Chronic pain
Osteoarthritis left Tami Peddigree, 41, on the sidelines of life…until she discovered the fun cure that alleviated her pain and helped her find joy again
Why is this happening to me? I’m too young to feel this way, Tami thought. “I had just returned home from the gym and was sitting on the couch, but when I tried to stand up, my joints were so stiff and painful that I could hardly get up. I was walking like I was 90 years old! I knew this wasn’t typical post-workout soreness—it felt so different. I’d been experiencing pain and inflammation in my knees and ankles for a year, but when I could barely get up and walk, I knew it was time to do something about it.
“I thought maybe the pain was caused by the extra 100 pounds that I had put on over the previous five years, but I’d been losing the weight and things weren’t getting any better. I felt like I had no solid answers. One thing was for sure: I needed to find relief fast. So I went to my doctor, and he put me on steroids and a prescription anti-inflammatory. I also tried pain cream, ice and heat, but nothing helped.
Sore and frustrated
“Just a few months earlier, I had started making changes to help me get healthy. I had been diagnosed with high cholesterol and prediabetes, and I battled anxiety and depression. With my doctor’s encouragement, I started to eat healthy and take group exercise classes at the local YMCA.
I loved it because I had support from other women in the class and it was so much more fun than working out alone—I always felt great during class. Within a year, I had lost 125 pounds, and the director of the YMCA was so impressed with my progress that she asked me if I wanted to become a fitness instructor. So I decided to become certified in Pilates.
“But I still struggled with pain all the time. During the night, if I had to use the bathroom, it was difficult to get up and out of bed, and my mornings were full of pain too. The final straw was when I took my daughter to Disney World for a cheerleading competition. As we walked around the parks, I had to stop every five minutes to take a break, rest my joints and stretch.
“I’d had enough, so I returned to my doctor, and he finally gave me a diagnosis: osteoarthritis. He offered to prescribe another anti-inflammatory but I refused. I didn’t want to be on medication for the rest of my life.
“Then last year, I had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in my knee that was unrelated to my arthritis. After the surgery, my doctor said the osteoarthritis was more severe than he realized. Although I was only 40 years old, he said I had the knees of a 60-year-old! He warned that I would eventually need a knee replacement—something I was unwilling to accept. He said I should continue to eat healthy and exercise, but the high-impact group exercise classes I had grown to love so much were off-limits. He suggested swimming, but I missed working out with a group, and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to stick with it. I was determined to find a workout that was both fun and gentle on my knees.”
Pain-free at last!
“Despite my doctor’s suggestions, I continued to take—and teach—group fitness classes. In search of something that would make my classes more interesting and be gentle on my joints, I discovered POUND, a drumming workout that combines cardio and strength training with Pilates-inspired moves. I took a few classes, and although I loved the powerful feeling of smashing the sticks together, the workout was mostly stationary. I wanted to incorporate more Pilates, some dancing and jumping jacks—things that would give me a high-intensity workout without the lunging or twisting that caused my osteoarthritis to flare up. That’s how I developed DrumLatè, which is currently available as an online program.
“I started teaching these classes at the YMCA three days a week, and within a month, I noticed I had less pain and inflammation—and I wanted to do more because I felt physically and mentally stronger. After three months, the pain and inflammation were gone. I was amazed that such an easy and fun workout could have such a big impact! I continued to create new routines because I was so excited about the results.
“When I returned to my doctor for a follow-up, he could instantly tell my muscles were stronger. He said the inflammation in my joints had gone down too. He encouraged me to stick with my new program.
“Now that I’m no longer sidelined by pain, I’m in the gym six days a week, teaching and practicing new routines. My cholesterol and bloodglucose levels have normalized, and I no longer take any medications! I love that, as a fitness instructor and business owner, I get to motivate other women to get healthy, keep moving and live a longer, healthier life. Finding a workout that works for you is possible—don’t give up!”
—As told to Julie Revelant