Living with Arthritis

When I was 30, I started having problems with my right shoulder. I was working 2 jobs as a waitress and a vault cashier, so of course I thought it was related to my occupations. My pain spread across my upper chest and into my right clavicle joint. It got so bad that I could not sleep on my right side or my stomach. I had trouble doing the simplest tasks with that arm. I had to quit one of my jobs. That hurt because I was a single parent back then. Through x-rays, it was discovered that at some point in the past I had broken my collar bone. I remember a bad fall when I was about 25. I slipped on some ice outside my home but it is unknown if that was when the break happened or not.

My family physician was hesitant to diagnose me so he sent me to a specialist. The specialist diagnosed me with degenerative arthritis in the right shoulder and right clavicle. Through medication my pain was brought under control. The side affects were really bad sometimes. I got really tired of taking pills, 2 or 3 kinds every day, so I decided to take my life back.

“I am not a victim.” Those words started me on a course of positive thinking and healthier habits. I did a lot of research into foods and alternative medicine. Through trial and error I found what works for me.

I am happy to report that for the last 3 1/2 years I am managing my pain almost without medication. I still have pain, but I only take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories for it when it gets really bad.

You could say I am healthier. You could say I am a fruitcake for going off my meds. I guess you could even say I have learned to ignore my pain.

I have a life. I have a wonderful husband, 3 children and 4 step-children. I will be a first-time grandmother any day now. I am not a victim. My pain does not control my life. It doesn’t have to control your life either.