you look great so you are right? GRR | Arthritis Information

O my gosh. I am just a tad pissed off right now.....My joints are awefull. Its KIND of my own fault condisering I havnt sat dawn in 4 hours and have been busy for the past 12 hours. I am volunteering on a farm working with horses and theraputic riding its a bit too much work for me but its gonna be over soon so im just dealing. thats not the problem, the issue is what the director said to ME! i dunno who started talking about arthritis but they were talking about their parents getting RA....then i said something about me. bad idea just mademe bad they were saying how there parents left toe hurts. i was tired after working for 3 hours so i wa slike well my toes, ankles, knees, hips, fingers, wrists and elbows hurt! then the director was like yea but its not bad for you. you look perfectly fine. o my gosh i never tell people how bad it is but really i hate it when OTHERS minimize it, me thats one thing them...they have no clue how i feel! then she showed me her one swollen finger. i am so so mad. an exausted and in pain.

RA looks can be very deceiving. It's awful to be misunderstood. It pisses me off too!

Hope you feel better soon! It's great you are giving back like you are with the theraputic riding!

Sorry you are feeling bad! I really think it has to do with being young. People automatically think because you are young and look fine you couldn't POSSIBLy be in pain. I don't ever tell anyone because they just don't get it. I only know a few people that actually get it. (besides this board of course) Hang in there. You will find the rare few that are compasionate! I know I wish I could just keep it to myself, but im involved in so many things medical and im so interested in this stuff loli cant just listen to them complaining about a finger and not jump in.....something to work i guess I hate when people say things like that. I just had a synovectomy two months ago on my knee. When I was around town and people me around with crutches, questions were asked and I gave answers. People would always give me their stories of hacing ACL's repaired or other knee problems surgically solved. Nonetheless, they would always wrap it up with something like "well at least you don't have that problem" or "my recovery period was a year". I have much empathy and sympathy for many people, but I didn't like it if anyone tried to tell me my situation wasn't too serious.To top it off when I'm am feeling good I feel like I should feel guilty or something.I know when people see my on my cane they can't believe it's arthritis. They think it's osteo and don't know the difference between that and RA. I don't even try to explain it anymore. They all say rub this on it or take this. I wish it were that easy.i dont have anything to help me walk and too most people my walk loooks perfectly normal so when i am out and doing something crazy active they dont believe that me 20 years old could have arthritis let alone actually be HURTING!

dont be guilty when you feel good! enjoy itt!!! Littlemermaid, it is the most frustrating part of the disease, well, that and the unpredictability of it all. People have no clue and if you don't look sick...well...you probably are not.(to them) Fortunately, many of the DMARDS and biologics prevent joint damage and deformity but they do not necessarily prevent pain. And pain is invisible to all those that do not have it. I'm sorry at such a young age that you are having to deal with this. I hope things get better for you.thank you lorster. my pain is bad but im on all the meds...good news is the newest drug which i WILL be taking as soon as its FDA approved passed 9/10 people at a meeting with the FDA advisory committee so its going through the approval process and should be approved by the FDA mid sept!!! im so excited it is going to work for ME!On the other hand, it can be a GOOD thing it is not visible. It may be hard to deal with the cretins who don't "get it" but it also has benefits, like on job interviews.
Hi Little Mermaid!

I still have a few years on you (I just turned 33). I am a big girl - 6ft tall - in shape - nice and strong. I used to work on a landscape crew (prior to my diagnosis) - putting in lawns - building retaining walls - snowplowing in the winter - real mans work - LOL! I also used to own a duplex - did a lot of handywork. I currently have been helping my boyfriend remodel his house for the last 3.5 years....and I work 2 jobs (one full time and one part time). I push myself. But because I push myself - people don't think I have any problems doing anything. I just must be super healthy and not have any aches. I think people see me doing things and see a healthy person doing them - nobody really realizes that every time I have an ache or a pain - that I'm not going to complain about it. I have noticed over the last 1.5 years that my grip isnt what it used to be - I can't pick up heavy things and hold onto them anymore - my hands just give out. It's hard to make people understand that I'm still trying hard - but I just can't do it. It would be much easier for people to understand if I was wearing arm braces or had a cane - if they can't see anything wrong with you - then you will be fine with some aspirin (HA!)

We all know exactly how you feel hon. 20 is young to be dealing with this disease - my cousin got jra at 13 years old. I remember her being in pain as a kid - and when she learned to drive at 16 - she could barely turn her head to check her blind spot cuz her next hurt so bad.

Hugs to you hon - and I'm proud of you for restraining yourself from the uneducated people out there who just don't get it.

~Brenna

thanks so much Brenna. I was dx at 8 and through then I was competetive in gymnastics. I wont let this stuff give up the things i love but it has gotten harder for me too. like you said gripping things is very hard, walking long distance, standing in place is the WORST. but I want to be a doctor.....so I am hoping I can make it through medical school with all this. I know you can make it through med school girl! With that positive attitude of yours - you can do anything you want! Hugs

~Brenna

Mermaid, I am excited for you that you have a new drug to look forward to? Which one is it? I really admire your ambition in spite of all your pain, that takes courage. Actemra..someone posted an article about it awhile ago. im really excited for it. im working on the med schol thing i have to get in first :) lol[
dont be guilty when you feel good! enjoy itt!!! [/QUOTE]

I think it's that whole thing of people not understanding you can feel great one day and like crap the next. I feel like they don't believe the seriousness of RA if I'm feeling good.