my battle with RA

by Amber

Well I am a 31 year old woman with an 11 year old son. A year and a half ago I under went a total right hip replacement.

After surgery I started having pain in my hands and wrists that wouldnt go away. My hands were so swollen and red and hot to the touch. I found that every day things were becoming increasingly harder to do.

I cant sleep because the pain increases at night as does the swelling. I hate going to places because I feel like I have to guard my hands for fear of someone bumping into them. Sometimes I cry because I feel like I am losing my independance and feel like there is no hope.

My family knows whats wrong with me but I dont think they totally understand just how truely painful this is and how it effects so much in my life. My sister says my hands look like ET, which is kinda funny and I am not offended by it. My boyfriend (father of my child) always make fun of the way my hands look when I walk or asks me to do things he knows I cant do and when I say something about it he makes fun of me by saying oh I forgot "your hands hurt". Sometimes he will just thump my hands in what he sees as a playful thing but he doesnt realize the amount of pain it really causes to me.

I hate having to ask anyone in my house to open stuff for me becasue they all sigh with inconvenience or suck their teeth. I know it doesnt just effect me but I feel like they just dont understand and that I have become such an inconvenience to them.

It gets really depressing at times and there are days I just want to end all suffering not only for me but the burden to everyone else. I cant work. I am rapidly losing function in my left hand to the point I cant turn my hand (as if I am going to receive something from someone). I cannot bend either wrist, my fingers lock up all the time and when they do and I cant move them I feel so paniced for fear I will not be able to move them again.

I had insurance (through my boyfriend) up until a few months after my hip surgery. I saw my Dr for the pain in my hands and was able to see a rheumatologist once before my boyfriend lost his job due to cut backs.

I am unable to get medical insurance because of this condition they all turn me down. Discount programs are a joke and arent very affordable. I
I've tried for medicaid but they put me on a monthly $1600 share of cost. With one income and rising cost of everything we cant afford the office visits let alone treatments.





(Thank you Amber for writing in. I wish I had answers for you in regards to medical, but being Canadian myself I don't know how to get around the problems with lack of coverage in the US.

I would be happy to work with you on your diet and lifestyle with the goal being to reduce the pain brought on by lifestyle.

For anyone reading this, if you know how Amber can qualify for some type of medical coverage, please let us know. Together we can make a difference)!