Healthier Lifestyle Benefits Arthritis

For a number of years now my doctor has been telling me to eat healthier and it could benefit my arthritis. Me being my normal stubborn self ignored this, just putting this advice down to the "healthy lifestyle" campaign that was going on at the time.

This new year I made the decision that I would change my lifestyle in the hope that I might benefit and get some sort of relief from my arthritis. After a bit of research I decided that as well as eating healthier I would also avoid eating red meats as much as possible. I had read a few articles where people claimed that reducing red meat intake would help relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis. I decided to try it for myself, that was a massive decision for my self as every meal I have contains meat, and quite often that was red meat. My plan was to eat healthier, reduce my meat intake and try to avoid red meat altogether.

In all honesty I was very sceptical to say the least, but have had a very nice surprise. Since I started I have had all the benefits of a healthy diet like a bit more energy and feeling a bit perkier etc, but my biggest surprise is that I feel my arthritis is under more control. Although the pains are still there my flare ups are far less frequent than what they were. I'm not sure if it can be put down to cutting the red meat out or just the  benefits of a healthier lifestyle, but I can honestly say that it is working for me.

I would to here if anyone has any other things they feel has helped their arthritis as I am now very open minded to try other things now.

New Year, New Outlook

We are here at the start of 2012, like many people this has led me to lots of reflection on the past year. In general 2011 was hard for me as I learnt much to my dismay that my 2 year old girl also has arthritis as well as me. At first as you can imagine, this was heartbreaking as well as worrying of what the future may hold for her and for us as a family unit. As the year went on there was one person who coped with this better than me and my partner, that was my daughter. She has been so brave dealing with the pain and lots of hospital appointments. I know first hand how frustrating living with arthritis can be, so how a two year old must feel must be horrible. Out of everything to have happened this year my biggest inspiration has been my daughter and the way she has taken arthritis in her stride.

One of my resolutions for this new year is to raise peoples awareness to all forms of arthritis including juvenile arthritis.

Happy Christmas

I would like to wish all my readers a very happy christmas. I have enjoyed putting my thoughts into a blog andI look forward to blogging more in the new year. Happy Christmas!

Winters on its way, Arthritis will make me pay

Over the last month or so, the weather has really dropped of and always seems to be chilly. Already my arthritis seems to be badly affected by this weather more than it has ever before, I literally do feel the cold in bones, I often say its like having tooth ache but in my bones instead of my teeth.

Aches, pains and stiffness are just some of the ailments that the winter chill brings in with it.  Put all that alongside wet and slippery pathways and icy paths you can understand why this season doesn't fill me with cheer. A large supply of grit will be ordered to hopefully allow me out of the house in the ice, although it does annoy me having to buy it to grit a public walkway as the local council are unreliable.

My heating bills are astronomical, in my vain attempt to ease the arthritis I like to keep the house as warm as possible, even though it doesn't make a huge difference, it makes me feel happy locking myself away inside a warm house. I must seem like a right grump when I keep barking at people for leaving doors open around the house.

At this time of the year many people are busy planning for the festive period that is approaching, not me though. I'm looking forward to spring, this will hopefully signal my arthritis to ease up slightly and hopefully lessen this horrible nagging ache I have.

Would love to hear off anyone who has any tips on keep their arthritis in check during the colder weather.

12th October is World Arthritis Day

Today is World Arthritis Day,  it encourages people to spread the word about this silent disease which can attack anyone. Such is the lack of knowledge about arthritis in the the general, most people think it only affects elderly people as well as vastly misjudge the affects the disease can have on a person and their life. Little  Everyone has heard of arthritis yet very few really understand how devastating disease it can be. My arthritis is so severe that I have to use a wheelchair, yet many people still think arthritis is just an ache or pain. This kind of attitude and misconceptions of arthritis can result in people who have the disease can have difficulties getting help and services to ensure life can run as smooth as possible.

I really would like to see arthritis more commonly spoken about, so that people can understand what arthritis is rather than believe myths that undermine what it is like to live with arthritis. I have lost count at the amounts of time people have been shocked that my arthritis started at the age of 21, only to be shocked  further when I tell them my 2 year old daughter suffers from juvenile arthritis. When my daughter starts school we are hoping that this may raise parents awareness to children suffering from arthritis, we would be more than happy to explain her condition so people can understand more rather than think of her as a grizzly, moody child.

People really need to hear more about arthritis and events like World Arthritis Day is an excellent idea. I really hope that days like this can gather momentum and really be a benefit to sufferers and their families all over the world.