Comments on: On Becoming Visible

By: Gillian Pidler

Gillian Pidler — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:40:48 +0000

Hi RA guy, I have secondary OA in my hips now and about 5 years ago I had to ‘give in’ and buy a cane. I went for a purple candy stripe one, I always said if I had to have one, it’d be a groovy one!! I get a lot of looks as I’m only 43, I also get a lot of people ask me ‘what have you been up to then?’. I usually tell them I have RA and OA but I really should think of a cool answer like yours!!

Stephanie, I hear ya!! I have used a wheelchair on a few occasions now, I hate it and always feel like I’m ‘in the way’, but I’ve learned that in order to enjoy those long days out with my kids, sometimes I just have to give in. I am stubborn though & I will wait until I can’t walk another step.

This blog always cheers me, even on the worst days. Thanks RA guy

By: NINA WIKSTROM AGUILAR

NINA WIKSTROM AGUILAR — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:30:05 +0000

Two comments: 1) I have both of my wrists fused, 8 inches of titanium ribbons run thru each one. I also use forearm crutches, because the hand hold could be angled correctly—-because I cannot bend my wrists at all!!
2) As for being in a cage fight, I do have a story!
Long ago and far away, I was living in northern Colorado. It was during the Cheyenne WY Rodeo, and everyone in town was eat up with the Rodeo. I met a young man who pointed at my cast (can’t remember what it was on) and asked: “IS IT A RODEO INJURY??” I was too startled to reply YES, but in another Time Dimension I did!! What a great idea…. a Rodeo injury, for me, the ultimate couch potato.
I have had RA for 37 years and still going. I am 57 now… If anyone ever asks me again why I use crutches, or my wheelchair, or why I am in a cast, or whatever, I will reply: IT’S A RODEO INJURY!!
Yee-HAH!!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:08:19 +0000

I just came across this post and had to laugh. I was only diagnosed back in March of this year but I am already starting to need extra help both from family and in the form of splints, braces, etc. And though I really don’t want to admit it at times a wheelchair sounds really nice. The other day I woke up not feeling so great but my mother was going to take my 2 1/2 year old daughter to her first zoo visit which my husband and I were planning on attending. I didn’t want anyone to know how much I didn’t want to go because I didn’t want to miss it so I went anyway. Thank God my husband brought my daughter’s stroller with us, by the end of our 3 hour excursion (We stopped for 1 hour to eat) I could barely stand up much less walk. My husband could plainly see how much pain I was in so he took our daughter out of the stroller and demanded I sit down. He refused to move until I complied. Now can you imagine how stupid I felt (and looked)? 22 Years old sitting in an infant stroller with my child walking next to me? Ha I had to laugh anyway. Ultimately I hobbled out of the zoo instead of taking the ride of shame. Luckily we were at the last exhibit by the time I had to get in the stroller. I guess you got to get to the point that you don’t care what other people think but I am just not there yet. Thanks for the humor, it really helps keep me going.

By: Pollyanna Penguin

Pollyanna Penguin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:00:47 +0000

Must be great to have the physique to get away with saying you’re a soccer player though … if anyone saw me hobbling about (which they rarely do – I have two canes but largely they live in the car!), they’d probably just assume I fell down the stairs … or strained myself changing the TV channel or something …

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:45:46 +0000

“Uh, I got into a cage match with my immune system, and my immune system seems to have won.”

Hahahahahah… I’m still laughing. Your magnificent sense of humor will certainly help you along ’till you’re an old man.

I wish you a long life, dude!