Discussion Topic
Can You Walk Up and Down Stairs?
Posted on 06/03/08, 05:20 pm
I'm just wondering if any of you could not walk up and down stairs, and if you now take meds and you're able to now?
The best I can do is homemade steps with 2 inch risers at most. And then I have to hold onto someone or something. Just curious.
The best I can do is homemade steps with 2 inch risers at most. And then I have to hold onto someone or something. Just curious.
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Reply #1 06/03/08 10:10pm
YES! When I was first diagnosed the stairs resembled Mt Everest to me. I used to sit on my butt and slither down them one at a time. Now I walk one stair at a time, planting both feet on the same stair. Once your meds kick in you should be able to navigate more easily. I never thought I would but I have! -
Reply #2 06/04/08 4:05am
Durring those first 4 or 5 months of symptoms stairs were my nightmare. Our bedroom was upstairs and I had to actually move downstairs. Eventually with the meds, I got to feeling better, I still do one step at a time. And avoid stairs whenever I Can.
Two months ago I was visiting my brother and his wife and they have a huge uncarpeted staircase to the upstairs. By the end of the weekend my knees were yelling at me.
Best advice is take it slow. -
Reply #3 06/04/08 6:09pm
Hmm, it sounds like meds don't totally get rid of the pain then. That's what I was wondering.
Years back I went through the "Guinea Pig" stage. They tried all kinds of meds, they either did nothing or made it extremely worse while taking them. I ended up bedridden for 3 months during the Guinea Pig phase. Then when they showed me the brochures for 2 more meds they wanted me to try, and I read the side-effects, I told them "No thanks! I'll do it MY way!" Well, I didn't yell at them. lol
I'm taking aspirin and weight train. I was just wondering if some new drug came out that has minor side-effects and gets rid of the pain.
I use to walk down stairs sideways, one step and a time (in public and getting out of our house). People would stare and I'd just smile. Now I step down backwards. For joy for joy. lol That's because I had to step up 2 homemade steps to step on the running board of our SUV, then while standing facing forward on the narrow running board and holding onto the ceiling grab handle, I'd have to kinda twist my left knee and swing around onto the seat. That's why my left elbow and left knee are a mess and my left knee can't step down sideways anymore.
But...we finally got a car and I can get in and out! Yeah! -
Reply #4 06/05/08 3:01am
Yes, steps use to be a nightmare for me. It was difficult enough just getting up and out of a seat, or out of my car, let alone walking down (especially) or up stairs. And to my appartment, it's two flights! Now I can run up and down stairs pretty much as much as I want to, meaning I could probably make it up 20 flights of stairs if I had to, running! My "trick" was reinforcing those knee muscles. I make sure to train them every time I go to the gym. I have never given them a break, because I knew above everything, my knees had to get me places! And it worked, with the meds. Yes, there is a medication out there that has almost no side effects really and gets rid of the pain. But......it slowly improves your immune system. There are never guarantees with medications, and everyone has a different reaction. However, if you want to try it, it's called Low Dose Naltrexone. There are several of us on it and I think it's the best thing ever! Am I cured, no, but slowly getting there I hope. Certainly I feel much much better on this than I did on other medications. I wish you luck! -
Reply #5 06/05/08 11:55pm
Getting up and out of a seat, oh ya, I know what you mean. Does anyone beside me rock back forth to get up the nerve to stand up? This may be over the line, but the most miserable chair to sit on and get up is...er...the "throne". Even with the "booster chair" and my toes barely touching the ground.
Reinforcing which knee muscles? I've always had a feeling to build up muscles, to make the muscles do the work, not the joints. I thought I was just trying to trick my brain. For legs I do leg extensions, though that's for the glutes. Which knee muscles, which exercises? I'm very interested.
I Googled Low Dose Naltrexone for RA, and only found that they did a clinic trial with 10 people. Is there a site for it, for RA?
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Reply #6 06/25/08 1:17pm
STEPS ARE SOMETIMES HARD...JUST TAKE THEM SLOW AT FIRST..NOW I AM DOING GOOD..I EVEN DO THE STEPS NOW AT THE CLINICS INSTEAD OF THE ELEVATOR......SO I HAVE GOTTEN BETTER WITH STEPS...
GERRI -
Reply #7 06/26/08 11:26pm
I know what you mean regarding steps if I try to go up or down to many of them my knees will swell up like balloons and I will have much pain. So generally I only go up about two or three steps. I usually try to use an elevator.
Unfortunatley I can not take many meds due to my other conditions.
Good luck to you! -
Reply #8 07/10/08 2:39am
Hi everyone, steps kill me. I think I forgot which foot goes first. My feet just stand there and look at me and say now what. If I walk very far forget it too. I might crawl but both knees are due for surgery , so if I had wings I would fly. How can we kid when the pain is so great, it helps to laugh at myself and then go on. Mandy -
Reply #9 07/12/08 10:09pm
I know what you mean mandy, about forgetting which foot goes first, and laughing at oneself. We just have boards stacked for me to get in and out of the back door at home (no more than a 2" rise). Left leg go up, right leg go down.
When I go to Wal-Mart, I guess because I have a "run at it" and the door opens, it's not real bad stepping over the threshold (though spooky). But my parents bought a different house, and it's "flat on the ground" (handicap access I guess it's called). They'll open the door, and I freeze, then can't help but laugh (I guess hoping no neighbors see me), because since it's flat but yet is a doorway, it's like I forget how to walk in "normal"! lol -
Reply #10 07/12/08 10:09pm
I know what you mean mandy, about forgetting which foot goes first, and laughing at oneself. We just have boards stacked for me to get in and out of the back door at home (no more than a 2" rise). Left leg go up, right leg go down.
When I go to Wal-Mart, I guess because I have a "run at it" and the door opens, it's not real bad stepping over the threshold (though spooky). But my parents bought a different house, and it's "flat on the ground" (handicap access I guess it's called). They'll open the door, and I freeze, then can't help but laugh (I guess hoping no neighbors see me), because since it's flat but yet is a doorway, it's like I forget how to walk in "normal"! lol
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