Deb-EX I have RA and also have osteoporosis and degenerative disc disease, my vertebrae are crumbling and I have a severe scoliosis as a result of that. If it didn't hurt, I cannot imagine what it would be like. I need both of my shoulders replaced but there is no way I am having any surgery that is not absolutely necessary to save my life. When I was first diagnosed, years and years ago, fibromyalgia was just getting recognized. My rheumatologist said he was sure that I had it along with the RA...I asked what I could do and he said...exercise. I wanted to bite his head off, I was smoking then too. I could not imagine how I was supposed to exercise when I was in constant pain. He said it would help, I was determined to prove him wrong and immediately started a regular routine working out. Lo and behold, he was RIGHT. The pain BETWEEN my joints was MUCH better, my joints were not as happy but I kept it up and if I have issues with that kind of pain, I make sure to work out the areas that hurt. Chronic pain is tough, it changes everything about your life. I USED to say I could quit smoking with no issue if I could get the pain under control. It was one of my excuses...once I really paid attention, I was amazed that it did NOTHING for my pain. It MAY have intensified it because of the increased stress and secondary muscle tension and pain. I am completely convinced that there is no good reason to smoke...believe me I tried to find them, LOL. My daughter quit smoking a little over two years ago, she did not come here but she did pay attention to NOPE and the many stories I told her. I am so happy that she is smoke free...when the house burned, she and my granddaughter drove down from NY state to see if there was anything they could do. I was not smoking but she still was, it did not bother me at ALL. The fire was a week and a day before Thanksgiving and the Wednesday before the Holiday, I fell in the yard of the burned house...trying to feed a feral cat who stayed here throughout the fire, the demolition, and the rebuild...he's still here. I knew my shoulders would dislocate if I put my hand out to break the fall so I basically fell on my chest. I broke a rib (I break very easily) and I thought I was having a heart attack a couple of days later. I finally went to the ER and had x-rays and an exam that showed the rib had broken right over my heart so I had likely bruised the heart...it took WEEKS to get better but it did. I think that time in my life absolutely convinced me that smoking was a horrible thing and I did not want anything to do with it. I have enough wrong with my body so I really don't need to make things WORSE.
You are off to a great start and you are going to make it through all of the ups and downs and join the 6% Club....that's when you have a year of smobriety and you become an "elder."
Hugs,
Ellen
