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Rheumatoid ArthritisArrow
Disease duration 26 years plus
Interview 34  

Interview 34

Age at Interview: 78
Sex: Female
Age at Diagnosis: 32
Background: Retired clerical worker, widowed with 2 surviving adult children. Diagnosed whilst living abroad with husband and 3 children. Returned home to more moderate climate.
Brief outline:Diagnosed 1957. Had one of the first knee replacements (R) in 1961 but restricted movement since. First left knee replacement lasted approx 30 years and revision 10 years. 8 toes removed. Has taken Prednisolone (5mg) for 41 years.


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She feels there are 3 ways to approach RA but living with it is the way she has chosen.

 



As I said earlier on, there are three ways you can deal with arthritis and I've found this out personally when I first started this. You can be very angry and fight it. That only lasts for a certain time because the only one that's getting hurt is you. 'Cos the more of a temper and, and that you get in the more you create, “Ooh that hurts”, sort of thing.

The other thing is you can give in right from the beginning and you can say, “I can't do that”. And let everybody else do it for you and give no thought to the fact that they've got their lives to live and they shouldn't be feeling that way that they've got to do it for you. And the third thing is to come terms with it and don't live against it, live with it. And when you get a bad pain just sit, whatever suits you. If you get a bad pain and painting the wall gives you relief, go and paint the wall. If you find, like me myself, the only way to get over it is to just sit quietly and rest and it will go. 
Rheumatoid arthritis
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