[at-l] Arthritis on the trail

[nealb at midlandstech.edu (William Neal)]

I have had arthritis since I was 12.  At least that's what some of the
doctor's call it.  One doc (a cardio specialist) wanted to call it "Take him
to a shrink" itis.  But a fellow cardio wanted to do exploratory surgery.
But the bone doc and a lady doc, who suffered severly from it, called it
arthritis.  I have always handled it fairly well, but one shoulder is
getting bad.  Etc. Etc.

So I was wondering how other arthritic hikers handle their arthritic
problems; especially on LD hikes.  I suspect there are a lot of us out
there.  And I suspect that since a lot of thru hikers are post 40, arthritis
is a big if minor problem.

William, The Turtle

PS	My friend Wendy (post 30) walks with two poles at times and she's
not a hiker.