Relief from my arthritis is a breath of fresh air

Arthritis often occurs with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For me, each moment of pain in my hips is another ding to my oxygen saturation, or at least that’s how it seems. I’ve been in a one-step-forward, two-steps-backward grind since a bout of pneumonia last year.

Living with osteoarthritis in my hips has shown me that two diseases don’t just coexist, they converse. Sometimes they even conspire to try to make us helpless. Arthritis and COPD have common risk factors, which is why they are often found together.

It’s easy to underestimate how one condition can worsen another. Osteoarthritis isn’t just about joint pain; it’s also about posture, mobility, and the willingness to move. For years, I tried to do at least 5,000 steps per day, but the pain caused me to move less. Less movement has meant less muscle strength, and less muscle strength has meant that I needed more supplemental oxygen to move.

I knew I was on a downward trajectory and sought help to manage my sacroiliac pain. My insurance company introduced me to the specialty medical practice Vori Health, where I started doing hip strengthening movements and then stretching. That’s when I began to notice a reduction in pain.

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Breathing easier

Now that the vicious cycle of hurting more and moving less has been disrupted, breath work has become important. Gentle stretches restore my range of motion, allowing me to stand taller and walk farther. Strengthening my core and pelvic muscles supports better posture, which lets my lungs expand more easily.

Physical therapy is the latest effort that’s finally gotten me on the path to improving my health. I first had to work on my mental health so that I wanted to get better. No will means no progress, and the overwhelming feeling of fatigue kept me from believing that I would get better. I knew I needed to move more, but I lacked the motivation to do so.

Relief from depression led me to try to get my physical strength back to where it had been. The pain in my hips seemed to vanish once I began my antidepressant medication, but the pain soon returned, and with it the horrible knowledge that if I couldn’t rid myself of it so that I could exercise, I was doomed to decline.

I’ve now committed to three months of physical therapy and then I’ll see where my pain level is. I’m about a month into the cycle and am seeing some relief. Living with two diseases demands an integrated approach, not just in medicine, but in mindset as well. My hips and lungs may speak different languages, but they share a common goal: movement. When I honor that connection, I find resilience — not despite my conditions, but through them.

Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.