Monday, October 24, 2011
In the 14 years since I was "officially diagnosed" with osteoarthritis, I guess I've been quite lucky. Yes, I have nine artificial joints from the waist down, and I'm certainly NOT going to say the surgeries were my idea of fun - neither were all of the follow-up hours of physical-therapy - but yes, ...
Pattye,
As one of the writers at HealthCentral (ADHDCentral and AnxietyConnection) I routinely visit the other sites and read a lot of information on topics that interest me. As someone who has a lot of history of arthiritis in her family (and arthiritis in my back), this site is one I visit frequently and read the posts.
I just needed to take the time to let you know that I found this post truly inspirational. It is indeed hard to find the motivation to go on some days when you are in such pain, but somehow you find that strength every day. Good for you!
How lucky you are to have great support in your life. This is so important when facing any type of health problem. Thanks so much for sharing your story and helping so many people dealing with arthiritis.
Eileen
Eileen----thank you so very much for your "warm fuzzies"! I'm really struggling right now with incredible spinal and leg pain---when I returned from my work in Tanzania a few short months ago, we discovered that I'd broken my left leg, that in spite of xrays where I was living, was not discovered. Although I've since had 2 months of PT in warm water, my low back has decided to disintegrate (a bonus is that I now have advanced arthritis of my entire spine, also) Gratefully, I hadn't returned to my home in Africa, but I'm rather lost right now. I am going to a Pain Clinic every 2 weeks to receive shots in the nerves in my spine in an attempt to lessen the excruciating pain (which aren't helping, so far)----I, finally have accepted the need to be on a ton of pain pills, patches,etc. which are not helping---frankly, for the first time since I started having all of those surgeries---I'm really scared, and frustrated!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out----Please keep in touch!
Pattye
I am so sorry that you are having such a hard time. It is so difficult to be in pain all the time, it impacts every part of your life. That you can stay so positive is wonderful and I hope that the PT and other treatments begin to work so you can start to feel some relief!
Eileen