It makes life so much easier when you can share with someone how you feel and they are non-judgemental. I am glad you had a lovely time.xx

That's great when you can give & take especially face-to-face too. I never knew anyone my age with arthritis until 2 years ago. So I was dealing with my JRA on my own for 40 years. I love talking to my new friends & getting their input about meds, exercise, splints, & well-just everything.

Take care,
Christine

Chritine, it is lovely to hear from you again, have you been unwell as i haven't seen you post much laterly.xxx

Hi Sylvi, well, yes & no. My Sister & her family came up from Kansas for Christmas & we went sledding. We did singles for awhile, and then we formed a train-which crashed. My Dad was taking photos & all you could see of me was one boot. I was totally on the bottom of the dogpile and that tweaked my back & hip. Then, we went walking on the frozen lake and I fell backwards. I knew that my head was going to hit, so I kind of hunched up & it threw my back out. This was on Dec 23rd, and I finally couldn't stand it anymore & got an emergency chiropractor appt on Jan 2nd. I'm still going to him, but I'm down to only twice a week now.

My chiro was shocked at the state of my back but I just told him that I've had JRA for most of my life. He says he is going to get it better than my 'normal'. So far, my back still won't stay in place, but I'm feeling much better.

I have also started volunteering at the Dept of Health, downtown. Tomorrow will be my 3rd day. I'm just doing Tues & Thurs. Last Thurs I had a flat tire on the way to volunteer and now will have to pay for a new/used rim. I felt that I needed to do something, because my mind was going to mush. Everyone is being so nice & friendly there, (a total difference from my last job), and my self-esteem is being built back up. So far, I'm liking 'working' again.

Hope you are feeling better, Sylvi.
Christine

Christine, i don't know where to start,congratulations on the job or commiserate because you put your back out. First off well done for trying to get your self-esteem back,it is hard when we have these diseases doesn't it. I am pleased for you anyway.
Pleased you had a lovely christmas with your family,but why( i am being funny here) did you think you could go sledging and walking on ice,i bet your family wet themselves laughing to start with until they realised you had hurt yourself. I look forward to seeing the photos christine. I am glad your making a recovery with the chiro, i have used them before for my back and yes they do help.
Take care christine and i look forward to hearing how your work is going.xxxx

What great news :o) Great party and a new friend. It's such a joy when you meet someone else that truly knows what you're on about isn't it. Sympathy is great but Empathy is AMAZING :o)

That sounds so useful meeting like that , I am pleased for you x

I've recently met a person at work with RA. We both get our anti tnf,s delivered to work and the only way I found out was when I nearly walked off with her embrel instead of my Humira- very funny intro ! We regularly grab a 2 min moan and you are right tamnwill empathy is amazing compared to sympathy!!! She gave me the push to call my nurse 2weeks ago during a flare as she could visibly see me struggling. Just wish we could grab more than 2mins next to a photocopier though!!! Must meet her for a break time coffee x

It's a shame there aren't more local support groups so that we can meet others with RA. It also goes to show that RA is not as common as people seem to think. I don't know anyone else in my "real" life with RA which is why this site is so important to my sanity. Thanks for sharing and good to hear you had a great night.
Paula x

I totally agree. I travelled to the Leicester support group once. But as wonderful and welcoming they were I just couldnt return as I found the drive way too far (over 2 hours when consider journey there and back) specially having spent a full day at work and knowing I had to b up early the next day for work.

There is a junior support group in nottm but not an adult one. I wonder if there r enough of us on here to justify setting one up here?

Tina

How lovely to meet someone else with ra. Not lovely that youve both got it but its so very difficult trying to explain to non ra people how we feel.

Xxxx

I was lucky enough to meet a nras volunteer who was great and we still text, but unfortunately for me and lucky for her she has got well enough to go back to work! So it is good to chat with someone who actually knows how it feels isnt it.xxx