Arthritic hip

Would swimming be any good Mishap. Not everyone's cup of tea, I know. Or perhaps cycling. Both of those are supposed to be weight-bearing exercises.

Jingle is right Mishap - swimming is very good for arthritic hips if it suits you. I started at aquarobics class and after a few weeks felt a significant improvement. Family needs have meant I've been unable to go over the summer and I'm now feeling the return of the achy hip!

I'd say swimming and cycling too, I've had one Hip-replacement and the other is painful already . I go swimming twice a week and try to do short cycle rides 2 or 3 times a week and I find it keeps my muscles strong which in turn assists with supporting the painful joints.. I found both these type of excercise much less painful than even just a gentle stroll which I do push myself to do as the alternative is more surgery which I want to put off for a few more years yet..

Swimming and cycling and Pilates as long as you tell the instructor about your hip problem. She/he will know the best exercises and the ones to avoid. Don't do anything that involves a lot of bending.

Does anyone know if it is best to work through the pain or give in to it? I am trying to walk as much as poss (post heart surgery) but find that about an hour is the absolute limit until my arthritic hip kicks in - which means that I will only go for half an hour as I know the half-hour back again will finish me off. For my heart I should be pushing it, to increase my distance, but I'm not sure if this will make my hip better or worse.

Learnergrandma, don't run yourself into the ground. I remember ending up in tears after a relatively short walk and having to spend the rest of the day lying down. That was when I finally went to the doctor and arranged for an X-ray which showed a badly eroded hip joint. You should have a word with your doctor about this and ask to be referred to a physiotherapist for advice and exercises. And do you use a stick? If you get a smart hiking pole with a rubber ferrule it won't look like a 'disability aid' and it really will help.

I know it might sound silly but I think your heart is more important to you than your hip to be honest and I would try to walk even with the help of a stick as much as I could, I don't think walking is going to do more damage if you have an arthritic hip keeping the muscles around it strong can only help delay any surgery that might become necessary. I think everyone has their own way of dealing with things and I've found I deal with the pain and don't give in to it as the less you use those muscles the less support they give to the joints.. of course you should see your GP for pain relief and anti-inflammatories and as Annobel suggests maybe get some physio..

Take painkillers and then you don't have to give in. I speak as one who has taken daily painkillers since my late teens for arthritis and who is stopped from doing as much as she would like by exercise-induced asthma. Don't push yourself over any pain barriers, but don't give in. Taking painkillers is not giving in; it's dealing with the problem. If I hadn't had painkillers I would have killed myself long ago.

Good luck.

I agree*bagitha*. I didn't take pills for ages , having a martyrish attitude to them but my daughter(a doc) always says:got a pain, take a painkiller and she has proved to be right as far as my hip is concerned. I also do gentle running on grass and lots of exercises to strengthen the backside gluteal muscles.My GP has said that I won't get any better but I can stop myself getting worse.

I have found my arthritic knee is very much better since I built up to long walks up steep paths - I assume I have strengthend the surrounding muscles and cartilage.
I walk with Nordic walking poles, which take a lot of strain off the knees, but I live in a remote mountain area and I don't suppose many peopel would like to use them in more populated areas. Otherwise, any stick will help, but the old fashioned crook handled ones can give you cramp in your hands.
I took diclofenac for about ten years before I read about the potential side effects - no doctor ever mentioned these to me. Now, I just put a small drop of ibuprofen gel on my knee if it feels a bit stiff.

Greatnan my sister uses Nordic poles she lives fairly remotely in Wales and swears by them, I thought I would try them but can't get over the thought of the looks I'd get if I started Nordic walking in West London... my neighbours would think I was bonkers..

You have my sympathy, Tanith - you probably would not want to wear my walking outfits either, but the goats don't seem to mind! It amuses me to think of all the years I spent worrying about my appearance - all that time and expense on hair dressers, make-up, contact lenses and clothes. Last time my daughter visited me she said I looked as if I had just rolled around in a wardrobe but soon after she gave up her high-powered job and moved to New Zealand, where she lives in jeans and wellies! Must be in the genes.

Lots of common sense here, thanks so much.
We are presently hopping backwards and forwards between two homes - not because we are determined not to leave anything behind when we shuffle off but because we have unfortunately inherited the family home too early, and cannot yet sell our own house; until we can do so we are having to try to look after both. Oddly, the roads are not cleared for DH and since he objects to sharing them we have to complete the five hour journey at strange times when nobody normal would dream of travelling. But here we are again, back in North Wales. Our default walk here is across rough headland, through a herd of wild horses if we are lucky, and returning along a rocky shore looking out for grey seals. This morning we had a long stroll in glorious winter sunshine along an estuary and out into a sandy bay - hard slog back through the sand dunes. At the other end, our walks usually involve tramping through woodland. So I think I am a prime candidate for the excellent suggestion of a stick or something - I had been wondering if this would help. I've checked in with my GP who thoroughly endorses the advice here - not to stint on the painkillers and to go for it.
So I have ordered some Nordic poles from Amazon:
www.amazon.co.uk/Trekrite-Antishock-Hiking-Walking-Poles/dp/B001AC9T22/ref=pd_sim_sg_1
Thy've had some good reviews - I'm so looking forward to trying them out. Watch this space!!

Oh!!
Have just thought - perhaps I was not supposed to post a link to a specific item.
So, just in case, please note that I have absolutely no connection with Amazon or Trekrite!
Sorry

You will soon get used to the technique and will find it very much easier to walk with the poles. Mine have saved me from serious injury or worse on several occasions, as I do walk up very steep and slippy paths and I use the poles to stop me sliding down. Try to get into the rhythm, swinging your arms , and you will find you can walk much further, lose any bingo wings and even develop biceps.

LearnerGrandma, that sounds lovely. I love North Wales. (son went to Bangor uni).

Does anyone think you can stay on painkillers too long though? I have tried to do without them today (rib and back) but am about to give in. They won't do harm will they? (mostlyu paracetamol with a bit of codeine thrown in)

The problem with codeine is that it is very addictive -I know from bitter experience with my daughter who was given it in hospital when she was in agony following a botched operation. Non-steroidal anti inflammatories like diclofenac, which is sold under various names, can cause liver damage in some people if taken for a long time. If you are taking them, tell the pharmacist as you should not take aspirin at the same time as the blood may be thinned too much causing bleeding and ulcers.
The only problem with paracetamol is that it can cause bleeding ulcers and liver damage if taken in more than the recommended dosage.
All over the counter pain killers are safe when taken according to the manufacturers' or the doctor's instructions - but they tend to become less effective with long use which leads to the temptation to overdose.
Rub-in ibuprofen gels mean less medication gets into the bloodstream and are fine for occasional use.
Unfortunately, some people need pain killers for the rest of their lives - my daughter has a huge incisional hernia and internal lesions so she would not be able to function without her dosage of codeine but we have had a few horrible experiences when she 'topped ' up the prescribed tablets with things like Neurofen Plus or Paramol, which contain codeine.

You can google any medication and get a lot of information, but your doctor or pharmacist is probably the best person to ask.

I find warmth is good for pain and I believe, although I have never tried it, that some techniques such as Yoga and meditation are very helpful.

jingle If your son went to Bangor uni perhaps he was one of the swarm of intrepid figures clambering around the rock faces, or kayaking, around here! Cannot believe what they get up to (actually my own son went to Aberystwyth uni, largely I suppose so that I couldn't see what he got up to! )
Painkillers - I specifically asked my GP if it really was OK to take them on a regular basis. The answer was a very emphatic yes; she said one could safely take eight paracetemol a day with no side effect. I have also been advised to take them at once, if not before the onset of pain, in order to help the body deal with it.
I know this is the new thinking but I was brought up to put up with pain until it got so bad that I really needed to take something - I think the idea was that the body would get used to it and would therefore gradually need more and more to be effective. Debunked now, apparently. But I cannot help seeing the headlines in the good old Daily Mail in a year or two debunking the debunking, advocating a stiff upper lip and warning of the dangers of too much paracetemol!!!!

I have just gone back to the diclofenac page and it is also known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension (high blood pressure). I would avoid it unless it is absolutely essential.

LearnerGrandma such sound common sense you have been offered but just a quick thought. Is all this travelling making things feel worse ? When travelling I find raising my car seat as high as possible and sitting on a gel cushion helps tremendously. Persuade DH to stop at intervals to allow you to go for a really brisk walk - even parking well away from services entrance and briskly walking length of car park helps.
Sounds as if life each end of journey is idyllic you just need to get there pain free.

Learner, the top of Snowdon was his favourtie place!

Thanks for the info aboout painkillers. I will not cut down. It's just not worth it. I have sent for a rib support thingie. I'm hoping that will help.

Greatnan, I threw my diclofenac out when I read about that in the papers.

I gave in last week and asked the doctor for industrial strength co-codamol but am taking it very sparingly as it makes me feel sick and I'm not sure it is much more effective than straight paracetamol. I have heard that there are some people for whom codeine does not work and maybe I am one of those. I used to take diclofenac which didn't, I think, do me any harm. But while taking steroids for polymyalgia I can't take anti-inflammatories. Tomorrow I am going to have acupuncture.

It makes me feel sick Annobel. I just take two at night to get a better night's sleep. During the day I stick to plain paracetamol.

Hope the acupuncture works! You are brave!