12/10/2024
☽ WORLD ARTHRITIS DAY☽
Today is World Arthritis Day.
I’ve never spoken about this on social media, but I’ve lived with Psoriatic Arthritis for almost 14 years, most of my adult life. There’s been ups and downs, flare ups and remission, drugs, cortisone shots, side effects, gadgets, physio, therapies the list goes on.
Around a third of the UK population live with an MSK condition (Versus Arthritis, 2024). Arthritis isn’t just an older person’s disease, many young adults and children live with the disease.
You might be thinking “What does this have to do with acupuncture?!” and you’d be right in thinking that. I’m not sharing this for sympathy, I’m sharing as my own health challenges (migraine then arthritis) introduced me to acupuncture and ultimately changed my life and career.
I may not have experienced the same struggles as many of my clients, but through my own health and autoimmune disease, I’ve explored lots of different treatments over the years, nutrition, functional medicine, counselling, acupuncture and western medicine and I believe that it’s a combination of all these that have helped my arthritis become well managed. This has allowed me to start running again and go hiking. I didn’t make a tourist Parkrun today, but there’s always next time!
For now Arthur (yes my arthritis has a name!!) and I continue to tolerate each other. I’m the driver, he’s in the back seat along for the ride.
If you’re struggling with arthritis and pain, know you’re not alone 🤗
Much love,
Annabel & Arthur ✨