In this exclusive interview, Dorey, who blogs on her website, Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis, reveals what she learned about dealing with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Plus, experts weigh in with their own advice.
How did symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis affect your life 14 years ago?
I was a stay-at-home mom. I had been so active all my life – gardening, riding horses, karate three times a week and coaching my sons' [athletic] teams.
I went from perfectly normal to waking up one morning and not being able to put any weight on my feet [due to pain]. I didn't know what was wrong, but it disappeared a day later, so I thought I'd be fine. It was confusing. The next time it happened, I went to a doctor. He ran a lot of tests, but nothing came back positive.
Within three months, it wasn't just occasional anymore and it wasn't just in my feet.
Suddenly, I wasn't able to participate in my sons' activities anymore. I couldn't take care of my home, family, or garden.
Expert advice from rheumatologists: RA usually shows up between ages 40 and 50, and it's not unusual for symptoms to occur suddenly, says Nathan Wei, M.D., director of the Arthritis Treatment Center in Frederick, Md.
"It's fairly common for RA to start in the feet," he says. "We usually think of it as being in the hands, but it can often start in the feet and ankles and move up to other joints."
[1]References
- ^ Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis (http://ift.tt/1pWjnoA)
Source: http://ift.tt/1pvbhln
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