Many people ask: How do I manage to undertake daily activities when there's nobody around to help me?
Well if you lived your whole life in pain and having to find other ways to do the 'simple' daily tasks, when you get older and can sometimes be alone during these times you find away very early on.
For example. I keep all my sneakers (don't like calling them running shoes, as I don't run) with the laces tied up for easy accessibility. Socks on the other hand are much harder, If I need to wear socks for the day I have to ask someone before they head out for the day to do it for me. Besides sneakers and socks I have many shoes, like most females but they all have one thing in common. If I can't put them on alone, then I don't buy them. This is hard sometimes as I can see a pair of shoes in a store and just want to wear them, but know that due to my Juvenile Arthritis it's just not possible.
Another problem is brushing my hair and teeth when my elbows are swollen up like balloons and are stiff as wood. This is where my opposite hand comes in handy. It may take a lot longer to undertake this simple task, but it has to be done.
As many of you know I used to attend swimming lessons every Tuesday. Since my Juvenile Arthritis hip problem that will never go away. Not sure what I'm talking about? Click here. Swimming is another activity that I find hard. My legs due to my right hip aren't strong enough to push me along in the water, so now if I'm swimming my arms have to do all the work. This has it's problems too, as my elbow and wrists joints then are more likely to become swollen.
I hope by now you have realised that nearly everything I undertake always has another effect. Sometimes good other times bad, but always related to my Juvenile Arthritis.
People think that Arthritis only effects the elderly, which in fact it doesn't.
People also think that Arthritis only effects your joints. It doesn't.
There's a flow on effect that I have lived and will continue to live for the rest of my life.
This is happening and happens to 1 in 1000 Children just like me in Australia.
Got a burning question you just want to ask me? Please send me a message through Ask Sarah on the Kids Arthritis Australia website.
Living with severe Juvenile Arthritis has it's problems.
Never ending pain, stiffness that just doesn't go away, constant reliant on medication, I could go on..
Driving is one of those things that most people take for granted.
Need more milk or bread? Just jump in the car and drive to the shops.
Got to pick up your friends from the work function? Just jump in the car and pick them up.
In the above two scenarios I've mentioned two of the problems I have l have living with Juvenile Arthritis.
You can never just "jump in the car' to get something. If having Juvenile Arthritis was that easy you'd all want it. Especially at night time it's the hardest.
Driving to and from my weekly radio show is a problem I have especially during the winter months, as by the end of the show it's pitch black!
Living in a small country town doesn't make it any easier due to the lack of public transport, sorry, no public transport at hours that anyone would want to use it.
I'm very lucky to have some sight in my left eye and each time I drive I'm grateful for the privilege.
What were you doing at 17 years of age?
Had you finished school? Were you dating your current partner? Annoying your siblings? or all of the above?
At age 17 I asked my mother if she would take me to the Australian Institute of Fitness in Adelaide to apply for study.
This was a HUGE shock to my family, as I'd always despised exercise due to the pain of it all and the lack of motivation due to it. I could understand and control my Juvenile Arthritis more by this age and wanted to learn how to help others through health and fitness.
Sure enough we headed from the Adelaide Hills to the big smoke, hopped on the new Adelaide trams (for the Adelaide residents among you) and headed to the Institute. After a few hours we walked out and I was accepted to gain a Health and Fitness Qualification.
Due to completing Year 11 and 12 at the time, I had to take on the study as part of my SACE. This was a challenge as not only did I need to juggle school subjects, but this qualification and my Juvenile Arthritis.
During the study there was many practical parts involving intense exercise, but I always managed to complete and pass just in my own little Sarah's Way. If you have a child living with Juvenile Arthritis, you know what I'm talking about.
12 months later I was a qualified health and fitness specialist.
At age 18 years my first job was at a local gym and from there I began my own business. This was a fun and rewarding experience. I met many people with different goals out of life and this was always the best part. People would come to me with all walks of life. I ran many weekly exercise classes, even one in a Pub. Many days were spent in my gym creating personalised programs and making memories with everyone who walked through the door.
Earlier this year it became a little too much running a small business (that wasn't quite small anymore) and a large national organisation. After 6 years in the industry I focused more on Kids Arthritis Australia.
People who have read my other posts would know that each day I exercise with heavy weights, as it's the most effective, natural way to help the Juvenile Arthritis stiffness and pain to cease for the day.
Don't get me wrong some days it's just too much to exercise, but you'll still find me battling on lifting those weights to make the day that little bit easier.
Another problem is brushing my hair and teeth when my elbows are swollen up like balloons and are stiff as wood. This is where my opposite hand comes in handy. It may take a lot longer to undertake this simple task, but it has to be done.
