Autumnal Equinox

Since before I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have always had severe joint flareups when the seasons change. 

It is sort of like a light switch goes on in my body and most of my joints decide to become inflamed and hurt like the blazes; literally they feel like they are on fire.  I have stiffness in mainly my hands, elbows, knees, and feet which make most day to day activities difficult to perform.  Luckily, I have been able to make adjustments on how I do most things so that they still get done, just a little slower. 

The change in temperature and humidity seem to bother me the most.  I would like the weather to either be always warm, or always cold.  Cold and rainy one day, hot and humid the next or 30 above during the day dropping to 10 above at night; it is like playing craps at a casino, I never know what to expect with my body.  For example, the other day I baked cookies, went up and down the basement stairs a half dozen times, scrubbed the bathroom top to bottom and felt pretty good.  Today, I can hardly bend one knee, the joints in my fingers are locking up, and I am so fatigued I am heading for a nap as soon as I am finished this blog. 

Even with the temperamental weather, this has been a really good year for me.  I haven't felt this "good" for 14 years.  Sure I have progressive degenerative joint damage and I still have nasty flareups, but a new doctor and a new medication regime seems to have made a huge improvement to the progression and the intensity of this disease.  Overall, my daily pain and discomfort has diminished and I can do so much more and be more active with my kids. 

Fall is now upon us and as I dread the snow banks, the icy roads, and the blizzards that are inevitably coming; my joints are looking forward to the bitter cold and the relief that comes with it.