Life, Taxes and Beyond

Now that I’m finally getting to see a new rheumatologist, let’s Talk about it.  Sometimes my body is so stiff I have to practically slide down the stairs of my apartment because my knees are locked up. It’s like I’m a bowl of rice crispy cereal; you can call me snap, crackle, pop. 

A few years back I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I wasn’t shocked when I found out, I was actually happy to hear a doctor confirm my pain. My aunt Jo was diagnosed with the same form of arthritis when she was in her early 20s. I can remember seeing the tiny woman growing up and feeling like she was fragile. Her tiny fingers almost wrapped around her hand and her feet in balls

Here are some facts about RA that myself and many others deal with day to day. 

Did you know?

In America there are over 50 million people living with arthritis.

Arthritis is the number cause of divisibility in the country.

There are at least 300,000 children with arthritis, and 1 in 5 adults are in the same situation.

When you're told you have arthritis, its basically telling you that fit into a category of more than 100 types of joint diseases.

Arthritis is found more often throughout women, and those progressing in age.

Common “blanket” symptoms are swelling around the joints, pain, stiffness, and a decrease in motion; symptoms being mild-severe.

There are some forms of arthritis that can damage the heart, eyes, lungs, and kidneys along with joints.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. The outcome of this is the cartilage breaking down and you begin to have bone rubbing against bone.

Rheumatoid arthritis is in the inflammatory category. Your immune system can start to attack the joins and cause damage to other organs.

A metabolic arthritis would be gout, forming in people with high levels of uric acid.

Of the 50 million people affected by arthritis, two thirds of them are of working age which is 18-64 years old. This causes people to give up on income from illness.

Approximately 6.7 million people are hospitalized each year from arthritis.

Arthritis is not necessarily a disease of the elderly although the chances of developing it does increase with age. Infants as young as 1 year old can develop it.

Doctors diagnose 26% more women than men with arthritis.

While living with arthritis just remember you are not alone and that medicine has come a long way since my aunt Jo. While in some cases there is no cure, with proper treatment, pain can be managed. Just consult with your doctor about exercising, and healthy eating habits; both of which I could use improvements in but struggle with due to my obsession with Taco Bell and my love of chocolate milk.

American dancer Donna McKechnie once said “The two most painful things in my life are arthritis and divorce.” Still not married but I can vouch for the arthritis part (laughs nervously). 

You are loved! Until next time Life, taxes and...

Josh

http://www.arthritis.org