George (73, diagnosed at 30):
- Devastated by diagnosis
- "Afflicted with RA"
- Legs, feet, elbows and hands were sore, lots
of inflammation in those joints; severe pain
and inflammation
- Wasn't willing to "cave in" to RA
- Didn't see self living in a wheelchair or on
crutches, etc
- Plans out everything he does; practices
moving around to appear normal
Sara (31, diagnosed at 28):
- Constant pain all over your body
- Went from being really healthy at 28 to being
"halted" by RA when it first started
- Sleeping was difficult because of pain;
walking, holding up arms, brushing teeth was
painful (various joints--fingers, arms, jaw, legs
from standing, etc)
- Even if your meds and treatment plan are
working, every day can be different and you
can find yourself having a flare-up and you
could end up having a bad day
- Dating is difficult--at what point do you tell
them you have RA
- Living with it, managing it, living her life
without letting it control her
- Symptoms are managed but not cured - weakness, limited range of motion
- difficulty grasping
- reduced fine motor skills (writing, typing, etc)
- difficulty driving
- difficulty standing for long periods
- difficulty stooping, bending, twisting, kneeling, lifting
- comprehensive care to enhance functional capacity: medical, OT, PT, RC