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March 31, 2008, 11:12 am
Flag as Inappropriate skatss  

My sister has arthritis in both her hips. Her doctor has told her that they both need to be replaced, but she also has colon cancer, and her oncologist says that she won't be off chemo long enough to safely have the two operations to permit her to walk. So she is stuck with the arthritis pain.

About a month ago she read an article about a woman with arthritis who was going to climb one of the famous tall mountains even though she has arthritis. My sister was so mad. Here she is, feeling bad about asking me for help in everyday chores and this woman is boasting that arthritis isn't stopping her. So many people with arthritis can't do things and have to overcome the humiliation of asking family and friends for help in doing simple things and this woman is writing magazine articles that she can climb mountains even with arthritis.

This spreads the wrong information about the terrible pain of arthritis to non suffers. I was watching Judge Judy and there was a woman on who said she had to not do something because of the pain of her arthritis. Judge Judy said that she knows of people who can do things even though they have arthritis so she called the woman lazy!

Why aren't there more articles about people who have to rework their lives because of the pain? I am sick hearing about all these over achievers who are lucky enough to have smaller pains and can do things. I want more articles and information to help people who need to ask for aid and not feel bad about it or have people think them lazy!

Some people with arthritis in their knees, hips and hands really are in too much pain to do simple things. Try and remember them too.

Arthritis should be judged on a case to case basis. This woman climbing the mountain probably has a less severe and debilitating case. Your sister should not feel bad, everybodys case is different. And then to also have cancer and be undergoing chemo, she is a warrior.

I also think it should be based on each case, but with so many ads for pain pills telling the public that one small pill a day can stop all arthritis pain -- no one who doesn't have arthritis knows how bad it can really get.

And thanks, I think my sister is a warrior too. But she doesn't believe it.

I am 29 and riddled with arthritis I have it in my neck hips and knees. I am still able to function in my day to day life and exert myself frequently. So do not take it to heart arthritis has many different forms and stages and obviously your sister suffers a more severe case of arthritis than this "Mountain climber" and myself. You just need to reassure her that everyone is different and cancer attacks the whole body even though it might be localized and that contributes to how badly her arthritis is affecting her.