Osteoarthritis Expert Pattye Snyder shares Osteoarthritis management news and commentary at MyOsteoarthritisCentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89 http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89 http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/75424/challenges Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:39:00 -0400 Pattye Snyder Although many of our readers don't happen to live within the Continental U.S., I'm sure they are discovering many of the same "problems" that we are.  Packaging of a wide variety of things (everything from sliced cheeses and meats to medications to paintbrushes) has changed radically in the last few years.  Although I'm grateful for the concern toward good health, consumer safety and sanitation, I am just as frustrated by these... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/75424/challenges http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/72367/stop-arthritis Tue, 26 May 2009 16:08:00 -0400 Pattye Snyder After spending much of the last three months recovering from more surgeries on my foot due to osteoarthritis, I find that I still tire easily and become frustrated with my lack of energy.  I realize that, according to my surgeons, "It just takes time," but I'm not very patient.   A few nights ago, I saw something that changed those feelings a little.  I was stretched out in my favorite recliner and happened to turn on the TV to... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/72367/stop-arthritis http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/68453/practical Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:22:00 -0400 Pattye Snyder At best it was very painful, frustrating, and lonely.  I know that the rest of the world tends to continue whether I'm homebound or not, but I suddenly realized (after a prolonged pouting spell), that my friends weren't trying to be mean, they just had no clue what to do!     Early March, I had surgeries #7 and #8 due to my arthritis.  I AM thankful that modern medicine has made the strides it has in orthopedic surgery in... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/68453/practical http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/64264/wheelchairs-2 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:06:00 -0400 Pattye Snyder As I continue to heal from my most recent foot/leg surgeries due to arthritis, I've found many things that make my life a little easier.  I attached a small shoulder bag to one arm of my wheelchair and always keep my pain meds in it so they're readily available as needed.  I also keep an insulated mug (with a TIGHT fitting lid. I'm SURE I don't have to explain that), my cordless phone, a phone call list, tissues, and a small bag of... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/64264/wheelchairs-2 http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/64263/wheelchairs Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:04:00 -0400 Pattye Snyder I am now two weeks post-op from my most recent surgeries on my foot and leg due to osteoarthritis. Although these were #8, and #9 for me, they somehow don't seem to get easier to handle.  There are many things that need to be done pre-op.  I knew, in advance, because of the extensive surgery on my foot, that I would not be allowed to walk for at least 2 MONTHS!     This has made my life a touch challenging.  I love to... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/64263/wheelchairs http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/62458/arthritis-pain Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:21:00 -0400 Pattye Snyder My life has been pretty much like the title of the play "Stop the World -- I Want To Get Off!"  In spite of my detailed records and preparations, my appointment with my accountant was over 7 hours long -- a marathon!  Before I had time to recover, I made the mistake of checking my email in my office to discover that, in restructuring, one of the companies I've been working for managed to cut my income to less than half (that's... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/62458/arthritis-pain http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/60807/fractures Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:20:00 -0500 Pattye Snyder In two short weeks I'll be having more foot surgeries, primarily due to my osteoarthritis. These will be my 7th and 8th operations due to this challenge. I wish I could say I'm excited and pleased, but not really (and I know many of our readers fully understand)!   The hip surgeon, after looking at the x-rays, told me the reason I was having so many problems, is that my second hip was not installed correctly during surgery. I realize... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/60807/fractures http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/58471/replacement Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:18:00 -0500 Pattye Snyder For those of us enduring the wide variety of challenges and pain with osteoarthritis, it can be very hard to keep a positive outlook!  For me, my osteoarthritis has produced a vast array of emotions.  I feel major frustration at times; not only with my progression of "disintegration," but with insurance companies (you've all been THERE), pain, joint replacements that have failed, prescriptions that help or don't and some of the things... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/58471/replacement http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/54555/replacement Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:55:00 -0500 Pattye Snyder Before Christmas, I mentioned that I had fallen (again) and fractured my fibula. Of course many friends asked how, or why I fell. Like many of my fellow osteoarthritis sufferers, my balance can be precarious at times, so I just chalked it up to my OA and its increasing involvement in my life.   I sometimes feel that my osteoarthritis is like the "plague that ate Chicago." It can be so invasive and there's little or nothing we can do to... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/54555/replacement http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/54557/perspective Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:07:00 -0500 Pattye Snyder A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog called Lists for Living. In it, I talked about a close friend who, upon finding she had a terminal illness, refused the vast variety of experimental medical programs that the doctors offered (and added that "they MIGHT help").   She chose not to let them make her body into a human guinea pig, so she went home and talked to her adult children and they decided to live in the present and do all of those... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/89/54557/perspective