Patty,
Great stuff and simply put. Makes me feel that there is a way forward in the tough world of OA. I speak as as caregiver and husband. My wife is only ?? 52 and has been suffering from OA for the last 4.5 years. It all started with surgery to remove paratyhroid and some of thyroid due to calcium imbalance. Then pain in neck first, but strangely that seems to have gone away. She just had spinal decompression in March, which again has gone well, but now she must have foot surgery as her rigt foot is very painful. How did your foot surgery go? How long did it take to get back on your foot or feet? Has it taken away the pain? Many thx.
Thank you Pattye for what you write as you are an inspiration to me. It is so easy to become a victim with arthritis and in pain all the time. I now think differently and live to my capabilities and am finding that i am doing a lot more than i did before, instead of thinking i am in pain so i have to lay down and rest. Thank you very much and keep your stories coming please. Hope to hear how you go over in Africa. Eileen
Dear Eileen---thank you so much for the positive feedback!!! One of my other readers, (who also happens to be from Australia) wrote once that "we are all a little like birds with a broken wing---we all understand the pain and frustration and need to work together to improve!!!" My Physical Therapy began yesterday, and I know it will be really tough, but I STILL HAVE A GOAL---not only to avoid a second ankle replacement, and more surgery, but to be able to walk better, have my balance improved, and be ready to return to Africa this Fall for a few more months.
As we say in Tanzania---
asante sana (Swahili for---Thank you very much)
kwaheri (bye--)
Pattye