Friday 25 January 2013

A personal post...

 Many people belive that Arthritis only hits those of old age as their bones are weaker and more brittle than those younger than them. Many people believe that it's near impossible for young people to get arthritis as they're young, fit and healthy. I just wish that those people understood what it's like to be in the shoes of somebody who suffers from Arthritis and lived their life from day to day.

 (Image from Weheartit)

Back at middle school, I was a very sporty kid. I always tried my best at PE and I was even on the school team for most sports. I loved playing hockey in particular as it was the one sport were you could get brutal but not necessarily mean it. However, when I moved to upper school, that all changed. I would still partcipate in sports but only when it was our PE lessons. In 2008/2009, I started suffering with an inflammed left foot which meant that I was permanently hobbling about everywhere. I visited doctor after doctor who always said the same thing and didn't take me seriously. "It's a sport injury - it will heal over time" they said. Little did they know, that I would soon start suffering from Arthritis which was caused by this sports injury.
  (Image from Weheartit)

In November 2011, I had just started my new job which involved quite a lot of walking to and from town, going up and down the stairs and just generally more walking than normal. A few weeks after I started, my left foot became inflammed and I found myself being bound to my bed for almost a week. My doctor referred me to a podiatrist (foot doctor) who examined my foot. In non medical speech, he basically said that my two joints in particular on my second toe in my left foot, were rubbing against eachother, wearing themselves down which was causing the problems. He strapped my foot up, told me to invest in a pair of thick soled trainers and a walking stick. Learning to walk with a walking stick was the hardest thing to do as there is a certain knack to it which took me forever to learn. All the elder person definitely looked and stared at me whilst I walked down the streets and I just kept on telling myself that they were jealous of my pink walking stick.
 (Image from Weheartit)

In those few short weeks before Christmas, my life pretty much revolved around my foot and everytime I stepped out of my front door, I had to have my walking stick and trainers on regardless. Those thick soled trainers did nothing for my foot because if anything, I found it more painful to walk in them than before. Over the Christmas period, I bought a pair of River Island UGGs. When they finally arrived, I put them straight on and started walking. For the first time in ages, I could walk without pain. I rang up my Dad in tears and he couldn't quite believe it that a simple pair of £30 UGGs could change a sufferers life for good.

Although a few people love UGGS whilst many detest them, I simply wear them purely because they make my life a lot easier and I will continue wearing them until I feel comfortable walking in a different pair of shoes.

12 comments:

  1. This is such a brave post to write - and a real eye opener too. I have to admit I had no idea arthritis could be such a problem for younger people too. I hope you continue to help people with the same problems and sharing awareness of this issues. Thank you

    Romany x

    www.chasingpavementsbeautyblog.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I spent quite a while agonising over what to write but I feel so much better for getting it off my chest. I didn't know that it could affect younger people until I got it myself. Little did I realise that one of my friends has been suffering with it since she was 6! I hope people will now start to take notice of those living with it xo

      Delete
  2. I'm really glad you've found something quite simple that helps - I'm sure it doesn't cut out the pain though. It's amazing that a simple change like that can help xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It doesn't cut out the pain completely but it's bearable. It sure is amazing and at such a cheap investment as well! My first pair are still going strong! xo

      Delete
    2. That's awesome :) It's the kind of thing I can imagine they'll still be selling for years and years too :D

      Delete
    3. Fingers crossed that they will be. If not, I'll have to bulk buy about ten pairs ;) xo

      Delete
  3. I had no idea younger people could have problems with arthritis - thank you for writing this post & raising awareness of the issue. I'm glad you've found something that helps :)

    gemma xo
    gemmaer.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's time that people out there knew that it's not just old people who have problems with it :) xo

      Delete
  4. It's nice to read a post like this! I've had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 7, every joint is affected, I've had two hip replacements & I'm currently on the list for a knuckle replacement. I regularly work with a charity that wants people to know it's not just an old peoples diesease, more people need to be aware & stuff like this helps :)!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awh, your poor thing! :( How did you cope whilst growing up? I completely agree - more people need to be more aware! xo

      Delete
    2. Not very well, missed a lot of school due to flair ups + hospital stays, couldn't do normal kid things, lost a lot of friends & got bullied throughout high school. Being a child with RA sucked, I wish I could say it didn't. xo

      Delete
  5. Very brave of you to share this. I'm sorry to hear you are in pain but its good that you have found something that helps. x

    ReplyDelete