Liveaboard: Medical question.

[Koeketiene]

Anyone living aboard (long term) suffering from arthrosis?

How does it affect you when living aboard?
Does it limit your ability to actually go sailing?
How does the motion of the sea affect you?

 

[binch]

Query

Ship Captains Medical guide does not mention arthROSIS.
Confirm you do not mean arthritis

 

[Grehan]

" . . . Arthrosis is another term for osteoarthritis, a non-inflammatory disease of the joint in which the cartilage in the joint breaks down. This degenerative disease occurs as a result of injury, aging, and long-term wear and tear of cartilage in the joints. It causes pain and stiffness. Arthrosis can affect any joint but most commonly affects the knees, spine, and hips. . . . "

 

[Koeketiene]

Ship Captains Medical guide does not mention arthROSIS.
Confirm you do not mean arthritis

Arthritis: chronic inflammation of the joints.
Arthrosis: degenerative disease of the joints.

While the symptoms are similar, they are not the same.

 

[Koeketiene]

" . . . Arthrosis is another term for osteoarthritis, a non-inflammatory disease of the joint in which the cartilage in the joint breaks down. This degenerative disease occurs as a result of injury, aging, and long-term wear and tear of cartilage in the joints. It causes pain and stiffness. Arthrosis can affect any joint but most commonly affects the knees, spine, and hips. . . . "

That's the one

 

[lefkasman]

Arthrosis

What a strange question to ask, do you have the condition ? if you do you must know that the pain and resulting lack of mobility makes for a low quality of life in all areas not just sailing, anti inflammatory drugs have but a small effect on the pain, so I would say that living in a confined space that is constantly moving to one degree or another, and is difficult to accesses via pontoons gangplanks climbing over guard rails or even worse climbing in and out of a tender dingy is definitely not the place for you.
Guess that this is probably not the reply that you are looking for, but facts are just that, its pointless getting into a state of denial, and yes I do write from personal experience.

 

[rivonia]

I think that this is a fair question. As he probably does have it and wants to know how others are coping.

I have it and sometimes it is very bad. I take anti-inflamatory tablets and that helps a lot. As the weather improves so do I.

I have found that if I am able to exercise it helps and the besxt is walking.

Because of this degenerative disease we have to sell our Catamaran.

All the very best

Peter

 

[ITH]

Don't despair

Anyone living aboard (long term) suffering from arthrosis?

How does it affect you when living aboard?
Does it limit your ability to actually go sailing?
How does the motion of the sea affect you?

Lefkasman's prognosis seems a tad gloomy; different people cope with the condition with varying degrees of success. I am not a 'long-term' liveaboard more an extended cruiser, since we return to the UK over the winter, but I have severe osteoarthritis in both knees. I have just had one (total) knee replacement and am working on exercise/physio to build-up muscle and restore mobility to the new joint - before having the next knee done.

In terms of effects when living aboard (pre-knee replacement) I found few problems with routine sailing activity: helming, sail handling, passage making that couldn't be ameliorated by prescription strength painkillers and good malt whisky - but you need to develop a more cautious way of getting about the boat - and staying attached to it.

Unexpected exertions such as cock-ups when anchoring/mooring requiring brute strength and heaving on lines are more demanding. Maintenance work in tight spaces can be problematic since I can't stay on my knees very long, so you have to plan for work to be done when you are safely moored up - or train SWMBO in the black arts of diesel maintenance.

If anything, I felt more restricted in shore-based activities - walking, sightseeing etc - but found that taking anti-inflammatories and/or use of a TENS machine helped even there. It does undoubtedly make climbing ladders or getting in and out of the dinghy more difficult, but not impossible with forward planning.

Best of luck with your condition.

 

[KellysEye]

I have osteoarthritis and keeping moving is the key to having no pain. Thus I never had a pain problem when sailing. When not sailing and if I'm in a situation where I can't move much then it reaches a point when have to I take a 50mg anti inflammatory pill, which works well. Also, I seize up in bed but excercising gets rid of it.

 

[AndrewB]

SWMBO has had osteoarthritis for some years. In the last few months it has got really bad, she now can no longer move her left arm and her knees are very swollen and painful. Keeping moving simply worstens the inflamation. She's been told she is an urgent case for shoulder replacement with knees to follow. Doesn't look like we'll be ocean cruising this year - we had intended to sail towards Thailand.

Any favourable accounts from those who have continued voyaging after joint replacements would be much appreciated right now.

 

[rivonia]

SWMBO has had osteoarthritis for some years. In the last few months it has got really bad, she now can no longer move her left arm and her knees are very swollen and painful. Keeping moving simply worstens the inflamation. She's been told she is an urgent case for shoulder replacement with knees to follow. Doesn't look like we'll be ocean cruising this year - we had intended to sail towards Thailand.

Any favourable accounts from those who have continued voyaging after joint replacements would be much appreciated right now.

Hello Andrew, It would seem that your better half is realy suffering, you and she have my sypathies.
I had a total Hip done and now I only get mild aches in it as I progress with excercise to strengthen the muscles. The other Hip needs doing as well and now my right shoulder (used for winching) is playing. We shall carry on as long as possible.

All the best

Peter

 

[Koeketiene]

Thanks for all the replies.

It is indeed for me.
Upper and lower spine (advanced) and left hip and knee (early stages).
I had been putting off a visit to the quack for quite some time thinking whatever I had would go away. Guess not - and I'm only 47.

Doc suggested some sort of procedure whereby they immobilise the offending vertibrae. Friend had that done a few years ago, and he says he's in more pain now than before. So, not too keen on that.
Also been told in no uncertain terms that if I keep 'abusing my body like I have been' (his words), I should start saving for my mobility scooter; as I won't be able to get about without it by the time I'm 60.
All of my grandparents have lived well into their 90s (and beyond) - that's a long time to confined to a scooter.

Wife's currently arranging for me to get a second opinion as soon as possible.

If the second opinion confirms the 'verdict', we face a whole lot of new questions.
It would mean abandoning our plans to go long-term cruising and we'd effectively be restricted to daysailing (with the occasional overnight passage) in local waters.
What to do with the boat? Keep her till the body tells me it can't cope anymore, or sell and downsize now? After all we've been through to get her shipshape... Though call.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Thanks for all the replies.

It is indeed for me.
Upper and lower spine (advanced) and left hip and knee (early stages).
I had been putting off a visit to the quack for quite some time thinking whatever I had would go away. Guess not - and I'm only 47.

Doc suggested some sort of procedure whereby they immobilise the offending vertibrae. Friend had that done a few years ago, and he says he's in more pain now than before. So, not too keen on that.
Also been told in no uncertain terms that if I keep 'abusing my body like I have been' (his words), I should start saving for my mobility scooter; as I won't be able to get about without it by the time I'm 60.
All of my grandparents have lived well into their 90s (and beyond) - that's a long time to confined to a scooter.

Wife's currently arranging for me to get a second opinion as soon as possible.

If the second opinion confirms the 'verdict', we face a whole lot of new questions.
It would mean abandoning our plans to go long-term cruising and we'd effectively be restricted to daysailing (with the occasional overnight passage) in local waters.
What to do with the boat? Keep her till the body tells me it can't cope anymore, or sell and downsize now? After all we've been through to get her shipshape... Though call.

If I were you, I'd be thinking about larger and more mechanized, rather than smaller. Larger, because the motion will be easier; more mechanized to make it less stressful on your body. I am 60 and still think myself young, but am aware that sooner or later my body will not be able to keep up! Indeed, there are some signs already. But what I keep looking at as "boats for when I need to take things easier" are the Fisher range or Nauticats; if the weather is forgiving they sail well enough (but with a pilot-house!), but if it isn't they can still get there!

 

[Tomahawk]

Facing the knife

You have our sympathy..

Both of us are facing surgery in the next few weeks.. First officer has a compressed shoulder joint, I have a mortons neuroma... Recovery time can be up to a year.... We will no longer be following you lucky lot in 82 days time...

Right now we are both every worried that it may never happen ....

 

[Koeketiene]

If I were you, I'd be thinking about larger and more mechanized, rather than smaller. Larger, because the motion will be easier; more mechanized to make it less stressful on your body.

Larger? Current boat's a heavy displacement 44' - that's about as big as I'm comfortable with shorthanded (wife & I).
When things get 'lumpy' I'm effectively left alone as the wife's out of action with the dreaded mal de mer.
My fear is that I'll be left alone, physically unable to cope.

More mechanized is an option, but also likely to be 'not cheap'. And in our world, money is sadly a finite thing.

We'll see after the second opinion. Lots of thinking and a hearty husband/wife talk in the not too distant future.

 

[jonjo]

I can only comment from the perspective of a youngish healthy person. 99% of the time you will be able to pace yourself and devise routines to overcome the condition. What concerns me is the few occasions each season when things go wrong afloat that beyond your control. At these times someone in the crew will have to perform extreme physical feats involving strength, agility or dexterity to extract the yacht from a problem.

Examples I have faced in recent years are, anchor dragging middle of the night and having to hang over the bow to remove a stuck chain anti snatch device before the anchor could be lifted, counter wrap of my furling jib around the forestay which involved an exhausting removal of the sail in a rolling sea then there are the usual marina mishaps overcome by muscle power.