My kids are always telling me I should get outside and walk more.
I have systemic arthritis and sometimes every bone and joint in my body feels like someone is hitting me with a hammer.
It is so painful that the only thing making me feel better is a hot shower and snuggling under an electric blanket. When my furnace died, my daughter wanted me to stay with her for a while. It was so cold in her house that I could barely walk. She tried to tell me I would never get warm if I didn’t get up and get my blood circulating. She didn’t have a clue what I was going through. I took her with me the next time I went to the rheumatologist. I mentioned to him how much it hurt to walk, and how the cold makes it that much more difficult. My daughter made mention that she suggested i walk more and get my blood circulating and the doctor gave her an odd look. He said he hoped she never got arthritis like I had. He showed her my feet and said that was what made walking difficult. The type of arthritis I had caused the muscles to seize when I got cold. It was already hard to walk, but nearly impossible when it was too cold in the house. All the walking in the world wouldn’t get me warm, but only cause more pain. My daughter never said another disparaging word about me being under a blanket all day. I remembered being her age and not having arthritis, and I prayed every night that she would never get arthritis.