#chronic inflammatory arthritis

[rheyareads]

What Happens Then?

I am 90 pounds lighter and yet I can barely hold my own weight. I know that I am a strong, resilient, person who’s endured countless setbacks and traumas. I know that I have come leaps and bounds in my mental health and coping mechanisms and strive to find gratitude for all that I have learned. I know that I bring joy to others and can contribute amazing things on my best days. I know I’ve…

[drjgodo]

Overcoming Psoriasis & Rheumatoid Arthritis

How She Overcame Psoriasis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Overcoming an autoimmune condition like childhood psoriasis that progresses into rheumatoid arthritis is not an easy road. There may be a number of contributing causes like vitamin or mineral deficiencies, heavy metals, pesticides, or overconsumption of dead or toxic food. It can take years of detective work to find and eliminate the…

[wheelie-sick]

So you just got diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis....

A guide to coping with inflammatory arthritis written by someone who has been living with it for years

1. Warmth helps with pain and stiffness

Take a hot bath or shower

Use a rice bag to heat your most stiff and painful joints - How to make a warm rice bag (no sew) How to make a warm rice bag (sew) Adorable heated stuffed animals

Heating pads can also be good for heating specific joints (I don't like either of the ones I've had so I'm not dropping a recommendation)

2. Compression helps with stiffness

Compression gloves work really well in particular - Really cool compression gloves

Compression for other joints works well too

3. NSAIDs help reduce inflammation in your joints

Topical diclofenac is my personal favorite, it works wonders

Meloxicam is only available by prescription but has fewer negative side effects than over the counter NSAIDs do

Ibuprofen and Aleve/Naproxen are both OTC NSAIDs

Here's a full list of NSAIDs

4. Steroids reduce inflammation but are usually only used for flares. If OTC remedies are not working for your arthritis it may be worth asking about steroids to manage flares

5. Use adaptive devices

Note that I haven't tried all of these!

In the kitchen - Jar opener, pull tab opener, arthritis friendly silverware, ergonomic knife, another ergonomic knife

In the bathroom - My favorite shower chair, long handle bath sponge, shower grab bar

Dressing - Many button and zipper aids, magnetic jewelry clasps, sock aid

Standing assists - Bed rail, couch stand assist, cane with stand assist

Office - Pencil grips, book stand, vertical mouse

Other - Arthritis friendly gardening tools, so many grips adapters and holders

.... and many many more

6. Use mobility aids - I'd strongly recommend talking to a doctor before deciding to use mobility aids. mobility aids cause damage to your body so it's important to weigh the pros and cons of using them. Anyways my personal recommendations:

Canes - NOVA T cane, Carex ergonomic offset cane

Crutches - Millennial In-Motion Forearm crutches

Other people with inflammatory arthritis are welcome to add on!

[johnnyiscaged]

happy disability pride month to every disability! remember there is no such thing as disabled enough use the aids you need

[hussyknee]

Me @me, dead in coffin, buried: "Come on, you arent that dead. You could totally get up if you tried a little harder! See, that femur isn't even all the way rotted through! Are you even trying? Maybe you're just pretending to be dead for attention. Weak."

[disabled-bug]

‼️ content warning for talking about (necessary, healthy) food restrictions ‼️

Please don’t be rude about somebody’s dietary restrictions.

Sometimes people don’t even notice it in the little comments about how gross vegan food is, how bad for you dairy-free milks are, how everything gluten-free tastes like cardboard…people don’t choose their food intolerances!!!!

I have to use a lot of substitutes for MEDICAL REASONS, and I’ve had people tell me to my face how gross that is. Vegan cheese tastes like glue. Oh, you have to try a gluten free diet? That’s so trendy now, but really you don’t have to. The food is so bland.

I do have to, actually. It’s discouraging to hear how inferior your food is when there’s no other option!!!!! Please try to be considerate of people’s non-negotiable needs.

Also don’t be mean to people who do choose their own dietary specifications, that should go without saying. Be considerate and respectful of what people have to eat!!!

With love, if nobody is practicing unsafe or dangerous eating habits, mind your business ❤️

[schizoaffectively]

Anyone else younger with arthritis, of any kind?

I’m 24, gonna be 25 in two months, and have a kinda generic dx of inflammatory arthritis (not a specific kind like rheumatoid or psoriatic as of rn)

If any other fellow youngsters with arthritis wanna talk or share their experiences and talk about it feel free to message, comment, or send an ask!!!

[unfilteredrealities]

Tomorrow I have to go back to work after almost 2 weeks being off work.

First I thought oh yeah it’s just Wednesday off due to Funeral of my grandpa and then Thursday and Friday is vacation days and the weekend so I can decompress a bit.

Sunday I realised that it wasn’t the case. My cat died. My health declined and I had to go to the doctor and she gave me sick leave and I got more pills again for the pain.

I really needed these 2 weeks. I was able to rest but I realised how chronically ill I am in actuality than I thought I was…

I’m so quickly fatigued these last few days. Even standing up is like sending me to rollercoaster town on two feet where I have to sit down asap before me blacking out 😬

Glad that I don’t have a standing job. All I have to do is sit for 8h almost and talk to people at the phone and hope they won’t yell at me.

Hope that everything will go smoothly at work 🫣

[chronicsickness]

the amount of medical gaslighting that happens to people with chronic illness is so disappointing. Every single chronically ill person that I know have experienced some form of it. I feel like there should be guidelines in place before people in the medical field are able to throw someone’s mental health, age, or appearance in their face. So many people get sicker or go undiagnosed and without treatment for so long because of this. It breaks my heart looking back at the way I used to have to beg for help and leave every appoint disappointed and in tears because no one would take me seriously. My heart goes out to anyone in the midst of that. Please don’t be afraid to let them know if you think they’re wrong, please don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. I wish I did sooner. I waited 5 years to find a good team of doctors and a diagnosis. It takes most people 6-10. It shouldn’t be like this.

[chronically-online-anime-enjoyer]

Just ranting a little bit :)

Im seeing a new rheumatologist soon and hopefully starting treatment for my RA. Last time I tried immunosuppressants it didn’t help it just made me feel worse, so if the new treatment also doesn’t help I might get a wheelchair.

I feel bad about using a wheelchair because I can walk. I can usually handle walking for about 30 minutes before it becomes too painful, and I can technically walk for like 2 hours although at that point I’m in excruciating pain in all my lower joints, and I could injure myself if I walk for that long. I’d only need the wheelchair on rare occasions like going to anime conventions or the zoo or the amusement park. My cane and rollator arent enough for those kinds of outings.

Another aspect of my illness is the constant fatigue. I do literally anything and I am so so so tired. It’s so hard to function like this.

I hate feeling like a fraud because my disease fluctuates and is progressive. I often have to take precautionary measures like using a wheelchair to prevent pain, even if I’m not currently in pain. It’s stupid.

If I got a wheelchair I’d probably get a manual chair with a power assist bc I like the maneuverability of the manual chair but I don’t have the arm strength to push myself.

[ladyfarona]

Me, forgetting my mobility has worsened and sometimes I ignore pain until it suddenly hits me like a ton of bricks: This store is super small and I'll just be standing around looking at merch, right? I don't need my rollator! I won't be here for hours or anything!

Me, hours later when I'm finally done shopping: oh god oh FUCK- my hip hurts so BAD my leg feels so STIFF I need to sit down RIGHT NOW what is WRONG with me I should have used my rollator! Wait if I sit down to rest now it'll be SO HARD to get up again shit fuck BALLS-

[jiateen]

How am I supposed to love a body I’ve only ever viewed as a prison?

[gentlethorns]

fuck dude i have got to find a job where i can be self-employed and creative. i cannot be in fucking retail hell anymore

[autisticgod]

im so autistic butch swag today and eternally strong and tender 

even tho god kneecapped me

[ineffableigh]

important notes

I got so used to my chronic pain that posts like these were revelatory for me lol

Me standing in the subway with my internal monologue ENTIRELY composed of "oh god my feet ow ow ow ow fuck ow holy shit fuck ow fuck that fucking hurts oh god CHAIR CHAIR shit someone got there first. ow ow ow ow ow" and oops that's not normal haha

notes for my impostor syndrome:

• no, it's not painful to walk for abled-bodied people

• no, healthy people don't usually use every chance they get to lean against walls or sit down

• no, ableds don't dream about shower stool

• no, ableds don't celebrate days when they're not in pain. because usually they're not in pain

• no, ableds don't want to stop walking mid-way, lay down on the ground, curl up and cry and whine from pain

• no, ableds aren't exhausted by their own bodies 24/7

[hussyknee]

Me, flat on my back: "Get up. It's not that bad, you're just being a wimp. It's all in your head probably."

*sits up*

*almost blacks out*

*lies down*

Me, blurry with pain: "Well. This is clearly because you're doing something wrong so there's no use asking for help to get better. Did you even try to exercise?"

Me, spine on fire: "You just need to lose weight."