Tanya Martin

The End of 2011

Ready for the New Year? I am! Goodbye 2011 and hello 2012! I have been out of remission and in a flare for the entire year. Well actually it started in September of 2010 in mainly my shoulders. Every couple months this past year I have went up a pill in my treatment with Methotrexate, adding more to help reduce the pain, swelling and stiffness. I have improved slowly throughout the last six months, but still dealing with pain, swelling and stiffness daily. My feet are swelling up when I stand or walk to long, which could be within a few minutes to thirty minutes later.  Right now I have several great hours a day with very little or no pain and stiffness. Unless I do anything to physical, like stand on my feet or slide boxes around or have my purse on my shoulder longer than five minutes.

Sometimes I feel a little robbed when I am not able to even bowl on Xbox and there is not a heavy ball involved! But I am not able to swing my arm like I am throwing something for 10 frames without ending up with a sore shoulder and hips for the evening. But I can get short motorcycle rides in now, around a half hour to an hour at a time. We did go for a ride a couple times  this past week which was enjoyable. I am not sure when the last time I was able to ride on the bike, I know it has been awhile.  I first started having issues of riding on the bike again in September of 2010 when the flare started.  Before it started I had gotten up to being able to ride for 3 hours easily with stopping to walk and stretch off and on. When I first started riding on the bike back in 2007 after going into a remission period I was in pain within ten minutes of being on the  bike.

My hardest flares before 2007 was mainly in my feet and hips. The past two years I have dealt with pain, swelling and stiffness in my neck, shoulders, elbows, wrist, hands, fingers, hips, lower back, upper back, knees, feet, lymph-nodes and eyes and who knows where else. The hardest pain has been in my shoulders, feet and hips. I believe  the pain in my neck and back are  from the stiffness in my shoulders and hips area, which can reduce the amount of movement of my head from side to side or the ability to stand or sit down easily. Right now it is usually in my shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and feet during the evening. Shoulders and elbows in the morning for less than an hour. Itching closer to being in remission again. Looking forward to being able to go on more walks and workout again! At least I hope! Continue reading →

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