10 Things People With Rheumatoid Arthritis Know All Too Well

When the only thing tough enough to kick your ass is you

1. "But you're so young!"

Via bp.uuuploads.com

A common misconception is that arthritis only affects the elderly.

In women, RA most commonly begins between the ages of 30 and 60. It often occurs later in life for men. However, even older teens and people in their 20s (including the author of this post!) can get RA. As many as 300,000 children are diagnosed with a distinct but related form of inflammatory arthritis called juvenile arthritis.

(Source: The Arthritis Foundation )

2. "You should have taken some calcium supplements!"

Via images.wisegeek.com

RA is a systemic disease characterized by the inflammation of the membranes lining the joint, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, swelling and sometimes severe joint damage. There is no known cause.

(Source: The Arthritis Foundation)

Calcium would be useful to keep bones strong and ward off osteoporosis, especially as you age.

3. "But you don't look sick!"

Via images.wookmark.com

As often happens with RA, sometimes the pain you feel doesn't manifest itself physically, but you feel like curling into a ball and crying yourself into a slumber.

That is, if you can curl into a ball.

4. You've tried lots of alternative treatments.

Via painbehindkneecure.com

Acupuncture, yoga, ginger, fish oil, cutting back on alcohol...

At the very least, your diagnosis has caused you to seriously take a look at what you eat and how you exercise, helping you make better life decisions.

5. Your pain threshold is ridiculous.

Via ep.yimg.com

You know that saying, "if everyone is special, then no one is"?

For us, since everything hurts, nothing (else) does anymore.

Everyone else needs to suck it up or shut up and GET ON OUR LEVEL.

6. Fear of needles? Ain't nobody got time for dat.

Via letstalkdance.net

You get your blood drawn each time you visit the rheumatologist, and many of us inject ourselves with our various medication options.

If you weren't comfortable with shots or needles before, you are now.

Also, the nurse that draws your blood is your BFF.

7. Random Exhaustion

Via blogger.com

Another fun RA symptom: Fatigue.

You went to sleep early, and yet it's 10am and your coffee is just not doing it for you anymore...excuse me while I pass out under my desk.

8. Flares can suck it, hard.

Via buttonlovers.com

Just when you think everything is under control, you swell up like Violet Beauregarde.

Flares suck, they always do. A regular human would be out for the count, but you still get up and go to work or school or wherever.

Just wait until your lunch break to cry it out, it's ok.

9. You don't define yourself by it.

Via cdn-4.lifehack.org

Thanks to modern medical advances, there are a lot of options for people who are diagnosed with RA.

The private battle you fight makes you a badass, but being an RA Warrior isn't the only thing you are.

Many of us can still live a pretty normal life and can choose to be defined by our own terms--not by something we couldn't control.

10. Who is the Face of Arthritis?

Via arthritistoday.org

RA occurs in all ethnic groups and all parts of the world. In the United States, rheumatoid arthritis affects an estimated 1.5 million people – almost 1 percent of the adult population.

(Source: The Arthritis Foundation )

It affects the young and old, men and women, everywhere.

It could be your friend, your relative, your boss, or even you.

To my fellow RA Warriors, this one is for you. Stay strong.