I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. My diagnosis was suspected after a medical history, radiologic evaluation and physical examination. I remember feeling overwhelmed by grief for a few days and then bounced back as quickly as I could. After neglecting what was really going on in my life, I ended up in a curled up ball in my bedroom corner, head buried in my knees, feeling a heavy amount of pain all at once. Humans are amazing, though; we adapt, we heal, we are capable of growing strong.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints. It can affect any joint but occurs most often in knees, hips, lower back and neck, small joints of the fingers and the bases of the thumb and big toe. Osteoarthritis is a chronic