Living with Arthritis

 

My name is Amanda and I was born in 1954. I am a stage and film actress. I led a vibrant life as an actress, but right at the peak of my acting career in the 1990s I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, also known as RA, I was in my forties then.

I struggled with sharp pain in my hands and knees. Every time my film director shouted “Action” while on the set, I cried out in pain. The symptoms were consistent, occurring every morning and that was when I realized I had to seek medical help. Numerous tests confirmed that I had developed RA. I was prescribed steroids and I even turned to alcohol with the hopes of dulling the pain.

The pain was getting worse and worse to a point where I needed assistance to even get out of bed. My left hand became motionless and I experienced sharp pains in my knee every time I tried to move. The doctors warned me of the possibility of being confined to a wheelchair. I became desperate and even tried to kill myself at one point. My family and friends were the support I needed the most and I will always be thankful to them for that.

It was during these desperate moments and in my quest to find treatments that will allow me to live a normal life, that I found a doctor who was able to help me get back on my feet. The doctor put me on an exercise therapy, doing gymnastics and swimming. I began to walk with the assistance of a cane, and gradually progressed to walking on my own. ArthritisHope Compression Knee Sleeve and now the Pain Relief Cream helped me dull the pain tremendously. 

Despite the massive drug therapy that doctors had placed me on, the disease was relentless for more than eight years. 

I made a tremendous progress with my disease and now I'm promoting the Arthritis Foundation. I want to be an inspiration to others who are battling this challenging disease. So many people suffer from RA and while it can be difficult to diagnose, I try to encourage others who might be going through symptoms like fatigue, swollen joints, and morning stiffness to get tested as soon as possible, it’s only a simple blood test.

I was determined to win the battle for this debilitating and hard disease. 

So.. what's your story? 


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