I used to be very afraid to get out of bed. When my feet hit the floor, pain shot through my legs like electricity. My knees hurt, my joints creaked, and I walked with a limp. People often made fun of me.
At first, it was just my knees feeling stiff after sitting for a while. I thought it was normal tiredness. But soon, it got worse. The doctors told me I had early arthritis. I was in my late 30s, but I walked like someone much older.
I tried everything – painkillers, creams, therapy – but they only helped for a short time. The pain always returned. My co-workers laughed at how I walked. One even called me “grandpa” in a meeting.
I laughed with them, but it really hurt inside. I started to stay away from people. I stopped trying to date because I thought no one would want to be with someone who winced when standing up.
The last straw was when I didn’t get a promotion… Continue Reading