Denied

I’m so bitter about health care right now. I’m so bitter that my worth as a human being and the amount of treatment available to me is based on the amount of paper in my wallet.
My feet are really bad because of the years my legs were messed up. Now I can’t stand more than a few [...]

Cowboy Up

I had a follow up with my surgeon this  week.
So, we decided that the hip definitely needs to come out. He says it’s at the end of its life, and I agree. It’s also problematic in that it is keeping my new knee from getting straight.
The only thing is that now that Im finally back [...]

Is it finally over?

I finished my post surgery physical therapy.
I’ve been doing physical therapy now for almost fourteen months. Almost continuously. So it feels good to be done for now. 
My right knee never did get much straighter though. It’s still about ten degrees from straight while I’m standing. It’s frustrating, but it looks like something I’m just going to have [...]

Ups and down

Its amazing how you can be on top of the world one week, and the next week, R.A. can bring you so far down.
The initial relief I felt from my meds have slowly stopped working and Im in the midst of a hard core flare. The last few of my joints that haven’t been affected [...]

New Knees for Lisa

I just got this link from Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy’s Blog
http://newkneesforlisa.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-07-06T21%3A15%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=4
This is from Lisa’s Blog:
     After 12 years of living with rheumatoid arthritis, I need total knee replacements I can’t afford. So I decided  to throw myself at the mercy of the internet. Can the kindness of friends, friends of friends, and total strangers raise $7,600 and [...]

Who says stuff like that?

I had a bit of a setback these past couple of weeks. Both physically and emotionally. I’ve been trying to stay upbeat, but am still a bit down.
The hip pain that I’ve mentioned seems to only get worse and worse. The option of another replacement has even been tentatively put on the table. It’s something [...]

Where did the pain go?

My knee is healing so quickly! It was so stubborn at first so I thought it was going to be more difficult than the right knee. But some of the exercises I wasn’t even able to do with my right knee until week five, I’ve been able to do with the left within the first [...]

The Joys of Medication

Its been almost two weeks since I have been allowed to start taking my R.A. meds again. Namely methotrexate and Humira. I’ve had two doses of Methotrexate and one of Humira. This is my first attempt at Humira though. But I’m already loving the fact that I only have to have the injection every two [...]

Another New Knee II

Im finally beginning to feel like  myself again. It’s been eight days since my second total knee replacement. It’s been a rough week but Im finally emerging from the fog of medication and pain.
In fact, today I only took a fraction of the pain medication that I have been on the past week.
I had my [...]

Physical Therapy-Guest Post

Why Physical Therapy is Important
There’s nothing more painful than an injury that requires a surgery, except the actual surgery and the recovery process of course. My brother-in-law met with a really bad accident a year ago; his hip bone was crushed and he had to have a series of reconstructive surgeries in order to be [...]

Another new knee

I had my second total knee replacement Monday. It’s been a rough week. And……that is a huge understatement.
There were some serious pain control issues during my hospital stay. There was a horrible horrible nurse who had some sort of personal vendetta against pain meds. So long story short, I check myself out early after sitting [...]

I can walk.

I’m moving around so well. Even with one good knee. It’s been four and a half weeks since my total knee replacement. And just a few more days until my next one.
My life has already changed drastically. Anyone looking in from the outside might not think that’s the case. But everyday I get out of [...]

Relief

I had a follow up appointment with my Rheumatologist today. Everyone was so excited about my knee! Im on week eleven without my R.A. meds with the exception of Prednisone. And it will be at least four more weeks.
It’s been so worth it.
Now that my most painful knee is out of the equation, I’m handling [...]

The Next Knee

I had my follow up appointment with my surgeon. My knee is looking great. I’ve been getting around without the walker and now I’m back to my trusty cane.
I looked like a complete goob today but couldn’t make myself care less. I got the usual stares that seem to accompany me wherever I go, but [...]

New Knee Part 2

I keep catching myself grinning when I get out of bed and walk. Every once in a while a small giggle escapes. I have even stood in the middle of the room and balanced on one leg. Because I can. And now that I can get in and out of bed by myself, I find [...]