Arthritis Insight-Member Stories-Chuck

My name is Chuck Jones and at the tender age of thirty something I found out
that I had rheumatoid arthritis. I found out the hard way. I used to teach
squash, tennis and racquetball at an athletic club. After I was passed over
for the head position. I decided to move to where I knew there were many new jobs because of legalized gaming. I came to New Jersey and after I had my first job as a change person my hands started to hurt. After three months,
my wrists both swelled up, and I could hardly walk. I ended up having to
leave the job because I did not know what was wrong. Not knowing any doctors in the area I just browsed through the yellow pages and found a doctor. The man was an endocrinologist. He proceeded to refer me to a rheumatologist. The rheumatologist took some blood tests and confirmed that I had rheumatoid arthritis. It was at this point that I found out that both of my hips were completely destroyed. It was bone rubbing against bone, as a matter of fact I used to crack when I walked. The pain was unbearable. He referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. After I went to see this man I was convinced that indeed there was hope for me to walk again. I went into the hospital and had both of my hips replaced. I had one done one week and the other one done the next week. The first operation was quite painful even after the anesthetic wore off. Once I got over the pain the second operation went smooth as silk. As a matter of fact after the doctor finished the second operation and I came out of the anesthetic I questioned him about whether or not he had taken everything out that he needed. He looked at me in a puzzled kind of way. It was then that I told him that I just was not used to being this free of pain. It is now fifteen years later and now I have found that I must go back into the hospital because the prosthetic has become loose. Fortunately this is just on my left side and at this time the right side is still in good working order. People were surprised to know that I have two hip replacements, but as we all know with this type of disease surgery is an option that we all might have to consider. Once I recovered the only things that the doctor did not want me to do were naturally the things enjoyed the most. No more running, no more tennis, no more racquetball. The fact that I could now walk without pain made this just a matter of putting my best foot forward and going on with life. I consider myself fortunate to still be able to do the things I do. Do I get frustrated, YES, do I get angry, YES, but the final
question is do I believe in myself and to that the answer is a resounding
YES! This is my story and although it is still ongoing it is current and it
is definitely REAL.