cure but for me careful control on diet ( alcohol and sugar ) plus methotrexate has really helped. Excercise is also a great comfort, clears your head and relives stress.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
I skied with a chap who had painful arthritic knees recently, I'm afraid I can't say what particular flavour of arthritis, but he used a paingone pen whenever we stopped, he thought it was pretty effective for pain control. Apparently works like a Tens unit but no batteries needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@rich, I'm a pharmacist and work in a pharmacy who sell the paingone pens. I admit to being very sceptical, but last summer had a bout of tennis elbow. Nothing I could safely take at work touched the pain by the end of a busy day except the pen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
