How to Exercise with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Randi's Story

Randi and Cheryl dive deep into Randi’s diagnosis journey, her career as a track and field athlete at the University of Alabama, her best advice for newly diagnosed patients, her tips for exercise with RA, and even some dating and relationship advice. 

Randi was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 16 after 6 years of trying to find an answer. Randi says: “My journey with RA has not always been easy, but it has been rewarding. I have had to learn what works best for me in controlling my RA because of course not everyone’s RA is the same. I manage my RA with exercise, a moderation diet, a medication, chiropractic care, and plenty of rest. Oddly, I am thankful to have been diagnosed with RA at 16 because I have become the best version of myself as a result of it.”

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for seventeen years. Her life passion is helping others with rheumatoid arthritis figure out how to live a full life despite arthritis, by developing tools to navigate physical, emotional and social challenges. She formed the educational company Arthritis Life in 2019 after seeing a huge need for more engaging, accessible, and (dare she say) FUN patient education and self-management resources. 

Links to things discussed in the podcast episode:

• Randi’s Instagram
• Randi’s Youtube Channel
• Women’s Health Magazine article about Randi’s story
• Statistics about racial disparities in healthcare, chronic pain and rheumatology
• Free Handout: Cheryl’s Master Checklist for Managing RA
• Cheryl’s Facebook group: Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Positive, Realistic Support
• This episode is brought to you by the Beginner's Guide to Life with Rheumatoid Arthritis, an intensive online program Cheryl created to empower people with the tools to confidently manage their social, emotional and physical life with rheumatoid arthritis.

Here's the show breakdown:

• 01:00 – Randi’s diagnosis story
• 4:35 – What it was like to be a college athlete with RA, doing the triple jump in track and field.
• 8:20 – Randi’s sports injury misdiagnosis.
• 10:20 – Why Randi pursued her personal trainer certification.
• 12:54 – Why Randi pursued Chiropractic medicine as her career.
• 18:00 – Randi’s tips for how to exercise with RA: resistance training, muscle building, cardio and more. 
• 23:10 – How Randi and Cheryl make cardiovascular exercise fun!
• 28:45 -   Randi’s advice for newly diagnosed patients with RA (hint: there are many sports metaphors in this advice!). 
• 32:45 – Discussion about combining “natural” approaches for RA versus Western medicine, and how to find common ground and balance.
• 35:00 - Randi’s tips on how to build a good relationship with your provider.
• 39:38 – How healthcare quality can differ for people of color. 
• 45:46 – How Randi and Cheryl learned not to underreport pain to their providers.
• 48:00 – Randi’s experience dating with RA and love story with her fiance.
• 55:15 - Bonus content: Cheryl’s favorite dance routine she learned in the 1990s from MTV videos

Medical disclaimer: All content found on the Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.