THE "I have Arthritis" Club!

[LoveDisappears]

So I've been seeing a few people lately who have Arthritis, 2 today in fact. And figured I should start a little group for us.

The quick run down on me:
My name is Nina, I'm 29 years old and I was diagnosed with RA [Rheumatoid Arthritis] at the age of 14. The Dr's have no idea why, as there is no family history of it that we know of. Now I saw someone tonight say that she got it from stress. And I've heard that if you have a specific gene in your body and you're exposed to a lot of stress that it can trigger that. And I didn't know if that was true or not, a rumor or w/e. But seeing her say that makes me think that that's why I got it.

When I got it I actually WAS going through a lot of stress at the time, and it was really only one thing. My moms BF, he was an alcoholic and a POS. So I'm thinking that's what might of caused it. No idea though.

Also, the kind that I have causes deformities, in which I have. And is ****ing horrible and I hate it, and it has given me very low self esteem. What can I do though about it.. Hopefully one day I'll get passed it.

From 14-20 it was so bad that I couldn't get out of my chair by myself, couldn't open new containers, or ones that were to tight, that had to be opened and left LOOSE for me. I'd remember crying my eyes out and breaking into a sweat because I couldn't turn on the faucet in the bathtub to take a shower. I remember having to call my aunt over to do it for me. Those also had to be left loose for me.
I was just about to get a wheelchair..

I stopped taking meds around that time [20] when one of them messed with my eye site, and shortly later I went into full remission for about 4-5 years.
It came back with mid strength for about another year or so, and in that time I read that vegetables in the nightshade family could mess with Arthritis causing pain and inflammation. One that stood out I guess was TOMATOES. I loved tomatoes! We even grew them, ate them all the time, even slices with dinner. So I cut out tomatoes and anything made with tomatoes, and seemed to get better. So now it's like I'm 3/4 OK, but not in FULL remission. And even now I'll still sneak something with tomatoes, like a little ketchup on things, ect. And I notice that I'm sore afterwords.
So who knows

That's about it for now on my quick little run down..

[mossey2000]

I have it as a secondary condition to my cerebral palsy from the wear and tear on my body.

[Eye]

LOL! Not laughing at your condition, but at making a little group.



I actually have arthritis in my right foot. I was born w/ club foot and had surgery at the ages of 3 months and 3 years to correct it.

A few years back, 8 to be exact, I was working full time at Target. And my right foot started aching. It progressively got worse and worse so that I could barely walk on it anymore. Finally the last straw was when I was sitting on the floor w/ my foot elevated and my 10 m/o son stepped on the top of my foot. With in seconds my foot swelled 4 times it's size, I was sure something was broken.

Oh no. The ER took x-rays and it's arthritis. yea.


I was put on anti-inflamatory, and now have to wear orthopedic shoes at the age of 37!!! ugh. And I have scoliosis in my back because my right leg is also shorter than my left. Almost 2 inches, due to the casts I had to wear for the first 4 years of my life... Good times!


AND even better, when I told my mom about it she said,"Oh yeah, the doctor told us at the time you would probably have issues with arthritis by the time you were 30!" How come you never told me mom?!

[Kris]

I guess I get to join this group too

I have arthritis in my right hand due to having a surgery a few years ago in my joints (from a cat bite), I have arthritis in my left hand because I was in an accident where my bike was hit by a truck and my hand was damaged and did not get medical treatment in time. There are days (especially when the weather changes that my hands curl into claws and I am unable to do anything with them)

I have arthritis in my right knee due to dislocating it to many times and now it won't sit in the cup the right way *it is actually on the top lip of the cup rather than sitting in the cup* there is a lot of bone on bone

Finally I have arthritis in my back due to grinding of my disks

[CassieR1202]

Originally Posted by mossey2000 I have it as a secondary condition to my cerebral palsy from the wear and tear on my body.

same story here, and it sucks big time.

[livelyppop]

I have it in my left ankle from the time I broke my ankle. Now when ever the weather changes I can tell you ahead of time that it is gonna change. Also, I've noticed other joints that are starting to ache. I guess they are just from age tough and it's that time. Hope ya'll get to feeling better.

[kitkat78]

I was recently diagnosed with degrenerate disc disease in my lower back. I have always had some kind of pain in my lower back, but never really paid much attention to it. Even the chiropractor could never adjust me because I was in so much pain. Well, back in November I herniated 2 discs and that is when I found out I have DDD. And, yes, I do get it from my father, he as the same problems as I do. He has had the discs slip or has had the back pain that I have. It sucks being my age, and I have already stated that I do not want back surgery if I don't need it!

[LoveDisappears]

Wow, I didn't think there'd be this many so far.. thank you for sharing your stories!

[mrs.wachtman]

You know, I've never really had a linked posted on my message board and I must say I was thinking, "oh God, what could I have done to get a BR thread about myself," or something of that sorts

Anywho! I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 3, I am now 20. It was due to stress, believe it or not, thanks to my mother being a drug addict and my father a alcoholic, and them divorcing. It was active for 5 years until I was 7 when they finally got it kicked out of my system. To this day it still flares up, especially when I was pregnant. After having my second child (DD) I was told that if I had anymore children, (DD was 10lbs ) that my RA would likely kick back up due to my hips being pushed out even further. Which is something I do not want, obviously. I'm suppose to be flying to Fort Lewis at some point in time, it was suppose to happen when my DD was 6 months old, but I was dealing with the start of a deployment and pushed it off, to go back to my RA doctor (since Alaska has no arthritis doctors, well there is one, but he is retiring and not accepting any more patients ) so once that appointment actually happens, if it happens, I can update. But it's still in remission and I'm greatful for that

Oh! And just about every family member that I know of has it...damn gentic's!

[LoveDisappears]

Originally Posted by mrs.wachtman You know, I've never really had a linked posted on my message board and I must say I was thinking, "oh God, what could I have done to get a BR thread about myself," or something of that sorts Anywho! I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 3, I am now 20. It was due to stress, believe it or not, thanks to my mother being a drug addict and my father a alcoholic, and them divorcing. It was active for 5 years until I was 7 when they finally got it kicked out of my system. To this day it still flares up, especially when I was pregnant. After having my second child (DD) I was told that if I had anymore children, (DD was 10lbs ) that my RA would likely kick back up due to my hips being pushed out even further. Which is something I do not want, obviously. I'm suppose to be flying to Fort Lewis at some point in time, it was suppose to happen when my DD was 6 months old, but I was dealing with the start of a deployment and pushed it off, to go back to my RA doctor (since Alaska has no arthritis doctors, well there is one, but he is retiring and not accepting any more patients ) so once that appointment actually happens, if it happens, I can update. But it's still in remission and I'm greatful for that Oh! And just about every family member that I know of has it...damn gentic's!

I'm sorry I scare ya!! lol

What brought you to the conclusion that it was form stress and not just from genetics?

How did they get it out of your system? Do you have any of the deformities that go along with it?

And I've heard about it coming back when you're pregnant, and that scares me, luckily I'm not in any hurry to have kids lol.