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megmegshell10 karma

Hey! I was diagnosed with JRA (now I guess JIA) when I was 18 months old, and I'm 22 as well. It's really rare to find someone similar in age who has also had it since they were a kid. I'd love to hear about some of the ways you've found to manage your day to day pain/ increase general comfort.

I've found that after so long with it, I do things subconsciously throughout the day that seem strange to other people - but to me are normal ways to make my life easier. Growing up with chronic pain made it easier to accept the impact of knowing the pain will be there forever. You get a lot of the anger and frustration out of the way when you're younger so you dont let it eat you up like most people who are diagnosed later in life. I feel fortunate to have that sort of experience and insight. I wonder if you feel the same.

I've spent the past couple years working on a document (I jokingly call it the "Veterens guide to chronic pain management"), that combines all the small things that a person with pain or person living with someone in pain can do to make life a little easier. I have a lot of family and friends who have unfortunately been recently diagnosed with one form of chronic pain or another, and I hope that the things I'm documenting will ease the burden that comes with those life changing situations.

For example, all the furniture I own is either on wheels or built for easy movement. Additionally, I have a heated blanket in every room in my house, and one for the car. I get my shoes specifically customized for my feet so I can wear heels to work without spending the day feeling miserable. And the few times I've bought a car, I spent 3 days testing out every car (does it hurt to climb into, will it if I have a flair up, how does the steering wheel feel, I always buy cars with the camera on the back...etc). Sorry if I'm rambling...

Do you have any unique "home remedies" you use? Or special tricks you've learned throughout the years to make your life easier?

(Congrats on the first step in becoming a bionic man!)