Andy Pendergrass matured in rural Louisiana as a very active and athletic kid. Constantly looming in the back of his mind was the truth that both his mom and maternal granny had rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Pendergrass understood that his household history indicated his opportunities of having the autoimmune illness were greater than average, however he rejected the possibility.
“I played football in high school, so something constantly injured,” Pendergrass, 33, states. Even if he had had an idea that it may be RA, “I would have simply stated ‘I’m a man. Men do not get it …’ and simply sort of generalized it like that.”
At age 23, Pendergrass lastly found out that he, too, had RA. The roadway to his medical diagnosis was barely easy or simple. Pertaining to terms with his condition wasn’t simple, either.
Pendergrass now thinks his RA signs turned up much previously, in high school. That’s when he saw discomfort that appeared “odd.” Still, he chalked up the signs to plantar fasciitis, a kind of heel discomfort typical amongst those who play extreme sports.
It wasn’t till Pendergrass visited his physician with an extreme sinus infection that he looked for medical attention for his foot discomfort. The physician, Pendergrass states, concurred it may be plantar fasciitis, “’til I discussed that it was truly bad in my toes.”
Mindful that RA ran in Pendergrass’s household, the medical professional bought blood tests. A number of days later on, the physician contacted us to verify a medical diagnosis for RA and referred Pendergrass to a rheumatologist.
The rheumatologist, nevertheless, informed Pendergrass that his signs didn’t come from RA however from flat feet.
The brand-new decision left Pendergrass deeply puzzled. “I have actually huge arches in my feet, so it was strange,” he states.
At the time, Pendergrass was preparing yourself to transfer to Alaska with his brand-new spouse, Polly. He didn’t have time to arrange through the contrasting medical diagnoses. “I chose not to trouble with the discomfort and put it off.”
It was just later on when Pendergrass relocated to Missouri, and as his joint discomfort continued, that he chose