I have been competitively powerlifting for over 20 years. Within that time I have competed raw, single ply and multi ply. I hold the highest all time total of 1930 at 148, the third highest total of 2045 at 165 and have broken over 35 world records, over 25 of which I still hold. Through the years in this sport I have learned a great deal from various training methods, met and formed long lasting friends, as well as learned the importance of balancing life, work, and training.
Elitefts accepted me as a team member over ten years ago and I am currently the longest standing still competing powerlifter on the site. I appreciate Dave Tate and Elitefts for giving me the opportunity to learn from and teach others through the Q&A and my training log.
In 2005 I opened Orlando Barbell – a 24 hour powerlifting friendly gym. As well as running Orlando Barbell I designed and sell the Home GHR , the The OBB Power Handles and the Doorway Home Gym, wrote the 12 Weeks to a Bigger Bench EBook, and produced the 12Weeks to a Bigger Bench DVD.
My latest contribution was writing the M2 Method EBook, designed to be the quintessential Raw Powerlifting training manual for beginners to advanced lifters looking to get stronger and prevent injury while incorporating the powerlifts.
No, not hits like good new songs, hits like punches to my face that I can’t block.
If you’ve been following my log you’ll know that I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about a year and half ago. I’ll give a quick review. (Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disease (which is where the immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. There is still no known cause or cure for autoimmune diseases). Ulcerative Colitis (UC) specifically causes long lasting inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. It affects the innermost lining of the large intestine). I would go into more graphic detail, but you get the idea.
The UC alone made me lose weight and strength. After I found what I thought was a successful treatment for the UC with two prescription drugs, Humira and Lialda (a biologic and a time released anti-inflammatory), I thought I would at least be able to deal with it. Then I started getting random, severe, painful, visibly swollen (I posted pictures of my forearm at one point) joint inflammation. This has been going on for over a year now. From my research it seemed that it was what is referred to as Peripheral Arthritis. Peripheral Arthritis affects the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet. It tends to mirror the activity of Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s, but does not damage the joint cartilage or bone. The issue is that it normally occurs during a UC flare up and I haven’t been having any more flare ups or really any digestive issues at all.
After further research and coming to terms with what I’d been trying to deny, I believe that I unfortunately have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I kept telling myself that I was too young to get arthritis, plus I couldn’t imagine that I had yet another thing wrong with me. Either way, I read that the onset of Rheumatoid Arhtritis usually occurs between 30 and 50, and I’m right in the middle. So, I started with one autoimmune disease with Ulcerative Colitis, indirectly gave myself another one by causing Adrenal Fatigue by exhausting my cortisol and epinephrine levels by taking corticosteroids for too long, and now it appears that I have yet another with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I found an article with the 9 signs or symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis and sure enough, I have them all.
1. Fatigue
2. Morning Stiffness
3. Joint Stiffness
4. Joint Pain
5. Joint Swelling
6. Fever
7. Numbness or Tingling
8. Decrease in Range of Motion
Other symptoms I also have include dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, chest pain when breathing (pleurisy), and loss of appetite.
I hope to get into a Rheumatoligist sometime this week to unfortunately confirm this. Although I’d still like to get to the root of the problem and get off the meds completely, for now I hope they can prescribe something that can treat both my UC and this rather than throwing yet another drug into the mix.
Once again, they don’t know the cause of autoimmune disease but believe it’s a combination of both genetics and environmental factors. My thought is that it’s most likely caused from toxins building up in the body (both environmental and ingested) and the body not being able to successfully filter them out.
So, I’ve had an over 22 year Powerlifting career with no serious injuries and am halted by strange autoimmune issues that I seem to have very little control over. At the very least I hope to open up some dialogue with other lifters who have had similar issues and hopefully do what I can to help them overcome their issues as I plan to. From what I’ve read the Rheumatologists typically recommend Tai Chi, Yoga, and friggin Water Aerobics. Now those are fine for those who choose to do them (I’ve done Yoga and it’s actually incredibly challenging), but I don’t plan to stop lifting anytime soon.
As always, things can always be far worse, but I will continue to share what I’m having to deal with.
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I've suffered through Crohn's disease since I was 8 (36 now), including three surgeries. I've been on every type of medication available and in every possible combination. Nothing seemed to work to reduce my daily symptoms. Then I happened to read an article back in early may about how most suffers of auto-immune diseases are magnesium deficient. On a whim I started supplementing with 400 mg a day of Magnesium Citrate in addition to my prescribed meds (6MP and Entyvio). My symptoms disappeared in just a few days. Since then, I had 2 minor flare ups that lasted a couple days (rather than the weeks as before ). Other than those 2 minor flare ups, this is the longest I've been pain/symptom free from Crohn's in well over a decade. Just wanted to pass that on as Magnesium is really cheap and easy to take.
Good luck.