Diagnosis: Rheumatoid Arthritis

The diagnosis is now official. The 26 blood tests, the x-rays, and the MRI all agree with the doctor's supposition: I have rheumatoid arthritis, it is most likely an after-effect of the Lyme disease, and it's anybody's guess as to whether it's temporary/recurring, or permanent. My joints are as stiff as a board any time I sit still for more than about 10 minutes. My hands are so involved that my right hand is actually deformed when I close my fingers. The doctor said I've lost about 40% of my gripping strength, and about 40% of my movement in my legs, arms, and almost 50% mobility in my back. The totally ironic thing is, I contracted this IN MY OWN BACK YARD! I hike the world over. Even as a mid-fifties old geezer with a round pot-belly and asthma, I do a lot of walking. I walk all over towns and villages when I go to Europe. I hike all over in the woods -- from Ashdowne Forest in England, to the Black Forest in Germany, to the Ardennes in France and Belgium. As you can see from the posts on this blog over the last couple of years, I hike Yosemite, I hike Yellowstone, I hike Sequoia and Kings Canyon, I hike Denali in Alaska, I hike the Everglades and Okeefenokee, I hike all up and down the Appalachian Trail, I hike the wilderness trails in the Geo. Washington National Forest and Shsenandoah National Parks. Then, while mowing grass in MY OWN BACK YARD I pick up a tick which I never saw. And get Lyme disease. If I had the vocabulary worthy of a Marine sergeant, now is the time I'd be using some of it. The doctor wants me to keep walking and keep doing physical therapy. He says that if I let the stiffness slow me down, my joints will freeze up completely. So he's recommending pain killers and anti-inflammatory stuff. Sheesh. Just when I think my asthma is over (now that the cat passed away last June), this kicks in. As the wise beaver said, when he saw the stream ....