Arthritis absolutely bites....

[osodecanela]

I've been dealing with psoriatic arthritis since my mid 30's. It hasn't left me hideously disabled or disfigured & frankly I have seen cases much, much worse than my own. However, it frustrates the crap out of me. Week to week and sometimes even day to day, I don't know what I'm going to be able to do.

Case in point, my left wrist. Within the past 24 hours it's started bothering me in a new location and has become swollen and inflamed on the dorsal radial side, leaving me with a brand new ganglion. Right this second it hurts to grasp or twist anything so door knobs just became a challenge again. Pity me not; my right hand is fine, at least for the moment. I'm currently in no danger of getting 'locked' into a room, unable to open the door.

This disease has come and gone, quieting and then springing back into activity. It's had a predilection for small joints in my case, affecting my hands and to a lesser aspect, my feet much more than any where else. My right hand has been much worse in the past. This moment it's mobile and pain free, fingers previously limited, now ready to take over the tasks my left hand currently cannot.

So this morning I've gone from frustrated and ticked, to resigned and impatient, to grateful in the knowledge that this could be much worse, much more inconvenient than it is. If this keeps to it's usual course, a few months from now I'll get my left hand back. While annoying, this disability should be temporary.

It feels in some ways like I'm being taught some sort of lesson. The pattern of my arthritis has at time hobbled me, but never left me immobile. Both my hands have given me grief, but never at the same time. A few fingers on one hand may flare, while others have remained calm and able to step into take over. It's often awkward for a bit, but then I figure out how to work with them.

Time to quit whining. The day is a foot & I need to get to work.

Comments

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Oh dear... isn't there anything you can do, even if only palliative?

I may have mentioned before - my mother had rheumatoid arthritis; she finally found an immune therapy that worked for her. (A combination of vaccines; my simpleminded explanation is that it gave her immune system something to chew on other than her joints.) In her case, it mostly hit her hands, elbows and shoulders so I have some idea what you're contending with.

A side effect of this is when mother discovered Corelle - nearly all the old stoneware dishes were disposed of, as the Corelle was much lighter - and if mom did drop a piece, vastly less likely to break.

Best wishes for this to resolve faster than you expect....

[westwind-mv.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear this, my friend. Chronic pain is indeed no fun.

Hugs!

[popicn.livejournal.com]

we are in the same boat. I understand what your mostly going through.