ARTHRiTiS SUCKS! A.S. HLA-B27 Since 1988- Edit B
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Genre: Social Awareness Photography - Fine Art.
Series: "ARTHRITIS SUCKS!"
Self Portrait.
Notes: Tattoos on my hand giving details: The first one is obvious, "Arthritis SUCKS!" Especially when you started getting it when you are in your early 20's. A.S. (Ankylosing Spondylitis) usually hits young men in their late teens or early 20's.
I was diagnosed with A.S. when I was 23 years old (in 1988), but I knew there was something wrong with my joints before that. "HLA-B27" is the genetic marker that makes someone more prone to AS and other autoimmune diseases referred to as the "seronegative spondyloarthropathies".
That's my Fina Acoustic Electric Guitar, and anyone who has Arthritis and plays guitar will know how painful maintaining fine finger dexterity can be at times. Any activity where flexibility and dexterity are important is a major issue for the "Arthritic."
So, this image, and my FUSION photo, are my contributions to the Public Service of sharing some "knowledge" and "experiences" with Arthritis and A.S.
One common misconception that many people have is that Arthritis is a disease of the really, really, incredibly aged....Ah, well, that just isn't the case with some types of Arthritis.
Maybe I'll continue this "ARTHRITIS SUCKS!" Series as ideas click in my mind.
Comments
A really well thought and beautiful composed
shot. I somtimes think about what will
happen, when I loose one or my favorite
habilities and these are the moments when you
are thankful for been still healthy.
But you have a great posibility to express
yourself as we can see here!
Posted 8 months ago.
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This is a brilliant photo, really meaningful
too! well done for persisting through.
Posted 8 months ago.
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La Salsera and Anyes : Thank you very much. Indeed, once health
becomes an issue for you (in one form or
another), it will affect other aspects of
your life. Being thankful for health is an
amazing thing...Even with all that has
happened, I too am grateful for everything I
can still do, and I still persist onwards
(with the help of meds some days, LOLOL), so
I can do the things that I love doing.
Translating into a photograph, a disease
that you can't really see on the outside of
your body is difficult. A.S. and some other
forms of Arthritis may not always be visibly
apparent, but the pain is horrible when there
are flareups.
My posture, the inclusion of my guitar (very much tougher to play with hand flareups ) and the tattoos were the best ingredients
to tell my story, and how I feel about
Arthritis. Maybe I'm just being stubborn and
don't want to "embrace my inner
Arthritis" (LMAOBT), but it's quite
clear - "ARTHRiTis SUCKS!"
Posted 8 months ago.
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Wonderful pic...I am 19 and I may have
AS....right now I just have undiff. spondy.
I go back to my pediatric rheum in dec...i
hope to get on some drugs. I took metho and
Enbrel for 5 months with no help at all. I
am desperate for anything! Good luck!
Posted 8 months ago.
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Hi Britta. I totally understand what you are
experiencing. Thank you for the review of my
photo. A lot of life with AS, and other
types of Arthritis is "maintenance"
- and that's a tough one. Doctors tell me
that AS "burns" itself out after
time...I'm still trying to figure that one
out: I think they mean, it gets to a certain
point of hideousness and then, it stops
getting any worse at that point...not sure.
Good luck!
Posted 8 months ago.
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This is truly creative - it packs a punch.
--
Seen in my contacts' photos. (? )
Posted 8 months ago.
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Thank you Tengtan! Much appreciated.
Posted 8 months ago.
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as a member of the ilustrious Arthritis
sufferers group I agree....arthritis does
suck!!!!!
Posted 5 months ago.
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Thank you Mysparetimedesign - too bad we are
not members of a better (less painful) club!
Posted 5 months ago.
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I like how you've made something ugly
beautiful. RA since I was 20 (though my
diagnosis has changed from rheumy to rheumy
through the years). I'm also a former
pianist. Soooooo maybe I should make
something beautiful, too. Thanks for the
inspiration.
xoxo
Posted 4 months ago.
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Thank you so much, Spolombian! There's
beauty out there everywhere. I'm positive
you will create something amazing.
Posted 4 months ago.
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I am 23 and I have rheumatoid arthritis. It
also sucks.
Posted 3 months ago.
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I totally understand Libby!
Posted 3 months ago.
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Interesting and creative! Great work!
Posted 3 months ago.
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Thanks Linda!
Posted 3 months ago.
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