Valerie Martel doesnB次元官网网址檛 play her piano much anymore; her left wrist becomes inflamed and the pain is too great.
But thatB次元官网网址檚 not her least favourite part about living with arthritis B次元官网网址� whatB次元官网网址檚 worse is that her daughter and granddaughter live with it, too.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a dubious distinction to be three generations who have some form of inflammatory arthritis,B次元官网网址� Martel said. B次元官网网址淎nd thereB次元官网网址檚 great misconception that itB次元官网网址檚 just a disease for older people.B次元官网网址�
She experienced joint inflammation for most of her life before being diagnosed last year. She knew how to deal with the flare-ups, and could get by.
B次元官网网址淚 treated them, and my physicians treated them as bush fires,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut that changed last year.B次元官网网址�
Martel was diagnosed with with psoriatic arthritis, but because of other health conditions she could no longer take the anti-inflammatory medications she had relied on for years. However, she was more concerned about her granddaughter, Beatrice Compton, who had been diagnosed at age two with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
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B次元官网网址淎t first, doctors thought she had a broken arm,B次元官网网址� Martel said. B次元官网网址淏ut after a month they took off her cast and her wrist was still red and swollen.B次元官网网址�
Compton, now 10, takes a heavy medication called methotrexate, which is also used in chemotherapy, to keep her symptoms down. Martel, too, expects to be taking it eventually.
On Sunday (June 2), the symptoms will take a back seat to helping find better solutions, as Martel and her family take part in the annual Walk for Arthritis. Held in 45 communities across Canada, the walk raises money for the Arthritis Society. Since its inception over $10 million has been raised.
The Victoria walk gets underway at 10 a.m. at Selkirk Green Park and new B.C. Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin will be taking part. For more information visit .
