From the article: How to Handle Unsolicited Advice About Arthritis
It seems like people with arthritis can be targets for unwanted, unsolicited advice. It may be because there are so many quack cures out there, as well as marketing efforts for legitimate treatments. People without the disease have a more difficult time distinguishing which is which, so they just "bring it."
The person offering advice could be a family member, close friend, acquaintance or even a stranger. Even though people may have the best of intentions, unwanted advice can be annoying. What's the best way to respond? How do you respond?
Share Your ExperienceNo advice is unwanted for me
- I listen, look up whatever is suggested if I am not already familiar with it - then I decide whether I want to talk to my healthcare provider or not. I have gained much useful information this way.
- —Guest slmitchell
We've all been there
- I've had arthritis (thought to be psoriatic) since my early 40's... Not so much that I heard advice, but I had to deal with many many people just not believing me! I wish I had a nickel for every time a person would say dismissively "oh you're too young to have arthritis!!" If the subject arose... I tried to NOT have the subject come up so I would not have to listen to the remarks and/or advice but it would come up anyway due my physical limitations and I'd have to explain. It was frustrating enough to be that age, trying to work full time and deal with two little children, then to be told at least weekly that I really didn't have arthritis because I was too young!! Well I am now 53 so I don't hear it as often as I am considered old now ha ha ha!!!
- —nicmic6
Fending unwanted arthritis advice
- When someone offers to let me in on the latest "cure", I politely listen to the first sentence and then hold up both hands, palms out and say that I have a physician and he and I have my condition under control. I turn away and that pretty much stops the advice in its tracks. I find it hard to be rude even when the advice giver persists, but one relative keeps talking and actually will follow me around still dispensing her remedies but once I very firmly told her to stop it, drop it and to leave me alone, she stopped, at least for a while.
- —lonecracker
One of those days again
- If I know it's from someone who does really care about me then I will say I'll talk to my Rheumatologist and see what she has to say or if it from someone who thinks they know it all then I would say thanks but no thanks. Hopefully they would leave it at that. If not I might say I'm the one who's had to live with it all these years so I do know more than you about arthritis.
- —Guest ann
