Arthritis Insight-Member Stories-Susan G

Susan G's Story

Dancing has always been a part of my life. I started dancing when I was 2
years old and even auditioned at 19 to be a professional dancer in NYC.
But, I got married instead and then had two children, the loves of my life. I
was divorced when my "cherubs" were 7 and 8 and enjoy a wonderful career and loved every minute of watching my children grow into great people. But, I bring up the dancing thing for a reason. When my daughter got married two years ago, I danced up a storm at her wedding. The proud Mom, who could still boogie!! lol The next day, after the wedding, boy, was I in agony. My left knee was so swollen and a good friend came over with cans and cans of Cherries. "Sounds like you have gout. Eat all these cherries and you'll get better, she said". I think that was the start of my RA, not realizing it. The pain in my knee went away after a few weeks, and I was left with aches and pains, but manageable. Hey, I was only 49 at the time....I didn't want to complain and sound like an "old person". Life marched on and I met my significant other. Wayne. :-) Life was going well. Suddenly last October I had incredible swelling in my ankle. My family doctor said....I think it's a cyst.---which it wasn't. It was synovitis, and the start of this battle.

After seeing an orthopedic and having fluid drained, then my knees started to swell. As the story goes, after several months, and two Rheumatologists
later, I have one doctor telling me its RA and another PA. Either way I'm
in agony. So starts the medication saga.....and what a trip it's been so
far. Me, who never takes medication, has slowly entered into this world. I
am currently taking azulfidene, prednisone and celebrex. Oh, and let's not
forget zoloft and xanax. I have also had about 7-8 joint aspirations of the
knees and several cortisone shots. None of this is working. I KNOW my body
hates this prednisone.....but it has reduced the swelling. Not completely,
but it's down. The pain is the same. At the start of all this back in
November, I had all the tests, and continual blood workups. I'm still not
showing a RF factor. But, now I have severe degeneration of my knees and
bakers cysts. Seems in the next several weeks I'll be starting on
methatrexate. I just hope that gives me my life back.....or gives me more
good days than bad.

Attitude is everything with this disease. I still have not accepted I have
it, but I'll get there, I'm sure. It's a daily battle. But I'm a pollyanna,
and firmly believe there will be a cure.

Arthritis Insight has been a godsend. I look forward daily in checking the
message boards and seeing how others are doing and offering support to
others.

Hope we all have a pain-free Spring. Thanks for letting me share......
Susan (Suzz51)