doing the right thing sucks!

[disgruntled]

i had to quit muay thai it is insane how much worse my arthiritis got. now days, if i sit for a bit and then get up the first step i take is really painful and my hips are constantly cracking. after throwing out my back it took so much longer to heal because it just aggrivated my hip.... i finally had to accept that i cannot do it

when i went to hand in everything to make it offical i grabbed a magazine (calgary has a free fitness magazine that they give out at a lot of locations) they had an article that was the final clincher that told me what i was doing was right..... the article was about whether people should give up running (the main thing MT uses for conditioning) if they have osteoarthritis and the message was clear: if you want to do it go for it, but it is garenteed that your OA will get worse. even with proper technique and building muscles you will still cause damage (just a little slower).

following along with the idea that the magazine was an omen..... their was also a article on Simon Whitfield (a triathlete i really look up to, got an amazing silver in Beijing).... he was the one that inspired me and made me believe that i could be a fighter...... and i don't think i can give up on that goal yet.

i figure, if i can do my conditioning on my own and go to a school to learn technique i can make it work. i can swin and do other low-impact exercises to develop my cardio..... i just got to find a school where i could eliminate all high-impact training from my training.

i am thinking i will have to go the MMA route. i have 9 year training in the striking arts, if i get some years of BJJ under my belt i might be able to give it a shot. BJJ (correct me if i am wrong) is almost exclusively non-impact conditioning needed to be an effective grappler. it will still be hard to find some where i can completely eliminate running from training, but i think finding a BJJ instructor will be easier than finding a MT instructor that is cool with that.

all i want to is to not need a cane/walker/hip replacement before i am 50 (which might be asking too much)..... i would never had reached that goal sticking at my old school

[Shirindo]

I feel for you Dis, I really do.

Although not exactly soft on the ol' joints, I'm sure BJJ will be soft-er than your MT. I am sure you have done the right thing as hard as most certainly was.

Best of luck to you for the MMA. I certainly do not doubt your commitment to doing whatever it is you set your mind to.

Best Wishes

Shirindo

[sirdarksol]

BJJ has some pretty harsh joint locks, but you probably can work around those.
Other than that, all I could think of that would be softer would be Tai Chi, a soft style of kung fu, or aikido.

[disgruntled]

Originally Posted by sirdarksol

BJJ has some pretty harsh joint locks, but you probably can work around those.

i thought about that, but i don't think that will be a major problem. as long as a tap before i am injured the locks are really just stretches. and the areas that they lock like arms and sholders are fairly arthritis resistant.... the only ones i would have to worry about are knee and ankle locks, but because those are dangerous anyway, they are usually only allowed to be used by advanced students that have control.

it is really just the grinding down on my bones that i have to stop.

i am not going to start anything new until feb probably... so closer to then i will start watching classes and considering my options a little more.

[Hatori]

I had to stop Aikido when I studied it as they do focus on knee-walking and technqiues from kneeling which my arthritic-ridden knees prevent me from doing but like most disciplines, work within your limitations. I too have been advised by my doctor to consider changing to a less stressful activity but I found that by recognising my limitations and working to imrpove them by losing weight, regular low-impact exercise such as swimming, then I can actually still continue and, in my own case, they have actually improved! My knees now (except in this bitter cold weather) are much stronger then they have been in years. My flexability has increased as has my strength so quitting entirely may not be the right answer. Whatever you decide to do, best of luck!

[disgruntled]

you are right i should not quit completely... i do plan to continue and train in muay thai, just on my own at a pace and way that suites my body.

i cannot believe that your knees even feel great in this weather! granted it is much colder over here i am sure, but i cannot handle winter. there is a grocery store just one block behind my apartment and somedays i honestly consider either taking my car or not going because the thought of walking there in the cold makes my joints cringe.

it is funny that you doctor told you to quit. i have had several doctors tell me i should quit. it is ironic, doctors are always encouraging people to be more active, but from my experience they would be happier if i sat on my couch and did nothing!

[Hatori]

My knees don't feel great but they feel better than they have in the past. After 60 lengths of the pool they do tend to ache but I know that if I DIDN'T swim they'd feel a whole lot worse. It does take real effort to leave my warm bed every day and venture out into the cold, dark morning when most sane people are still in the land of nod but I'm into a routine now and I don't want to break it. My body clock wakes me at 5.30 now and as I'm prepared everything the night before it's fairly simle to keep to. Remeber planning is everything. IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL!!! I've really belived doctors anyway. I was told I'd not walk again when I was 15....shows what they know!!!!!!

[disgruntled]

wow........

i got to get back into swimming regularly. you are right i just have to make a routine, grit my teeth and get through the adjustment period.... one thing that works great is there are less people at my pool during the 9pm-10pm swim which doesn't involve getting up earily.....

[Hatori]

The only problem I could see with a late night swim is I'm normally envigorated and buzzing after I swim which is another reason why I do it first thing as it really sets me up for the day. That may result is sleeping very late or possible insomnia.......

[disgruntled]

meh, i already have insomnia