Keeping Chickens When You Have Arthritis.

[Kfults]

I think many of us with chronic issues refuse to let it truly “sink in” hehe. I’ve gotten myself into quite a bit of trouble working outdoors on the run in this heat, I often forget my phone or am too sheepish to ask for help when I push it too far.
I get hell for it regularly from hubs.
It really is being trapped between a rock and a hard place when you feel that claustrophobic “rotting indoors” sensation coming on, but your physical health is on the line.

When I have a good day I tend to do too much and suffer for days after! Bad days I feed water chickens and water garden then rest ( rainy days are a blessing when I feel bad! Don’t have to water containers! )

Morning all!

I am really amazed at how many people are coping with chronic pain that goes along with RA and OA. I too got started with chickens in order to stay active. I'm not much of a winter person. If I didn't have to haul myself out to take care of them I'd go into hibernation like an old bear.

I also like all the suggestions about moving things closer to my coops so I'm not making trips back and forth to the house for things.

But what I've noticed is most everyone has a significant other to help them out. I've always been a very independent person so it's hard for me to do that but my husband is very willing to help me out and even help with the feeding and watering if the need arises.

@Kfults, I too am a retired nurse. When my husband told me he was ready to retire (he is an eye doc and I worked in his office with him as office nurse/manager) he asked me if I was going to retire also as I was just 60 at the time. I told him yes I was I could not physically do the clinical work anymore. My license was due for renewal later that year and when it came, I checked 'inactive' and mailed it back. It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be and when people ask me if I miss it I answer with a resounding NO!

@penny1960 I wish I could get my birds to use the water nipples but they are as dumb as a bag of rocks. I tried everything to get them to use them and they just couldn't catch on. Plus we have pretty hard winters here and I'd be forever dealing with freezing. I use the heated dog watering bowls with good results.

What do you guys do on high 'pain' days to get yourselves up and moving?

Today for me is a foot pain day. I've been up for 1 and 1/2 hours and the pain just doesn't want to settle down. I'll take a couple of aspirin, which will help but don't want to take my big gun Tramadol till later in the day. I think I'm going to try the no sugar diet for inflammation which will be hard for me as I have a sweet tooth. I don't eat a lot of sugar now. Just a little Captain Crunch sprinkled over my bran flakes so they don't make me gag. Then I'm sugar free for the rest of the day.

Has anybody modified their diet to fit their condition?

Everyone is telling me to keep my license active with continuing education, haven’t brought myself to do it. I know I can not go back. My disability insurance only approved 2 years based on spinal stenosis. After that they say I can get a desk job. That was before my RA/OA diagnosis. I plan to fight it, I paid years for the policy not dreaming I would ever use it.
For pain I take 800 Motrin as needed once or twice a day. I have big gun meds but fear opioid addiction. This pain is chronic, can’t take opioids long term without addiction so I have trained myself to deal with it. I use a meditation app that works wonders! Helps center my mind and reduces suffering which also takes my mind off pain for awhile. I didn’t think it would help at first but it does! Prednisone helps for flares but we are weaning me off which is tough- waiting for methotrexate to kick in.
My diet sucks, I am a carb eater when I am hurting. I know it doesn’t help.
The chickens and fresh air help prevent depression. No one has mentioned depression from chronic pain, I will.... before I quit working I considered suicide. I thought there was no way to stop working and I had gotten to the end of my rope with pain and fatigue. God has been so good thru all this and has met our financial needs and gives me strength to keep going to the doctor for answers and treatments. I am learning to lean on him and enjoy the little things in life. My nursing was my whole world ( empty nest ) I was so devoted and goal oriented. I felt like a failure in so many ways leaving my job as Director of an ER with 50 employees under me. God has shown me he had prepared for such a time as this and I can still serve him in little ways and have a fulfilling life. Sorry so long!

 

[microchick]

@nickers390, I hear ya about housework. A bad day outside is better than a good day inside IMHO.

I've had to cut back on so many of the activities that I truly love this year. It's become almost impossible for me to pull weeds so I have given up gardening this season. I just planted some pumpkins for the birds and squash for us, oh yeah and tomato plants for BLTs. But I'm trying to be realistic. Maybe next year.

@cmom, whow! You have a fantastic set up. I only have one large run and two small ones and I'm thinking I need to downsize to just two runs, one for my bantams and one for the cockerels when they start being proddy in the spring. I do have a lot of roosters, and I also have Marek's so most of my birds live out their lives here on our farm. My original flock which were the first infected over two years ago now (no idea how it happened but suspect wild birds) are almost 4 years old now and I'm considering culling due to the fact that the majority of them are thin and the other hens aren't laying all that much.

@Latestarter, @penny1960 came up with the idea, I just ran with it. So good to have you join us. That is one of the main reasons, DH and I got our HAM licenses. Our cell service sux big time and it's handy just to grab one of the hand held radios when we are going out so we can keep in touch in case one of us runs into trouble. I've fallen on ice before while out taking care of the birds and busted a rib or two and it's really scary to lay there in the ice and snow and realize that you have to get up because you don't want to lie there and freeze like a pop sickle. Don't worry, you are not alone when it comes to denial. I was really suspecting that the doc yesterday was going to tell me that I just had another ganglion cyst on my knuckle that needed excised, no worries so when I heard the hammer drop it hit me hard.

@Tesumph yeah, I catch hell regularly also. Why didn't you ask me to lift that? What are you doing out there so long? Why aren't you using the cart or wagon to move that stuff....sigh. I don't mind too much. It shows he loves me and worries about me. I'm very lucky though. My DH understands me and knows if he tries to slow me down I'll just run over him and leave shoe prints on his back, LOL.

@Morrigan, thanks for joining us. Hey, 50, you're a kid yet but catching up with all of us over 60-ers. Feel free to pipe in with any ideas you have. And yes, now is the time to start making life easier for yourself.

I have tried the hot soaks with epsom salts and yes they do work....unfortunately we live in a house with a shower and no tub. BUT we do have a big horse trough that I've seriously thought about puting on the back porch, filling with hot water and soaking in it like a hot tub. I did the hot water soaks in the house we had back in IL during my treatment for Lyme. It really does help with joint aches and malaise. I also need to start drinking a lot of lemon water. That stuff really helps detox also.

 

[nikkers390]

You are lucky to have willing help. Cherish those girls and treat them like princesses.

 

[Tesumph]

When I have a good day I tend to do too much and suffer for days after! Bad days I feed water chickens and water garden then rest ( rainy days are a blessing when I feel bad! Don’t have to water containers! )

Everyone is telling me to keep my license active with continuing education, haven’t brought myself to do it. I know I can not go back. My disability insurance only approved 2 years based on spinal stenosis. After that they say I can get a desk job. That was before my RA/OA diagnosis. I plan to fight it, I paid years for the policy not dreaming I would ever use it.
For pain I take 800 Motrin as needed once or twice a day. I have big gun meds but fear opioid addiction. This pain is chronic, can’t take opioids long term without addiction so I have trained myself to deal with it. I use a meditation app that works wonders! Helps center my mind and reduces suffering which also takes my mind off pain for awhile. I didn’t think it would help at first but it does! Prednisone helps for flares but we are weaning me off which is tough- waiting for methotrexate to kick in.
My diet sucks, I am a carb eater when I am hurting. I know it doesn’t help.
The chickens and fresh air help prevent depression. No one has mentioned depression from chronic pain, I will.... before I quit working I considered suicide. I thought there was no way to stop working and I had gotten to the end of my rope with pain and fatigue. God has been so good thru all this and has met our financial needs and gives me strength to keep going to the doctor for answers and treatments. I am learning to lean on him and enjoy the little things in life. My nursing was my whole world ( empty nest ) I was so devoted and goal oriented. I felt like a failure in so many ways leaving my job as Director of an ER with 50 employees under me. God has shown me he had prepared for such a time as this and I can still serve him in little ways and have a fulfilling life. Sorry so long!

Oh yes, after all the seizures and heart problems and vague answers we get are said and done.. depression is still one of the largest and scariest demons. I know I’m a baby compared to you pros, but I can at least relate to losing basic freedoms one by one and feeling totally helpless for it. I’m in college trying to get my veterinary license and my health problems completely blindsided us. School was my entire identity, I felt totally alone and robbed of the prime of my life.. when I was told I was going to have to take this semester off it turned my world upside down.
Anyway, it is strange to talk about for me but I do appreciate reading and relating to everyone here. You’re all amazing and definite role models for me right now, it’s amazing how all of our chickens are such a source of joy in our lives. Thank you for sharing and making my day that much better.

 

[Morrigan]

Oh yes, after all the seizures and heart problems and vague answers we get are said and done.. depression is still one of the largest and scariest demons. I know I’m a baby compared to you pros, but I can at least relate to losing basic freedoms one by one and feeling totally helpless for it. I’m in college trying to get my veterinary license and my health problems completely blindsided us. School was my entire identity, I felt totally alone and robbed of the prime of my life.. when I was told I was going to have to take this semester off it turned my world upside down.
Anyway, it is strange to talk about for me but I do appreciate reading and relating to everyone here. You’re all amazing and definite role models for me right now, it’s amazing how all of our chickens are such a source of joy in our lives. Thank you for sharing and making my day that much better.

 

[microchick]

@Kfults, I truly understand your frustration. I started my career in nursing as an OB nurse. Early on I had planned to return to school for a BSN then an MSN so I could become an instructor. A year and a half after graduating I found myself in the hospital with a diagnosis of Rheumatic Fever. Life suddenly changed. Surviving became my focus. It took me 10 years to get back on my feet then I became care giver to my parents, stepping into that role for another 10 years. When I went back to work I dove into geriatric nursing as I had a wealth of experience taking care of two demented parents. I liked what I was doing. It was challenging but it really took a toll on me physically. I was always sick plus I had learned to truly hate the corporate mentality when it came to dealing with human souls.

I cannot explain it other than I knew when it was time to quit. Working with my husband for 7 years was great. No stress except for getting people to pay their bills and dealing with stupid insurance companies. I looked forward to going to the office every morning. But I knew I was through with clinical nursing. I just felt it and you will also.

@Tesumph I guess I have been lucky. No depression. Lots of pain. I just get mad. So much I want to do and can't. Today is a bad day. Feet are killing me, I feel feverish, tired. Aspirin and Tylenol aren't helping so I'm just about ready to take a tramadol and cave in to it. All the while my German/Irish/Cherokee background is rearing it's stubborn head and I am just p****d that I don't feel like going out and building the new brooder pen that I have on the drawing board along with a pile of lumber in our shop just waiting to be turned into something functional.

I guess I have been dealing with this for so long, 41 years, that it's a part of the fabric of my life. My sweet husband, bless him is trying to help me today but he is recovering from skin cancer surgery so he's on the wounded and weary list also.

Plus, I just went to the pharmacy to pick up my injectable Methotrexate and found out that because the pharmacy only had ten ML bottles of the stuff and the doc order 5 ML bottles, they wouldn't cover itLuckily it was only 40$ and they did pay for the syringes.

BUT GOD I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES!!!

to everyone. Keep those ideas rolling!

 

[Kfults]

@microchick I have had clinical depression my whole life, (thanks genetics) controlled by meds. Sometimes when the pain and fatigue are unbearable and I have flu like symptoms I get weary and depression kicks in. I have found going to bed with my praise music on low really helps. I get mad too when my desire is bigger than my ability. I am doing so much better than last summer. My first issue with RA was neuritis of my cervical spinal nerves. Neck and shoulder pain so bad I couldn’t drive or do much of anything. Thought was complication of my successful neck surgery ( years earlier) took months to diagnosis and then they realized I had RA. It can attack your nerves. The chickens help me get exercise and help me stay active.
I know I can not work as a nurse anymore. I am just having a hard time giving up the fact that I once literally saved lives! Now I tend to chickens LOL
This thread has been great! It helps to know you are not alone! Stranger brought together by our love of feather babies

 

[ronott1]

I am only 46 but have degenerative arthritis in my spine and hands ( elsewhere I am sure but only place xray’d) and inflammatory RA. Diagnosed this year. I had to quit working as a nurse and retire. The chickens (12) were to keep me active and give me something to do. I can’t use or lift feed or water buckets. I have a flat pan in the coup and run that I put out a scoop of feed into each am. I have multiple water bowls in the coup, run and free range fence area. I have hose to fill daily. I keep the feed inside by the back door in the large Rubbermaid totes (someone pictured). My hubby backs up our utility trailer to the coup door using his 4 wheeler and I sweep deep litter pine shavings into it ( when time to clean the 10x12 coup) he then drives it to our flower beds and dumps. Some days I can barely get out of bed due to debilitating fatigue, but I MUST tend the chicken and I do. On days I feel better I do more like work in my container veggie garden. If I am feeling real good I will pull few weeds to throw in the run.
My set up means if I am not home- a chicken sitter must come feed and water them daily. I don’t go many places anymore. Fatigue and pain are not worth it. When I do my mother n law or 12yr old twin neighbor girls feed and water them.
My primary MD said my chickens were therapeutic! I sit and watch a lot of chicken tv!
I once was a critical care emergency nurse (27 yrs)..... now I tend chickens
I thank God for hubby who has been supportive and try to view my new life as a blessing.

Your story is very motivational! May you be able to keep chickens for many years to come

 

[Kfults]

Today’s project was grass marigold bed in the run..... for days they can’t free range. My garden.... and run. I also have a clover/marigold bed in their fenced yard so when all the grass is gone they will have greens.
Please share pictures of your achievements!

 

[oceansunset73]

Good thread. I need to spend some time reading others responses. I have degenerative disk disease, which causes me to have constant nerve pain, and I am now unable to lift anything.