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I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hips two years ago. It was very hard. You think you’re going to do all the things you’ve thought about doing when you retire, and then suddenly you can’t do them.
I’m a great walker, so it was awful not being able to walk far – I’d always dreamt of doing the coast to coast walk across North England. I could still go swimming, but getting dressed afterwards was awful. I didn’t appreciate how restrictive it could be. I didn’t know arthritis could be so painful.
Really powerful
I found out about a Challenging Arthritis self-management course in my area. My joints had really deteriorated and I had to do something about it.
The course reinforced all the information I’d read in the Arthritis Care information booklets, but through discussion and sharing experiences and coping strategies, it became really powerful.
The course was great in that it encouraged me to set achievable goals, with targets for the week.
I’m in charge
Self-management means to me that I’m in charge – that it’s my life and arthritis is not going to rule it. I have been encouraged to keep exercising, keep going and to use the aids and adaptations that were available. Some people resist these changes, but it’s more important to retain your independence.
Learning how to self manage my arthritis – and my two new hip replacements – have given me so much energy that I’m finding it hard to relax. I enjoy keep fit classes and Swimexercise classes. I’m even back walking again – I can now manage four miles, which is a real boost.
I now have a greater knowledge and understanding of the condition. Building that positive attitude has been brilliant. If you know what you’re fighting you can get on and deal with it.
Ann Smith
