Introduction & Early Stages

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March 2007

Monday, March 05, 2007

I'm happy to say that I'm feeling better. For most people, the "Monday Blues" set in around the time of their alarm clock. For me, I try to reverse the effects of a Monday morning by thinking positively, by wondering what surprises the week has in store, and by planning for a healthy week filled with healthy food and exercise. Some weeks it works, other weeks it doesn't. But it's free to try so today is no exception.

Speaking of trying: we spent Friday down in Washington, DC, meeting with members of Congressional staff about the importance of patient education when it comes to chronic diseases. We are all empowered to do more when we know more, and we were urging the government to support patient education programs and help raise awareness about diseases, things we can do to stay healthy, and the myriad of treatments that exist today. We're also supporting initiatives which will encourage companies to do this more often. We at CreakyJoints, and our parent organization, believe strongly that education is very important - not just to those of us with arthritis, but for anyone with a chronic disease. Diabetes, hyptertenstion, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis…we're all in the same boat. The more we know, the healthier we can be.

Needless to say it was quite rewarding to go down and speak with members of Congress and their staff about these important issues. We even had a chance to have a power lunch afterwards where we spotted some A-list Washington power-celebs (this isn't one of those blogs though, sorry). But if you ask me, the people we had lunch with were the real A-listers.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Yesterday I met my mother at Costco to help her “shlep” cases of water and soda into her car. It occurred to me that, besides being among the less qualified children in the family to help her, I’m probably among the most obligated to pitch in. After all, I know pretty darn well how it feels to lift something heavy and have an achy back for the next two days. And her hands and wrists aren’t doing so well lately which is all the more reason to drop everything to help.

But it got me to thinking – if it took arthritis in my back and her hands (and everywhere else) to bring us together…then by all accounts I’m a pretty lucky guy. How many other mother-son relationships are based on a commonality like arthritis and an affinity for Costco?

I’d never pass up a trip to go shopping in bulk or an opportunity to see my mom. And you bet I’d never pass up a chance to help her. She has been strong enough to raise four children. It’s her handling a 36-pack of bottled water that worries me.

So the next time you feel a little crummy, consider that elsewhere someone feels far worse. And maybe they need a hand. If you’re like me, two semi-functioning hands equal one strong hang. And who doesn’t like shopping in bulk?

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

If I could, I’d write a song “It Only Hurts When It Rains” – but a) I can’t write music and b) that title is not entirely true. It’s more like “It Only Hurts Before It Rains. And Sometimes While It Rains. And After It Rains.” – but something tells me that wouldn’t make it onto Billboard’s top songs. And it certainly wouldn’t make it on SNL’s top jokes. So where does that leave me?

Hurting. Still.

It has been a rough couple of weeks. I think we’re climbing out of a weird winter – with very weird weather – and hopefully towards a better spring filled with fewer aches and more environmental motivation to go to the gym…or even go for a walk.

I just wish that the tide wasn’t so strong – and the impact of changing barometric pressure (and the resulting aching joints) didn’t affect me so much. But on days like this past weekend it comes very close to limiting what I do.

Thank goodness museums have benches, right?

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

When you have spondyloarthropathy – as I have since 13 – you learn what your limits are pretty quickly. But at the same rate, you learn your mistakes pretty quickly too.

For me, a gentle reminder came up on Saturday at a wedding I attended. I am not much for dancing – the aftermath is never quite worth the experience of looking foolish to begin with – but for some reason I opted to tear it up a little. Emphasis on the word tear.

Today – 3 days after the wedding – I’m still feeling it in my ankle, which, for no good reason, just wasn’t up to the task.

It still hurts. A lot. But I guess it could be worse: at least the tux fit well. Halleluja.