Knees and hips...eh...both can be replaced...:p

A simple blood test can tell you if you are positive for RA...the secret to keeping it in remission seems to be...stay active, keep moving...

The thing is, I can't see rushing off to the doctor to be tested for RA just because of pain in my hip joints when I have NO OTHER SYMPTOMS and I'm 50+ and I'm more active now than I had been for...... 30+ years. That seems like asking for a CT scan of my brain just because I have a headache.

Then do nothing if you choose to. Sounds like maybe you have decided what to do already.
All I'm saying is that having no other symtoms means absolutely nothing. It doesn't mean you do or you don't have RA. Many people never get those symtoms and would be better off if they knew they had RA earlier (less joint damage later, because it was treated early on). That's one possible down side of doing nothing. Don't get hung up on the other symptoms as being required.
There's no down side to a blood test or asking a doctor. There might be a down side if you have Lupis or Lyme disease and you do nothing. I don't know if any rheumatologists posted in this thread or not. Maybe one did. Maybe one is reading this ?? That's who you should talk to, I'm just repeating what a good rheumatologoist told me. I fit your symptoms and so do millions of others with RA.

2manybikes: I hadn't decided anything yet, until today. I've decided to take a week off the bike:cry: and walking (aerobic/exercise type of walking). If my hips feel better after one week I'll ease in cycling, but continue not walking for at least another week. During that time I'll take an Advil once a day or every other day as needed (I rarely take meds so a little bit goes a long way). I am also taking calcium and magnesium w/zinc now as suggested. If it continues after 3 weeks, I'll see a doctor.

Today one of my hips hurt enough to walk with a controlled limp. I have NO other symptoms of RA, no (visible) swelling or any of the other symptoms, but I'm willing to mention it as a possibility when I go to the doctor. I'm gonna hate not doing anything for a full week, but a week's rest can be a good thing when needed.

I hope you don't have RA. Hopefully you have nothing serious. Unfortunately, your one hip limping makes me think you have it even more. That fits too. I certainly hope I'm wrong. I hope your OK.
Good luck with your idea, I think it's a good one. I know how much it rots to not exercise for a while, yuck! But it's a good idea to try. I think it would be great if you can come back here later and tell me I was wrong. :)

I plan to. :)

A limp and sore hip are symptoms of other problems too, some serious and some not. I'm just in the preliminary testing phase to see what helps and what doesn't. Thanks, I truly appreciate your concern.

:beer:

Yen- I want to add my experience and solution.
I had a bad slipping on rocks and falling accident about ten years ago. The immediate symptom was that I could not walk unassisted. I used lots of Advil and Aspercreme just to make it to a doctor.
X-rays and MRI revealed that nothing was broken but Arthritis was present in both knees. The fall stretched the ligaments and therefore I lost support for the joints. The doctors said that nothing could be done and prescribed some potent pain killer and anti inflammatory drugs (Vioxx)
I could not walk without pain for a long time. Perhaps one year.
I decided to go on a bike trainer and spin at no load for at least one hour per day. Eventually more than one hour. Eventually I was able to drop the potent drugs and just used Advil. One year later I was able to drop Advil and a year later I dared to bike across the USA.
I still have Arthritis in the knees. I can feel it. I cannot jog for any length of time without creating a problem. But low load spinning will strengthen the muscles and ligaments and not aggravate the joints.

Will, thanks for telling your amazing story and overcoming what the doctors said could not be overcome (no wonder you are reluctant to go to doctors).

At what point did you start on the bike trainer? Were you able to ride on the trainer without pain during the time you were walking with pain?

Today the pain in my right hip was worse than yesterday and I walk with shorter steps. This pain feels EXACTLY like the pain I had in the same spot about 30 years ago when I strained/tore/whatever something in the groin, and never got it treated. Eventually the pain went away, but I'm wondering if my increase in activity has caused that old injury to flare up.

Bob Anderson's book Stretching has an ad in the back to get the little software program that reminds you to stretch while you are working at your computer.

Hope you feel better soon!

I didn't realize the Andersons were a cottage industry:
www.stretching.com

Actually, in this case, I did go to a doctor. He was/is a modern acting specialist for orthopedic problems. One statement he made and make me like him:"The very least we doctors must do is not make things worse."
When I said to you that the doctor could not do anything, that means that he could not recommend anything at that point in time. He did not think that I was ready for a knee joint replacement.
I asked him about spinning at no load. He said that is fine. He also said to avoid stairs and walking is not as good as biking for this condition.
Yen- The answer to your first question above is that I never do anything in exercise what causes pain. That will only make things worse or you are doing things wrong. No load spinning at 80 RPM should not hurt. If it does, stop and find out why. Seat adjusted wrong, wrong posture, other more serious problems we cannot imagine here. I started this no load spinning immediately.

Here is my thinking and remember that I am not a doctor:
Lack of exercise, injury, excessive weight, wrong unnatural moves, arthritis all can cause bone to bone rubbing which causes inflammation which causes pain. Therefore one needs to take anti-inflammatory medicine. That will not fix anything but buys time. That time can be used to build muscle around that joint by no load repetitive natural motions like spinning on a stationary bike. IMHO lack of sensible exercise is a national disgrace in the USA.

Yen- I am very persistent and do not give up easy. I did this every day for a few years. The results were terrific. My inactive friends of the same age are in bad shape. They do not have this persistence I am describing. Lucky my wife is following my example and so is our son.

Some recent research suggests that the anti inflammatories may inhibit the bodies natural healing process, that the swelling is actual better for you in the long run as it increases blood supply/flow to the affected area and may help protect aganst future problems in the same area. Pain is an awfully important part of the bodies communication with its inhabitant, working with and through it rather then masking it with chemicals can actually end up with you stronger and more knowlegible about your bodies limitations. And yes I do have arthritis, both knees, one hip and a wee bit everywhere else. Most flare ups happen when I can't get enough riding in, or have to sit for long periods.
My doctor said take these pills and don't move in ways that hurt?!?!?! :eek:
Instead I try to avoid the drugs and do yoga and ride and walk as much as I can, the yoga really helps. Walking can irritate the hip pretty quickly, but if I don't mix it in I have trouble holding my weight where I want it. :(

Hi Yen, I have stiffness in the hips, too. Sometimes both, sometimes one more than the other. And I've found that long car rides really aggravate it. A wedge pillow to sit on in the car helped quite a bit. And I've got a desk at work that rises so I can stand and work if I need to. Oh, and a pillow between the knees in bed helps, too. So, sit less and move more. And trigger point therapy helps with this pain, and other aches and pains, too: http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-...8040023&sr=8-1

I've had blood work and know that I do not have RA. Good luck and hope you are feeling better soon.

I think we need to ditch the sedentary jobs, since that seems to be the cause of the joint pain. ;)

Since our crash 3 wks. ago I notice that my left knee (the one that met the pavement) is stiff after any amount of sitting, whether I cross my legs or not. I notice some stiffness in my shoulders as well. Is this secondary to the accident? An age/overuse indicator? Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe both. All I know for sure is that, when I first get up, I hobble a few steps until the stiffness resolves.

I feel your pain, Yen, and your frustration. :(

Thanks everyone. Yeh I think the years spent sitting all day in a sedentary job is certainly a culprit. Couldn't be my lack of activity during those years, eh? ;) On a good note, however, I'm noticing a LOT more strength in my legs just doing everyday things. All because of my bike!

My hip does feel a better. I've taken Advil only once -- yesterday morning -- and the pain has decreased. I haven't ridden or walked since last Wednesday, and today was the coolest morning we've had in several weeks.... a perfect morning for a bike ride.:cry: Tomorrow (Sunday) is my pre-colonoscopy fun day, so maybe I can take a very easy celebratory ride on Monday evening.

This reminds me of a former neighbor who lived around the corner. When she was in her mid-90s she walked briskly several times a day, usually to and from the store. When someone asked her why she did it, she replied "If I don't walk, I can't move". That was several years ago (she is no longer with us... sadly, she was hit by a car while on one of her walks) but I've never forgotten her words of wisdom. Keep moving!

+1
My physical therapist told me that my desk job was probably the biggest contributing factor to my herniated lumbar disc.

Please let me add a note of warning about frequent use of pain killer and anti inflammatory drugs.
We had a close relative living out her final years at our house. She did all those things wrong we are talking about. Sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, no exercise, smoking and abuse of alcohol and pain killers.

Not surprisingly she developed kidney problems. The doctors said that the pain killers did the damage. She used the pain killers because she could not move without discomfort. No muscle support.
The damaged kidneys got worse and next was dialysis. That attacked the heart and that killed her slowly.

This experience motivated me to get of these drugs ASAP.

Will, that's a sad testimony to the effects of drug abuse (of any type).

Yes YEN- This person I am talking about was a great loss to me/us. She co-signed for us to come to the USA, Intellectually smart and great to talk to, considerate of others, law abiding and a good citizen.

That all did not prevent her from self-destructive behaviour. Don't you think we all tried to get her to change? In her final weeks she finally admitted that she would do things different. Of course way too late.

This is so sad and there is so much of it. We had visitors late night. Have not seen them for a year. Same story. Sedentary lifestyle. Can hardly walk at my age.
My wife and I did our Tandem for 50 miles today at speeds up to 25 MPH and celebrated life at its best. And now we go for a big and healthy dinner with a bottle of wine.:D

Will, I'm very sorry for your loss of such a great woman in your life. It must have caused her some anguish to wish she could do things differently, and for you to watch her go like that.

My brother called today. He had both hips replaced due to osteoarthritis (before he turned 50). I mentioned my hip pain in passing, saying that it hurts only after sitting but not while walking or cycling (except when I first start walking after sitting). He said "That's how mine started". :eek:

I did not expect to hear that. I expected him to say his hurt only when he walked but not after sitting. He said that within 2-3 years of symptoms like mine, his hips hurt all the time while walking, and after 3-4 more years he finally had the surgery. So he went from pain after sitting, to surgery, in 6-7 years.

He also urged me to keep moving, which I already intended to do. After taking it easy for a week, there is no difference, except that the sprain-like pain in the left hip area is gone. That's the one that felt like the hamstring injury I had many years ago.

Looking back, I first noticed the pain starting at least a few years ago when I bent over at the waist. I also notice it when I do stretches on the floor that bring my knee to the chest (which flexes the hip). So, it seems that flexing my hips is a contributing factor.

I'm not worried, it could be a lot worse. Meanwhile I'll keep moving. Discontinuing my activity will only increase my chances of heart disease, and lessen my chances of a quick recovery after a surgery.

But, I'm only 29! ;-)

Osteoarthritis and related problems are genetic. Genetic issues are controlling much of our life. I hear most of our life. My wife's family and my wife are affected by it and it is compounded by a low tolerance for cheese and milk products.
I am very fortunate (so far) of being able to get by without doctors, my wife is not so lucky and I fully support her quest to control genetic issues as well as the doctors can.

Agree about the genetics. I also have osteoarthritis in the big toe joints. I learned about that a few years ago after having pain in the joint while walking, for more than a year. She said I'll probably need a new toe joint by the time I'm 70 but custom-made orthotics and supportive, athletic shoes help that a lot. I'm not worried about this... I'll take it as it comes, and keep moving.

My first symptoms started before that age. The third doctor finally diagnosed me correctly. With his help and the right treatment (the right medicine) I continued riding a lot. 26 years after my first symptoms I was riding a century plus aproximately another 50-75 miles a week. Some weeks much more. You need to ask the doctor about something like this. RA is not like OA.
There were times when it was bad but the correct meds kept me from getting more damage during those times and made for many more good years. Without that I would now be worse. RA is a lot different from OA, but it can feel the same at times. The agressive treatment keeps your future better for longer.
If you have OA in your toe what that means is, you had symptoms in your toe and possible visible evidence in the toe, but OA is systemic and can show up and be anywhere even if you don't feel it. I have OA and RA.

I was told I would eventually need new hips decades ago. But I don't now.

I agree with the advice that (typically, not always) the low effort spinning of cycling will help you get very good range of motion exercise without much force on the joints, compared to walking putting force on the joints and causing more pain and irritation. But walking helps keep the bones stronger than the low impact exercise of cycling. But it can be different for everyone, that's why I keep mentioning a good doctor. With correct supervision of a good doctor the right meds can be a huge benefit to your life. Of course you need to not exceed dosages etc. etc. With the help of the doctors advice you need to carefully weigh the risks of medicine compared to the risks of no medicine.

You might have decades of good riding ahead or you. I can ride a lot and not walk much, or walk some and not ride much. Not a huge problem. If you have a bad year, keep your bike, the next year might be a good one.

My symptoms (and lack of) are much more consistent with OA than RA, but I'll at least ask about RA when I go see a doctor. I have a very conservative attitude about medications and will take them only if necessary. I'm planning to start taking G/C very soon. I'll look for a referral to a rheumatologist (hopefully one who is also a sports doc) in the near future.