ARTHRITIS: WAITING FOR THE WONDER CURE

My grandmother suffered from it. My mother suffered from it. I suffer from it. Arthritis!

My mother when alive often used to say “it’s not much fun growing old”. I used to smile but did not fully understand what she meant until I too grew older.

I suffer from osteoarthritis of both hips and my spine. My right hip is the part of my anatomy which gives me most pain. And when I say pain, I don’t mean a searing unbearable kind of pain. It is a constant, gnawing, discomforting kind of pain that is always there. It never goes away just like an unwelcome guest! It is like having a permanent toothache in different parts of the body. Unless I make certain sudden movements, and those are met with my pain receptors experiencing real pain; and the voice in my head shouts “take it easy”.

Its effect on everyday living is debilitating. I feel somewhat guilty saying that. I know there are people in the world with far worse health problems or disabilities. However this is my therapy describing my arthritis and I feel sure the millions of other arthritis sufferers will understand.

I am unable to walk very far. I walk with a noticeable limp. I have difficulty standing still without any form of support to lean on. I am unable to stand up straight to my full six feet two and a bit. I am unable to turn my head fully in either direction. I find that looking up at the ceiling or the sky is nigh impossible. Quaffing the last dregs of coffee or beer is impractical as my head will not tilt back far enough. I turn my whole body and not just my head if I hear my name being called from behind me. If my flight is at the top of the indicator board I am forced to take several steps back in order to view in comfort. I am unable to reach my feet to put on socks. Sitting on the toilet and getting back up again is only achieved painfully. Of course I mean the acts of sitting down and rising up again, not what happens between those two acts! If sat, I must have room to flex and extend my right leg from time to time. Driving my car is difficult some days owing to the nagging pain in my right thigh.

The first symptoms started just a few short years ago. A bit like an express train setting off from the terminus. Slowly at first then rushes on! However the train will stop at some point and I guess so will my arthritic pain! But in the meantime where is the cure?

I inherited from my mother not only a tendency to arthritis but also a dislike of prescription drugs. I have tried non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. They work to a degree and I still use them if I am having a bad day with the pain. I have used cod liver oil supplements and extract of green mussels, glucosamine, chondroitin and drinking apple cider vinegar three times daily on an empty stomach. And a few more besides. None of them are effective for me.

And surgery on my hips just is not an option for me. What’s the point? Hip replacement surgery would not alleviate the pain in my spine and neck! Besides it is a barbaric procedure and I would rather suffer noisily, not in silence.

My mother was right: growing old is not much fun! Where is the cure?

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