Readers Respond: Has Arthritis Knocked Your Life Out of Balance?

Having arthritis can affect your quality of life. Balancing your life can be quite a challenge. It takes effort to strike a balance in your life -- so that every minute isn't centered around pain, stress, and problems. How well have you done at balancing your life? Could you do better?

Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia

How does one accept all this pain emotionally? My family doesn't know how to deal with it so they avoid me. This has turned my life upside down, I just retired in January and now am housebound, or that is the way I feel, I don't have a life.

—Guest Mabel

Wrap up all the above.....

...... stories and you pretty much have a good picture of how I feel. Acute pain pretty much under control with IV Remicade every 6 weeks, methotrexate and all the usual other meds in addition to coronary syndrome drugs etc. except for those lovely flares. The fatigue is my biggest problem and I never know when it will hit. Very hard to explain it to anyone unless they've experienced it. At times my computer is my life line. I'm many years divorced and have no children, or other immediate family. Have depleted any retirement money and now live on only Social Security. Sometimes the stress and worry is overwhelming. I think that no matter when you get RA young or old, it is your life. Enjoy those good periods when they happen and try to keep a sense of humor, and bite your tongue when you want to complain to anyone who does not have RA..... they "just don't get it"!

—Guest hwilmot

Early O.A./Fatigue/Positive ANA

Was diagnosed w/this disease while working as a massage therapist. Quit that career soon after the diagnosis & concentrated on other things. Flash forward a decade later, now it's getting scary, seems overnight my hands are turning "claw like". Fortunately got disability in the nick of time b/c of mental health issues, namely recurrent Clinical Depression. So y'all know that Depression & fatigue comes along with this, right? I wonder who will date the mess which is now me, especially b/c of the exhaustion factor. Looking forward to the day when I can be a guinea pig for stem cell research!!!

—creakybones

Quality of Life-Arthritis Impiges On

I retired 4 yrs. ago and my husband died within a year. Now I have to travel alone and cannot carry heavy stuff or walk very far, so my dreams of travel to Europe is impaired by my arthritis. Sitting on a plane for long periods hurts my back and shoulders. Walking or standing for long periods is impossible too. There goes my quality of life I expected after years of working to retire and travel.

—Guest Ruth M.

Osteoarthritis

I was diagnosed with hemochromatosis 15 years ago and now I have chronic osteo. I am in constant pain, can't sleep, Stop taking the celebrex -- but then I pay the price -- such pain in hips, knees, everywhere. Tere must be a more natural medication for the illness -- can anyone help?

—Guest john

Just turned 15, diagnosed with arthritis

It all started with some serious pain in my jaws and my wrists. For about three months later my ankles turned extremely swollen. In the summer of 2009 I was diagnosed with arthritis. I struggle really hard to accept the fact that I'll have to live with it forever. I'm still in shock even though it's half a year ago. I don't know what to expect from this. And to be honest, I'm afraid.

—Siljehelen

RA story

I was diagnosed at age 33 and avoided medications until RA took the better of me. 12 months into the disease, I realized I could not fight it any longer and I was advised I would need a fulltime carer if I did not start meds. I finally accepted that I had this illness and to be pain free and care for my daughter was now my priority. I have been on prednisone and methotrexate since Oct 2007 and am quite stable. I still have the odd flare and have lost alot of functionality in my wrists but try to laugh it off when I find myself struggling. My advice -- start meds as soon as you can as I am sure I may be in a better place today had I commenced meds as soon as diagnosed.

—Guest Tanya

Still fighting

I'm 36 years old and have had RA since I was 22 years old. I struggle with my injections once a week. I've travelled all over Southeast Asia, became a diver, ridden motorcycles in the mountains of Vietnam, and do winterbiking here in Alaska. I'm scared of being disabled in the not-so-distant future. I've lost some hand strength, but I've just found a bunch of assistive devices to help me out with basic kitchen tasks. I feel even more compelled by my disease and its inevitable course to do all the things that I want to do while I still can!!!

—Guest Lara

Yes

I have had Systemic JRA for 34 years, no remission of any kind. I am now 37 and have RA, OA and migraines. I have made a life for myself consisting of my husband, a best friend, a college degree. I work 3 hours a week at the local library and work from home. I receive disability income. However, I need to rest during the day and am on and have been on top of the line meds including Enbrel, Imuran, Forteo, Humatrope, and many other meds. I am immune suppressed so I avoid crowds during flu season because I cannot receive the flu vaccines. The flu vaccines make my arthritis flare. I have Systemic JRA which only 10% of people with JRA get. When I flare I become anemic and stop making blood. I have had sedrates off the charts, 140 and over. I have had 15 surgeries-10 orthopedic. I have had both hips, both knees and my elbow replaced. Each one was revised. I have had 5 stress fractures. My medical history is very long and involved. Yet with family support and determination I make it through.

—NZippy1

Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

I got RA in 1998 I could not get relief on any medication until I started anti tnf therapy 4 yrs ago..and my life has improved but having my husband leave me 6 yrs ago and 2 children to care for...all the stress doesn't help at all.

—Guest crystal

RA and still fighting

At age 44 I am still fighting these awful and extreme painful flares. I was diagnosed in 1996. Put on Disability in 2000. I cannot find the cocktail to end my nightmare. I may have one good day lately. It moves from joint to joint -- today shoulder and neck and oh my God pain pills, rubs, moist heat, ice -- nothing is working. I am back on prednisone and also getting facet injections in back. I have two grandchildren that I cannot even enjoy because it is so hard to hold or play with them. It has consumed my life and I need to take it back but how??? It is a constant battle day to day. I can no longer keep up with normal household stuff. Driving more than 30 minutes, it goes in hands. And the worse is I hate feeling different. I can go out and enjoy my friends company. In reading all these stories I can relate so much to Carol and wish there was one true cure with no side effects. It is inhumane for one to live with such pain and be so young.

—Guest Rhonda

Still's Disease

I was diagnosed at 10 and it was really hard on me. I put on alot of weight because of steroids and became inactive. When I got home from hospital, I didn't want to talk to anyone and I hid myself away from my friends. Recently I have had another flare up and can't go back to school until I get the swine flu jab because my immune system is seriously low. So I have started to isolate myself again. I feel fed up all the time. I can never sleep and I hate the way I look. I only feel comfy in hoodies and jeans. I'm now 13.

—Guest marna

Muscle tightness

A few years ago I was experiencing upper back muscles that were tightening up my neck and closing my ears up. It lasted for a few minutes. The tightness going up my neck makes me dizzy. I am a hairdresser and have my arms up alot. Could be from 30 years of doing hair. Anybody ever have those symptoms?

—Guest Tashi

Osteoarthritis

Hi Guys! I'm new to the group. I just thought I would share my story. I had scoliosis(curvature of the spine) when I was younger and had an operation when I was 17 to correct it. A horrible age to have to cope with an abnormal body image! I thought things couldn't possibly get any worse. Boy was I wrong. At around age 22 I began having pain in my left hip and after seeing numerous doctors thinking it was related to my back, they finally diagnosed osteoarthritis. WHAT, I'm only in my 20s, you have got it wrong was my initial reaction. The pain gradually began to get worse and over the next 10 yrs I took numerous painkillers and then injections under x-ray until 2 years ago I was told the next step would be a replacement. I also began having pain in my right hip and am told this is also osteoarthritis. I am only 34! I had a baby 20 months ago and cannot take him for walks or play with him on the floor because I am so stiff and in pain. I just wanted to talk to others who also suffer.

—Discodiva3000

Gout

I have been diagnosed with gout and find out it is a form of arthritis and it is suggested to stop drinking--I don't drink at all, lose weight--I am not overweight, and stop eating fatty foods which would be the only thing that might have caused it. I am at a loss as to what to do. I am trying to watch what I eat--I was eating mushrooms, and other things that are a no-no like lunch meat but never to excess. I was taking medication which has helped, but wonder if it will come back now that I am done taking the medication.I can't afford to buy the very expensive "natural cures" that are offered on-line. I am very frustrated. Any suggestions?

—Guest Carol