| Osteoarthritis disability is frustrating and painful. | | | | person is. It's a person who cannot accept help |
| Although it originally starts with mild pain and some | | | | gracefully. They feel they need to do things |
| difficulty of movement, eventually you might end up not | | | | themselves. and they're taking away the opportunity to |
| being able to do many things you were able to do | | | | have somebody else feel good about him/herself. |
| before. | | | | Soon people will stop offering help because you have |
| You might not be able to take long walks, or go | | | | refused to be helped. |
| jogging anymore when your knee is involved. If you | | | | And then there are the people who will demand help, |
| enjoy knitting and crocheting it might get too painful to | | | | even for things they could do for themselves. They'll |
| do it for any amount of time if at all. You don't lose the | | | | complain constantly and make sure they are not the |
| capability of doing things suddenly, overnight. It creeps | | | | only ones "suffering". Everybody around them has to |
| up on you gradually. | | | | suffer along with them. |
| There are different ways to cope with arthritis: | | | | It's all a matter of attitude. Besides, they are not the |
| - see a physiotherapist who can teach you how to | | | | only ones that have an osteoarthritis disability. People |
| cope and show you ways how to relieve the pain | | | | tend to start avoiding other people that complain and |
| - use a heating pad on the affected joint to relieve the | | | | whine constantly. |
| pain somewhat | | | | Your disability is only as severe as you decide it to be. |
| - wear a brace on the affected joint | | | | You have to learn to balance things. Be gracious and |
| - try some arthritis creams and see if any help | | | | let people help you when they sincerely offer it. But |
| - take natural pain relief products | | | | don't be demanding and expect people to do |
| - keep your sense of humor | | | | everything for you. |
| Family and friends will be very sympathetic and helpful | | | | Foremost:: Keep your sense of humor. It has pulled me |
| when you really have an arthritis disability. Don't be a | | | | through a lot of hard times and it will do the same for |
| "me do" person. Let me explain what a "me do" | | | | you. |