Taking time off...

[freckles]

Well, it has finally happened. I need to take some time off, hopefully only 1-2 weeks, due to seriously out of control arthritis. I have ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine, sacrum, and sacroilliac joints), and have some fusing in the most inconvenient of places, my tailbone. :( Anyway... boo hoo, woe is me, moving on :p

What I am wondering is when I pick up again, can I pick up where I left off, or do I need to throw in a week of lighter weight, higher rep work? I currently alternate a heavy full body workout (5x5), HIIT days (2), and a moderate full body workout (4x10). My weight training days total 4 days/week. I also walk about 20-30 minutes a day (Dog).

I'm also unsure of what to do with my macro/calorie levels: leave them as is (deficit), or adjust them to a new maintenance level (taking into account reduced activity level)?

A year ago I would have dropped off for two weeks, completly forgetting about anything else...then struggled back at it :unsure: . But I have made great gains over the past few months and I don't want to backslide too much.

Thanks for you help... :)

[freckles]

nothing...? :huh:

...usually everyone is so chatty ;) I guess I'll just play it by ear when the time comes.

[andi]

Hey, I'm just guessing here, but I would maybe come back at slightly higher reps. maybe 3 of 10ish. ( I have come back before too hard and then couldn't workout for another week :dry: )
and for cals while you are off, I would leave them the same (deficit)--unless you have been in a diet/deficit mode for a long time and then maybe you could take a 2 week break from everything ;)

[freckles]

Thanks... :)

[sweetpea_123]

that really stinks about the arthritis, take care of yourself. When I took 2 weeks off cause I was sick, I went a little bit lighter, to make sure before steaming ahead. . . it seemed to work alright.

[ladybug]

does your doc have any input? I know nothing about how arthritis is treated, but I would imagine he/she might have something to say about the level of your training intensity.

[freckles]

All the doctors I have found want to put me on strong medications, and seriously limit my physical activity to swimming and 'moderate' walking. The type of arthritis I have will eventually cause me to be hunched over forward, I feel through weight training I can keep myself strong, and slow the disabling process. I was diagnosed at 23, and my rheumatologist prescribed me so many drugs I couldn't function - I had anti-inflammatory meds, anti-anxiety meds, sleeping pills, and pain killers :blink: . The thing is, they only helped to a slight degree. I figured a time would come when I would need the drugs even more, so I quit them and took a more naturopathic approach. This worked much better :)

In other words... I don't hold much value in my doc's opinion :p

[Tanners]

Hi freckles,

I'm a lurker here and have been reading the board for a month or so. Reading your post has brought me out into the open, I guess. I also have ankylosing spondylitis... but have been really lucky with the doctors I have found. I did all the nasty debilitating meds... but have been on Remicade now for almost 5 years. Before getting the infusions I was off work for 4 months. I have since completed a triathlon and am now training for my first figure comeptition.

I suggest you keep looking until you find a doctor who sees things the way you do! Has anyone suggested Remicade to you?

[linds]

Originally posted by freckles@Jun 16 2006, 07:31 AM
All the doctors I have found want to put me on strong medications, and seriously limit my physical activity to swimming and 'moderate' walking. The type of arthritis I have will eventually cause me to be hunched over forward, I feel through weight training I can keep myself strong, and slow the disabling process. I was diagnosed at 23, and my rheumatologist prescribed me so many drugs I couldn't function - I had anti-inflammatory meds, anti-anxiety meds, sleeping pills, and pain killers :blink: . The thing is, they only helped to a slight degree. I figured a time would come when I would need the drugs even more, so I quit them and took a more naturopathic approach. This worked much better :)

In other words... I don't hold much value in my doc's opinion :p
Just had to jump in. I think it's great you took the naturopathic route, have you tried acupuncture or massage? I used to mange a wellness center, acupuncture, chiro, massage, naturopath's I saw so many people helped using what is considered "alternative" treatments. I started working there being a cynic about alternative treatments now I'm a huge advocate of integrative medicine, bridging eastern and western medicine, both really have their place.

Good luck with everything, sounds like you know your body and how to manage this.

[freckles]

Hi Tanners,
Glad you came out of hiding! No, I haven't even heard of remicade... I was on methotrexate for a while, but since quiting my meds I have quit even discussing drugs with my gp :dry: I know they are important, however, I just can't bring myself to try again. As well, the community I live in has horrible access to gp's, basically once you find one you are stuck with him/her. In addition, we have one rheumatologist for the region, and he is an ass. He said the best thing I could do was take the sleeping pills and forget about my troubles :suicide:

I have a friend, who is a physiotherapist, monitoring my case. He orders x-rays for me once a year to check on things, and gives me some pointers for exercises. He feels that I've been pretty lucky so far...

How does the Remicade work? What other things are you doing to manage the condition?

Maybe you should pm me, so we don't clutter up the training forum :p

Thanks again for popping in