For Our Family & Friends

So, you have a loved one with arthritis. I don?t envy you; sometimes we aren?t the easiest people to live with. I?ve had experiences on both sides of the fence, I know what it is like to love someone with arthritis, and know what it is like to live with arthritis.

My grandmother had severe rheumatoid arthritis. There were many times that she was almost impossible to live with it. She was often a bitter and angry person. I just thought it was her personality to be that way. But now that I have inherited her orthopedic shoes, I know that she was in severe pain much of the time and probably very angry at the disease for taking so much way from her. A little understanding from myself and the rest of the family would have gone a long way in easing some of that anger. I don?t blame her at all for being the way she was. I often look to the sky and send her a silent apology when I find myself acting just like her.

In this section we hope to help you understand what feelings your loved is experiencing and what you can do to help him. With a little insight and understanding, life might be better for all of us. We like to hear the other side of the story, let?s hear your perspective on loving someone with arthritis. Click here to send your story to us.

Rosie's Significant Other Spot This Spot is for partners, friends, spouses, parents, siblings, kids and anyone with a close relationship with an arthritic.	Loving Someone With Arthritis-Tracey's Story Tracey shares the difficulties of loving someone with arthritis.
We say... Find out what your loved one wants you to know.	Web of Care's 21 Guidelines to Caregiving Remember to take care of yourself!
Questions from Friends & Family The place for the ones on the "other side" to ask for advice.
Sylvia's Letter to Her Loved Ones What a great way to educate your family and friends.	An Open Letter to Our Loved Ones Some of the things we want to say to you but just can't find the words.
Loving Someone With Arthritis-Jodie's Story Jodie's Mum is a very lucky lady!	Loving Someone With Arthritis-Jill's Story Jill's friend is awful lucky.
Thanks to Our Loved Ones A place for those of us with arthritis to publicly thank our family and friends for their support. Sometimes we don't say it often enough!	Links Whether you?re a spouse, a co-worker, a caregiver, a parent or a friend, trying to understand arthritis is difficult when you don?t have it. Here are some helpful links.
The Fatigue Factor Try to understand...please.