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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