fear is a huge part of the process. To suffrer from chronic pain is hard. Not knowing why is hard because you can't get the right help. But there is hope. Hope that when the docs finally figure out what you have you will get better. You almost hope for a magic pill.
Being diagnosed with arthritis is a process. Now you have to come to terms with the fact that you have a progressive degenerative disease. You will get worse (espec w/out treatment), and the end stage is not a pretty picture. You have to accept that you will be in pain for the rest of your life.
It's scary, but there is a zen state that happens from accepting the disease and working with it and with limitations.
lord knows i still have periods of denial because you just get so sick of being sick
communication helps
chin up
-Vans
