by Sandra Piddock

Created on: May 03, 2008

When I was first diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, I went through the usual gamut of fear, anger, and self-pity. Then I got down to the practicalities of finding out more about the condition and manging my life with RA. I enrolled on an Arthritis Self Management Course, run by my local branch of Arthritis Care. The course leaders were all RA sufferers themselves, so I felt that these people were talking from experience, not just text books.

At the first session, we were advised of the benefits of occupational therapy. The way the course leader, Janet, put it was this: 'Forget about what RA has stopped you doing. Think of something, a hobby or a craft or an interest, that you can now do BECAUSE you have RA and you have the time to devote to it.' My hands and wrists were very badly affected, and I could no longer knit, sew or crochet, or even write comfortably. The only things I really wanted to do now that I was no longer tied to a full time job were to write articles and poetry and study for a degree, but I couldn't see a way to achieve it. However, I didn't want to appear to be the wet blanket of the group, so when my turn came, I said, 'I want to write.' Janet was delighted. 'Bring us something you've written next week,' she said.

When I got home, I cursed me and my big mouth. But I also got to thinking about what I would write. When I told my husband what was happening, he went out and bought me a word processor (this was before the days when every home had a PC) so that I could write without too much discomfort. It was a bonus to find that, with the help of a gel wrist support, I could type quite comfortably. My poor stiff fingers were getting the exercise they needed to keep them mobile, and it didn't hurt too much.

My first effort was a humorous poem about my condition. When I read it out, everyone laughed, and I realised the two immediate benefits of occupational therapy. While I was writing, although I was still in pain, I had something else to think about rather than the problems caused by my condition. And when my poem was so well received, I thought, well at least I can make people laugh, so I'm not totally worthless. That's the problem when you suffer from a chronic condition that robs you of the ability to earn your own living. You feel as if you are a waste of space, and that there is no point in your continued existence. When you find something you are good at, something that other people can appreciate,you realise that you can still make a contribution to life and society, and you begin to recover your confidence.

I went on to complete a BA and an MA, and the boost to my confidence was immeasurable. Yes, the body was giving me problems, but the mind was working really well. I felt as if I was controlling my life, not the RA. That's what occupational therapy does for you. It gives you something positive to focus on, and everybody needs that, don't they?

Learn more about this author, Sandra Piddock.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.