Rheumatoid Arthritis Awarness Day

I happen to be that 1% – I was diagnosed in my 20s right after my daughter was born.  The doctor said that I had apparently had Juvenile Arthritis as a child and it had progressed.

When I told my father about my diagnoses, he also had RA, his advice was “do not give into it.  For if you give into this disease it will take over like an ugly mold on wood”.  I also happen to be that 2/3 (aren’t I lucky) that do not respond to treatments that they have tried. So, I do a lot of treatment with herbal treatments, like using tea tree oil rubs, meditation for pain management, and exercise, I also work on keeping my weight down.

This is also why I try and educate others not to “judge” a book by their cover. If you see someone who has a disability bus pass, or is collecting SSI / SSDI but does not “appear” to be disabled. Do not assume you know, what they deal with on a day to day basis. They may just very will be dealing with chronic pain that is not viewable by the outsider, or week in and week out of doctors appointments where they are poked and prodded on a constant basis in hopes to find SOMETHING to help not only them but others who suffer from the same ailment and JUST MAYBE a cure.