Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Stopflares 10/19/2011

My very beautiful and sylish daughter-in-law several years ago introduced a new word into my vocabulary. It is "cankles", meaning ankles that do not taper down to the foot. When my ankles started swelling due to RA, I perfectly understood the word. They remind me of the fragrance candles which I put out on my tables on festive occasions...no taper! My cankles aren't as romantic but to call them by this term always makes me laugh at myself. Being light hearted assists me with coping.

ncgranny62 10/19/2011

"Cankles." Yep, I've got them, too.

Hugs,
Frances

Stopflares 10/19/2011

Frances, I think we've got a lot in common, including cankles and wonderful grandchildren.

deleted_user 10/19/2011

Yep! Cankles are the "in" thing in RA circles!

deleted_user 10/19/2011

I feel left out. The ankles are the one joint I never get hit in. Maybe it was the severe sprain I had skiing in 1968. There is probably too much OA damage to make the RA bother with the ankles.

deleted_user 10/19/2011

Strange because I noticed over the weekend that I have them too, and I was diagnosed on Monday, so it was before I even knew I had RA, but I definitely noticed them and wondered what was going on.

"Cankles" - I believe is a word made up by John Madden during MNF several years back, when he grew bored and began circling :) (we live for football in my house)

deleted_user 10/19/2011

It's a cross between a "calf" and an "ankle" - I believe Madden was poking fun at an offensive lineman

ncgranny62 10/20/2011

Remember the good old days when men swooned over a "well-turned ankle?" Nowadays I swoon when I turn over a swollen ankle. It's well-turned all right.

Stopflares, yes, grandchildren are truly one of life's greatest rewards. I love my two teenage grandsons. I could do some serious bragging with the least bit of encouragement. Lol. I'm sure you could, too.

Hugs to all my fellow "canklers."

Stopflares 10/20/2011

Not being a football fan, I didn't know the origin of " cankles", but it is a perfect description, isn't it? Thanks to all you other canklers; well stated! On some good days, I can even see what used to be my ankles.

deleted_user 10/20/2011

Stopflares, you are so cool!

deleted_user 10/20/2011

I'm pretty sure I was born with cankles! :) RA just added more to the fun!

Hope everyone's cankles are pain free today!
Kellie

deleted_user 10/20/2011

yOU ALL HAVE "c\CANKLES" AND I HAVE "CRANKLES" MY ANKLES CRACK WHEN THEY MOVE..

LynnRivers 10/20/2011

I was glad to realize that my "cankles" weren't from my weight. When I notices I had them I thought it was just fat... turns out that it was just Edema - swelling from the RA or Prednisone. I'm better under control now and don't have it regularly - noticed recently during a 2 weeks taper of Prednisone that they had come back.

Guess that's another good reason not to take the Prednisone regularily!

Stopflares 10/20/2011

Still chuckling over NativeNewYorker's "Crankles". When I first read it, I laughed out loud and scared my cat away. This is out first cooler, clear Fall day in Orlando and I spent some time with the youngest grandchildren, so damn the cankels, full speed ahead! My twin grandchildren got their report cards from parochial school and the boy (kindergarten) has a "needs improvement" on praying. That gave me a huge laugh too. I wish a good laugh for each of you today!

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