My Journey with Osteoarthritis
This is just part of my story—my honest experience living with osteoarthritis. For over 30 years, I’ve endured the ups and downs of joint pain and stiffness in my knees, hands, and spine. The pain can come and go unexpectedly, but what’s truly the hardest to manage is the stiffness. Sitting for long periods often leaves me feeling like my joints are glued together. Some days, walking feels almost normal; then, suddenly, just a few minutes later, I’m overwhelmed by pain.
The key for me has been to try to keep moving despite the pain, swelling, and stiffness. I’ve learned that staying active is crucial, even when it’s uncomfortable. Some days, the pain is intense; other days, it’s manageable. Honestly, I’ve never had a pain-free day in over three decades.
I do my best to eat healthily, knowing it helps, but sometimes, after a particularly long and painful day, convenience food takes over. When flare-ups hit hard, I prioritize survival and comfort over perfect nutrition.
To cope, I meditate, pray, and walk regularly. Even if it takes me longer or brief walks more often. These practices help me stay centered and focused amid the chaos of chronic pain. Volunteering is also a vital part of my life—I focus on helping others because it keeps my mind off myself and reminds me of the bigger purpose beyond the pain.
Living with osteoarthritis in knees, feet, spine, hands the add spondylolethesis and osteonecrosis it is an ongoing challenge, but it’s also taught me resilience, a little more patience, and most importantly the importance of faith. Every day is a new opportunity to choose hope, gratitude, and love—even when the pain tries to define my day.
I also live with osteonecrosis in my knee when I lost blood flow after an injury in 2024
And I have a bilateral pars fracture in my spine that started as spondylolysis.
Spondylolysis also known as a pars defect or pars fracture, is a defect or stress fracture in the pars interarticularis of the vertebral arch and progressed to spondylolethesis after I had a slippage in spine. That pain is always in the background.
The SONK -spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee came from injury- torn medial meniscus tear worst pain ever a flare is something that can make you a different person. It’s so deep so painful it’s not even describable.
Remember September is Chronic Pain Awareness and I am sharing part of my story to raise awareness
Wishing you all a pain free day
Deb
Joint Purpose 
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