As many of you know I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and while this disease is only a small part of who I am, it does often interfere with the life I’ve imagined for myself. Take last week, for example, when the pain and swelling in my knees flared up, and I realized that I would be doing my knees a favor if I dug out the cane.

My main frustration with using a cane is how it slows me down. I don’t know if it’s just the awkwardness of having one more point of contact with the ground, or if it’s the sense that I have an extra limb to manage. (more…)