one more year

Hi all. I was diagnosed with perthes disease in 1988. this leads to osteoarthritis. I have had a triple pelvic osteotomy, replaced right hip, spasms ripped the trochanter off the femur, nerve damage, nerve deliberately severed to stop the neuropathy, massive scar tissue throughout both sets of quads due to a sports accident, and am finally wheelchair bound. I came from a career of fire service and ems for 27 yrs so I wasn't as afraid of the terms being thrown at me in the beginning. the first specialist to diagnose my condition grabbed a pamphlet off his bookcase and actually threw it at me saying " read this and weep because this is as good as you're ever going to be". nice bedside manners, not.
I went though a divorce, follwed by the loss of my father. 4 months later my younger brother died and 4 months after that my best friend of 20 yrs passed away. I inherited his son and raised him for 5 years while getting scammed by his mother to the tune of $25,000. I guess owning 4 houses and pulling down 200K/yr wasn't enough for her. amazing what alcohol can do to a family? at least one of the boys from my friend has a chance at life, which the oldest one didn't after he lived with her and the new boyfriend for 2 years he hung himself in her garage.
I used to take neuronton and lots of morphine each day and as of today there's no neurontin and I've cut the morphine by 82%. I'm in the process (fight) with the insurance co for an electric wheelchair and after 5 months still haven't satisfied the forms they want. they were to cover 80% of the chair. I submitted the estimate in aug which was $21,550 and they replied in oct that they would pay $9700. must be a new math? they made this discision without contacting me, my physician, or my OT. I am stuck in my home without this chair and I fully intend to file complaints with every organization that will give negative publicity to this insurance co once I have wheels to do so.
I wanted all of this in here for my first post because its new years eve and I want to put all the negative aspects behind me for 07. I know what stress does to exacerbate the OA and I want a clean slate for next year.
happy new years to you all.

I want to welcome to HW,We are glade to have you and like yalinda I have not heard of this typ of arthritis but intend to ediucate (sp)my self.I do hope that you get the Insurance to pay for your chair.I was in a whellchair for a year and my insurance was giving me h***but I finally got one.i wish you and please do continue to post here.