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March 31, 2008, 11:13 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.

There are different levels of arthritis pain; perhaps these folks aren't just ignorant of the pain overall but just don't understand that the degree of it can vary. You also cannot actually see the effect of arthritis except in severe cases, so perhaps the pain is underestimated as a result. Judge Judy is a nimrod.

Well don't let Judge Judy get you down. There is a word that describes that woman that rhymes with "witch".

Has she considered alternative therapies to help her manage her arthritis pain? I know some people get relief from eating dark skinned cherries, there are some creams that can help (sombra comes to mind), and diets to reduce inflammation that should be compatible with her treatment for cancer.

Thanks jazzycatzz and KaraW,

I know it's so hard for her to ask for help from anyone, and from me too since I am the one here to help her. I think she knows that I know that she isn't at all lazy and that I know how bad she suffers and how hard she tries to do for herself. But she says it's humiliating for her to think that anyone might think she is lazy.

I have a friend who is rather young with arthritis and her hands are so bad she has trouble even making change. She has told me about times in stores when she can't handle money and drops or takes a lot of time with cashiers. People have actually told her to move it along and hurry up, they've been rude to her and the poor gal has to deal with pain on top of that.

I just wish that the media would publish more articles about real people who do what they can, but are really crippled from the disease.