That was my initial response when my doctor informed that my pain and
loss of flexibility was due to osteoarthritis.
My problem started in the fall of 2001, when after a bicycle ride with
my two daughters, Stephanie and Karlana, I missed placing my foot onto the curb
right in front of my house. This tore part of the quadriceps of my right leg
and inadvertently jolted my hip joint. For months, I had tremendous pain. For
years, I had worked out at the local gym 2-3 times a week doing aerobics,
cardio and weight training, but soon I realized that I had to slow down as I
was not “mending”. I limped through golf games and just couldn’t play tennis or
coach my youngest daughter’s soccer team because I could no longer run. The
skiing season came up and I ventured to downhill ski with my daughters from
January to April. The skiing loosened up my hip joint and I thought I was on
the road to a full recovery from that biking mishap.
Not so…..summer of 2002 made me very aware that something was very
wrong. The rheumatologist confirmed that
yes; I had advanced arthritis in the right hip and to a lesser degree in the
left hip (the hip that was not even giving me problems). I was advised to read
up as much as possible on the disease so that I could modify my lifestyle until
I would probably need a hip replacement. The MRI appointment booked for a date
in 6 months confirmed the presence of osteoarthritis. I now had to face the
cold, hard facts…..I had arthritis. A total feeling of despair, helplessness,
sadness, worry and devastation came over me.
• Who will take care of me if I need the hip replacement operation?
• What kind of a life
am I going to have?
There were mornings after my girls would leave for school, that I would
sit at my kitchen table and worry and cry and cry and worry… sometimes wasting
the entire morning.
I was getting less and less motivated to go to work, to do things around
the house, to get together with family and friends, and even to play with my daughters.
My world as I knew it was falling apart. I had a feeling that my life was
coming to a standstill. After existing like this for a few months, I knew that
I could not just sit around and let everything fall apart…….I needed to find
people to talk to, people to lead me to information and people to teach me to get
through this low period in my life. Once I had come to this conclusion that my
“old lifestyle” had ended and that a “new lifestyle” was about to begin, I felt
more confident, more in control and happier.
My starting point was attending a “RENDEZ-VOUS”
conference provided by A.W.I.S.H.
(Arthritis West Island Self Help Association) where I was able to
collect information. I came to the realization that I was not alone as I met
people my age and even younger with arthritis. Shortly after, I became a member
of the A.W.I.S.H Association primarily to be on the mailing list to receive
information and the schedule of events. I
then got involved with the A.W.I.S.H. support group activities. As I was
previously very physically active and loved doing so many sports, I needed to
modify my exercise program to suit my physical condition…..so I signed up for
the exercise class taught by a physiotherapist and I discovered how to properly
exercise in order to regain some strength and flexibility. I’m not doing the
sports that I once did, but walking and gardening are not as painful to do
anymore. I then signed up for the Pain Management self-help course which taught
me a lot about arthritis and how to develop a lifestyle that makes it easier to
live with the pain and restricted mobility. Since that course, major changes
have been made in my life (more sleep, better eating habits, drinking more
water, exercising for strength and flexibility 3 times a week, stretching
exercises daily, pacing the physical tasks, taking time out for “me”).
I have found myself again and the motivation to enjoy each and every day
is back. The biggest challenge for me once I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis
was to accept the fact that I had arthritis. The next challenge was to be able
to admit to others that I do have arthritis. My “super woman” image was gone.
Now on difficult days when the pain causes me to limp, I simply take the
extra time to complete the task at hand and now I’ll even ask for help. My
daughters, Stephanie and Karlana, are my greatest helpers and cheerleaders. I
have shared with them the facts about arthritis and their understanding,
patience and assistance to helping me around the house makes life easier on me.
I share my story with you in hope
that it will let you know that arthritis can be managed with acquiring
knowledge, modifying your lifestyle, changing your attitude and doing the best
you can with every day you wake up to.
Diane Gibb, Owns and operates a successful Marketing Consulting
Firm
Since 2005, volunteers as the VP of Arthritis Montreal and is currently a municipal city councillor for a Montreal borough.
Since 2005, volunteers as the VP of Arthritis Montreal and is currently a municipal city councillor for a Montreal borough.
Arthritis West Island Self Help: (514) 631-3288
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