About Me  

Hello my name is Deb and welcome to my blog, “Chronically Grateful Me ”

http://www.ChronicallyGratefulDebla.com

and

avascularnecrosiseducation.com

I am turning my pain into purpose. I am a patient leader and for 8 years a member of Wego Health part of the Social Health Network. And the past 2 years an Arthritis Foundation Advocate,Volunteer and Connect Group facilitator.

I started this blog in 2015 after trying to find answers to some questions I had that seemed to be ignored nor just were dismissed after being diagnosed in November 2014 with Avascular Necrosis aka Osteonecrosis in my right knee.

I am not a stranger to joint pain because at about the age of 34ish, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in knees, hands and also told I had arthritis in my back.

By far the Osteonecrosis was the most debilitating joint pain I have ever experienced.

Frustrated with being treated like I was crazy or exaggerating my pain and not being able to find a doctor willing to help me, and often many didn’t know how to help which was even more frustrating,I turned to blogging as an outlet.

I also really put my time into research to find someone, who could treat my Osteonecrosis other than waiting for my knee to collapse and then replace the knee. I was only 51 at the time of my diagnosis.

This lead me to start a support group that has grown from 25 people in the USA to over 1600 and worldwide. Because if I was feeling this lost and frustrated, so were others.

My goal with this blog is to help others who maybe feel alone once diagnosed with a chronic condition.

To help provide them with support and help empower them to find answers, and know there is always hope.

This blog is to raise awareness about Arthritis , Osteoarthritis , Osteonecrosis , Spondylolisthesis Hashimoto-Thyroiditis, Factor V Leiden and MTHFR and living with chronic pain.

There is no magic cure, no pill or oil that can cure anything I have. The treatments that worked and didn’t work for me , may help or not help you.

Every person is unique and how we experience pain is different.

There is no single technique or approach to managing these symptoms, but we have to keep track of what does work and make ourselves a toolbox. This toolbox is to help us manage our lives a bit better.

I also want Osteonecrosis aka Avascular Necrosis to be brought out of the shadows, so my goal is by November 2023 to have all 50 state’s recognize Osteonecrosis also known as Avascular Necrosis so it can have its nationwide awareness day.

Some states have adopted it as November 29 It’s a slow process, but I keep working towards it.

Often times a diagnosis like Avascular Necrosis aka Osteonecrosis have seemed to have fallen through the cracks for way to long. So often mis-diagnosed. So many times times there are underlying causes.

Some doctors heard of know about it from books and that is about it

Well my goal is to make it front and center.

I want to help find answers, find research and have more treatment options for people worldwide.

Anyone can end up with Osteonecrosis from small child to the elderly, and in this blog and in my other blog

avascularnecrosiseducation.com

I will post what I can as I learn it.

I will also post on other topics.

So thanks for stopping by.

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Much Love

Deb