Introduction to the Author

About a year ago, I began hiking as a part of earning activity points on my weight loss journey. What I learned from hiking with other people is that my Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) limited me in ways that other people aren't, and by seeking a way to lose weight, I actually found a way to manage my RA.  These posts aren't about my weight loss journey. They are a record of trails in Northwest Georgia that I have been able to successfully navigate despite having RA.

About Me

My name is Lacy Clack. I have Type I Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I had a heart attack in May 2012. This massive vortex of maladies were genetically bestowed upon me by a combination of both birth mother and father, but I should thank my maternal grandfather for the worst of these autoimmune diseases - Diabetes AND RA. Research suggests that these two awful diseases are like peas and carrots and travel in the same pack. Lucky me.

I was diagnosed with TID in 1980, and was diagnosed with RA in 2011. I have suffered with symptoms of RA for as long as I can remember. When I was five, I remember telling my aunt Dot that my legs hurt. Over the years, I blamed joint flares on a myriad of things, but my GP would never test me for RA, stating that I had no reason to be tested. After a shark fishing trip in 2011, I thought I had broken my wrist, and sought the opinion of an Orthopedic Specialist. He knew immediately what my problem was. Six blood tests proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, that I had Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis. Here are the worst:

Sedimentation Rate 56 (Normal is 0-20)
Rheumatoid factor 194 (Normal is 0-30)
CRP 42.6 (Normal is 0-5)
Anti CCP Antibody 412.5 (Normal is 0-4.9) You are reading this one correctly

I take a bunch of medication to keep the flares away:
Enbrel, methotrexate, sulfasalazine, Aleve, and hydrocodone

Although I take all of these, I still hurt. I hurt when I sit, walk, run, sleep. Basically I hurt all the time, but I must keep the momentum going. If I've learned anything in the past year, It's that the exercise, hikes, walks, jogs, all keep me in less pain than if I didn't do anything at all.

I hope this gives inspiration to people who think RA limits them because If I can do it, anyone can.