What's In A Name? The Mysteries of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The mysteries of rheumatoid arthritis are as vast as the number of people who suffer from it. From a very 'statistical' perspective, the numbers are staggering. Inn 2005, 1 in 3 people were diagnosed with either RA or osteoarthritis. There aren't any clear numbers since that time, but by all accounts, the numbers do seem to be growing. Kids get it. Young adults get it. Women are more prone than men. But it doesn't seem to have anything to do with ethnicity. At least that's what the MDs say. It's also the #1 cause of disability in the United States. From an economic standpoint, whether from missed work, inability to work or the need for Social Security benefits (due to inability to work), the cost is well over 47 BILLION DOLLARS. And that was 4 years ago. What those numbers look like now is anyone's guess. But...these are 'statistics' and are based on information from the medical community, so one must take all this with a grain of salt.

From another perspective, what if we scratched all the data and western med stuff and looked at this condition from a more...'big picture' place? What's really going on here? Why does a person's body 'attack' itself? Why would your joints suddenly become so inflamed as to immobilize you completely? And, perhaps most importantly, how does one rearrange their body's reactions and eliminate this excruciating dis-ease?

If we approach from this perspective, the question "what's in a name?" could have great repercussions. Even the word 'disease' looks differently when spelled 'dis-ease'. Because isn't that what it really is? The human body is fully equipped to heal itself. It's been proven over and over and over, to the point where those of us who no longer utilize western medicine (methods) already know that anything is 'curable'. We know how to mend bones and eliminate anxiety and even rid the body of cancer. People do it all the time. We just don't hear about it unless we're looking for it. GodForbid the drug companies and surgeons let this one out of the bag! That just wouldn't do, would it?

We know the truth, which is why we choose Alternative Medicine in the first place. We know the truth.

So I got to thinking about this whole 'what's in a name' thing today after someone asked me what was "wrong" with me. I was having a bit of a challenge climbing the stairs and she noticed, which prompted the question. I laughed and said, "there's nothing wrong with me. My body just wants me to take my time right now." The look on her face was one of complete puzzlement. I knew there were about 50 other questions coming, and, not wishing to go down that road I quickly said, "listen. Every body has a way of sending messages. I wasn't paying attention to mine, so my body took massive action to make sure I would. Now I'm just catching up. That's it."

The moment I said it, I felt this really strong tingling run through my body. I realized just how true what I'd just said was. I also realized that even though it confused the woman asking the question it was as correct a statement as I'd made since the beginning of this crazy ride. My body was definitely telling me that because the tingling didn't stop for quite a while after I'd uttered the words.

Later on, I was still marveling at what had happened and I thought about how the 'name' of said dis-ease has affected me over the past 2 years. Firstly, I never, ever believed the diagnosis. For a whole lot of reasons. It not only didn't make sense, it also didn't feel right. Again, lots of reasons, which I'll spare you for now. Point is, I never believed it and still don't. I knew right from the start that this was temporary and absolutely 'curable'. I still believe it. But the naming...the whole "RA" thing? It stops people in their tracks. My younger sister had a look of complete terror in her eyes when she heard it. And she's the scientist in the family. Just seeing the terror in her eyes made me wonder what I didn't know that she did. But I dismissed it...and went on my merry way determined to find the imbalance I'd created to allow this dis-ease to surface. And from then on, I did my best to 'rename' it...for my own good.

I came up with quite a few...and they've changed many times over the course of this journey.

RA....
Residual Anger
Rage AtLarge
Rampant Anger
Repressed Anger
Reckless Abandonment (one of my faves)
Realized Autonomy
Restless Artista
Real Awareness

And a host of others, depending on the moment. The point is, by renaming this malady I have slowly begun to heal myself without the use of nasty drugs or pain killers. Meditation in lieu of medications. Joyful focus in lieu of fear. Appreciation in lieu of dread. All these things have brought me closer to being the Whole Being that I know I am. And the road I've chosen to take has opened me to more of my Self, my Joy and the power of Being.

I would not trade it for anything. And I truly believe that each dis-ease we encounter comes to us for a large and immeasurable purpose. Soon, very soon, the pain will be a distant memory. When that day comes, the lessons will remain, held as treasures in a life that has begun to unfold more beautifully than I could ever have imagined.

Now you see what's in a name, yes?