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Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease. Although diagnosed with osteoarthritis at the age of 24, Joshuanette’ s effervescent, optimistic personality does allow her to wallow in self-pity. Every day, she continues to live her best life in whatever way her disease allows her to, on that day.
When she first received her diagnosis, two years ago, Joshuanette did not fully understand the seriousness of the disease, and continued her life as usual. She did not do the required follow-ups with her doctor, no therapy or exercises, and her eating habits did not change. Now that the disease is taking a toll, affecting the way she operates, she is forced to do what was initially recommended. She is a Principles of Accounting teacher at Antigua’ s All Saints Secondary School and a supervisor at one of Antigua restaurants. Mid-April 2019, she fell while on duty at the restaurant and was placed on two weeks leave. As her knees continued affecting her daily operations, she visited several doctors on the island and in October 2019, travelled to Atlanta, Georgia to visit the Peachtree
Orthopedic Center. Upon her return to Antigua and Barbuda, for a while she adjusted certain aspects of her life, she once took for granted, but once again in December 2019, Joshuanette’ s health played second fiddle, was placed on the back burner and therapy was no longer done. A fall in April 2020, however, finally changed her outlook on this disease she took way too lightly.
According to Mayo Clinic, Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time. It is a degenerative disease, characterized by chronic joint pain and stiffness which can become so severe at times that daily tasks become difficult to accomplish.
Two years after her diagnosis, 26-year-old Joshuanette’ s legs are now constantly swollen, she no longer moves swiftly and walks with a painful limp; can only go sideways down the stairs and lives with the knowledge that there may come a time when she can no longer use her legs and a walker or wheelchair will be her