I am 33 yr old single mom. I am now going having to file for SSI because I can no longer work. I have two different forms or maybe its the same thing just two different diagnosis, I have Gout and Degenerative Arthritis in the Spine or Osteoarthritis in the Spine. I have had Gout for about 5 yrs but it was only diagnosised last year. I used to wear hand braces because I was in so much pain. Well, I found out that because of the Low Carb diet I was on for 3 1/2 yrs that I was consuming the very triggers to my Gout: Pork, Beef and Turkey. So, I am now eating only chicken, which I am very close to becoming a complete 'dietary vegetarian'. Well, I'm now having numbness in my hands again.

So, then in Feb. I started having pain in my back to the point that I was bent over. So, I went to the doctor and he kept trying to figure it out. They took blood and found that I had some type of virus and that certain things in my blood were elevated. So, I took the pills and felt better but my back was never the same. And the pain started creeping back to the point that I could barely bend down, sit up etc. So they diagnosised me with Degenerative Arthritis of the spine. I have an 11 yr old daughter who is helping me with some things around the house because I can't do certain things. I know that this won't get any better and I'm starting to worry about my future. Anyone else dealing with arthritis???

I have chronic inflammatory arthritis, however, I don't need SSD because my husband makes sure I don't have to work. There are all sorts of on-line support groups for people with arthritis. They are worthwhile to join.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

Do you know of any I can join? I am also dealing with the fact that I now have to have a biopsy to determine whether I have breast cancer as well. Hopefully the three masses will be benign. But my immediate concern is the fact that I can barely move around.

I have it inmy back and usually take Ibuprooehn for it but now I cannot take any.

I also am surrounded by it! my dad has it severly and my oldest dd her best friend has it (she is 8 years old) plus youngest dd has a friend who has it as well (she is 6) this girl is also a very good family friend!! I have been thru her family with this all along as she was diagnosed when she was 2 and we were one of the ones that they came to!!
so like I said I know way too much!

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Kelly mom to 3 great girls

Wow, at two...wow. That's way too young, I know it can appear at any age but still...wow.

Whats bad is that my daughter is feeling burdened because their are days I can barely stand up and move around, so she has to grab this for me and that, and cook this or nuke that and pick up this and she feels like its too much pressure on her...she's 11. She doesn't have a choice though, its just the two of us.