The reason it's elementary is that I think I should know this by now. But I don't, so here goes...I notice some people say they have RA in their knees or shoulders or whatever. But I thought you either have RA or you don't. You don't just have it here or there. So am I misunderstanding the disease, or being too technical in how I understand what people mean when they say that?Too technical, I think. RA doesn't cause pain or damage in every joint. Everyone's pattern of pain and damage is different. I say I "have RA in my hands and feet" even though I know it is a systemic disease. It makes it easier for non-RA people to understand. good explanation, JasmineRain. I have it in pretty much every joint. but I stress the most active joints when talking outside the knowledge base of non-RA persons My mom has this friend that is kind of a drama seeker. She said to my mom that her dr told her she has "rheumatoid arthritis of the hip". I don't normally go around questioning people's dx's but if you knew this women, everything with her is BIG BIG BIG. And he's been found to have things wrong in the past too. Anyway, I told my mom that she must be mistaken, people didn't get "RA of the hip". Oopsy. Maybe I was wrong. I hate it when that happens. Not that my moms friend would ignore her doc cuz of what I said. Still.Sounds like she has much in common with my mom. She's feeling left out because my brother is in the hospital right now and she's not the center of attention. Plus his doctors (very nicely) have told her on more than one occasion that she doesn't know what she's talking about when she tries to tell them (liver specialists at UW-Madison) how to fix a liver. So yesterday she called my brother and told him she can't come visit because she has the flu and (I kid you not) - IT'S TERMINAL.
Jas, that does sound alot like my moms friend. No matter what the situation or who happens to be involved, this women always makes it about herself. Amazing a person can always find that angle, more amazing that a person is always looking for that angle, ya know?
Yep... this is the same woman who claims her ill-mannered mutt is an "emotional therapy animal" and she has the right to take him everywhere with her. Then she wonders why we never invite her out to dinner. The dog has ACTUALLY JUMPED UP ON OTHER PATRONS' CHAIRS AND ATE OFF THEIR PLATES!!!! She claims that everyone loves when her dog does that kind of crap. I think they're just afraid of the crazy lady. [QUOTE=JasmineRain]Then there was the time she tried to claim permanent disability (from a desk job) because she had (I kid you not) a nicked rotator cuff. She went to several different doctors and finally one said there was a very small tear - more of a nick, really. My sisters and I almost peed our pants trying not to laugh when we were all watching football one Sunday at mom's and the commentators were saying how one of the star players was playing with a TORN rotator cuff. Mom got pissed and stomped off.