OK ladies,
A few days ago I was invited to take Salsa lessons. It's every Sat night. I am so tired of limping around for nothing that I decided to give myself a reason. I have always wanted to take lessons. I drove myself to another city at 8:30 at night. I knew absolutely no one. A woman I met at a store gave me the information about it. I found myself surrounded by people from all walks of life. The instructor, A Pueto Rican man in his mid 50's was super nice. He was a bit overweight and I figured if he could Salsa, then so could I. The lesson was 1/2 hour and then they opened the floor to all. It was so much fun. After about 1 hour, I could feel my hips and back just burning and I knew I had to leave. How embarrassing! The night was just begining. Being a lifetime athlete, this whole joint pain and back pain is just terrible. I don't recognise who I am anymore. I looked around and saw so many people my age having a great time. Nobody looked like they were in pain. I am so discouraged. By the time I got home, I could hardly walk. The pain was insane. I awoke a couple of times last night with intense calf cramps to the point of getting up and trying to stand to get my muscle to stop cramping. Today, I feel like I was hit by a truck. Am I ever going to return to a place where activity is not only enjoyable, but at least semi pain free?

Deb...I guess the key is to start of slowly and not to worry about keeping up with others. You should be so proud of yourself just for showing up, that's just awesome. Take it slowly and go at your own pace. And make sure you warm up properly and stretch afterward.

In a couple of weeks you'll be able to do it effortlessly.

I just picked my bass up having not played it for a week, the last time was a four hour open air gig but nothing since then. Played just a short while maybe half an hour and I'm knackered! Arms, shoulders and hands ache everywhere.

I think the trick is to keep active!

Sounds great! Think of the fun and exercise you're getting all in one....I went to a cowboy bar for some line dance lessons a while back...the group was all very practiced but the bunch of ladies I went with were all beginners so we had more fun watching the pros!!!!! I'm thinking about heading to some ballroom dance lessons this winter..hopefully, it'll will beat back the winter weight gain.....

And it beats sitting around, growing old

Kar, good call on the stretching and warming up.....I did neither one now that I think of it. How dumb, I should have known better! I didn't think I really got the much of a workout until I got into my car and realised the back of my shirt was wet and sticking to my seat on the drive home. I could hardly get out of bed this morning. I need to stretch out daily every day just because of this joint crap but I see now that even a normal person would want to stretch before doing any activity like that. My head has become a cavity of air anymore......geeze..................Good advice thanks Debra

CelticTigress, was it you who posted about having problems with pain in your hands when you played your guitar/bass? I think I remember reading it. How do you work through that anyway? PS, I have a guitar that has been sitting in my closet for years with the promise to myself to learn to play. I picked it off and on but got so discouraged because it really hurt my wrists and fingers to play. . In fact I found it nearly impossible to wrap my wrist and fingers around to play any chords. I got online researching an easier way to learn to play and found out the dang thing had a neck too big for my tiny hands. I had no idea you could buy guitars with smaller necks for those of us with very small hands. Boy, what a waste of time. As soon as I can get some extra money, I am going to find a smaller neck guitar even if I have to buy a childs size. How inspirational that you can play and even more that you continue when you hurt like heck. Great job! Debra

momzoffour, that country line dancing looks like a blast to do. It was really popular in my neck of the woods. Any form of dance beats going to the gym for the same old same old. The Salsa class was so much fun that I forgot about the time, that was until my hips and back started to scream at me in pain. Lovely, bones and joints that now talk back. Debra

Yes that was me... I can't imagine life without playing the guitar, so I've decided I won't have a life without playing the guitar. I use a wrist support and cycling gloves while playing (don't ask me why the cycling gloves help... they just do is all!)

Also - ibuleve or ibugel (ibuprofen gel) on the hands to help them recover afterwards.

When I am playing it hardly hurts at all, it's only when I STOP playing that the problems start!

So a little bit of practice every day to keep my hand in (so to speak) is what's needed. I bet you'll find the same!

Keep on rockin.....

Be sure to stretch, and stay well hydrated. Starting off slowly and at your own pace makes a lot of sense, too.

I hear yoga is WONDERFUL for those aching, stiff joints. I've not tried it myself but I keep getting invited to join a group of girls who have. I might take them up on it one of these days. I have arthritis in both hips and had lost a good bit of my flexibility. But lately I've managed to increase my ROM and the pain and stiffness is much better than it has been for several years. Yoga just might be the thing that brings it all back!!! Some other friends are suggesting that we join them for ballroom dancing lessons next spring so maybe we can do that too. If nothing else, it will be entertaining!!! LOL