Fight the Fusion 2021 DAY ONE

 Good evening! 

Welcome to DAY ONE of Fight the Fusion 2021. 

Today we are featuring one of our wonderful raffle prizes available to be won - a beautiful photo of the Northern Lights, taken right here in Alberta, by JBĀR Photography. The picture of the photo does not do it justice. It is gorgeous - it captures various colours, with the bright stars, and the landscape. 

This is one of two pictures featured as raffle prizes this year by this photographer. 

The Northern Lights

23"x17" Frame

Tonight I also shared a few yoga poses on livestream that help keep my spine and SI joints moving, mobile, and releasing some of that tension. Click here to check out the video. 

REMEMBER - all you have to do to get your name in to win one of these raffle prizes is:

1. Share a photo of you engaging in some kind of physical activity. Each day during the Fight the Fusion week is another opportunity to get your name in - up to 8 entries! It doesn't matter WHAT you do, as long as it gets you up and moving around! Make sure to use the hashtag #FightTheFusion on social media, and follow @lightersideofmedicine on Instagram. 

2. For five extra entries, follow the sponsors listed on my Fight the Fusion Instagram posts. 

3. For ten extra entries, make a donation of $15 or more to Arthritis Research Canada, either directly (and pm me a receipt) or through my KarissaDianeTunes paypall (which is a charity paypal account). All money received will go to Arthritis Research Canada at the end of the campaign. 

Enjoy yourself, learn a little bit about all the different types of arthritis, show off your active lifestyle (even if it is a simple stretch in the morning to help you get out of bed), and enter to win some fantastic prizes!

Fight the Fusion 2021

That time of year is coming up NEXT WEEK!! 

On Tuesday, April 27th, the 8 day Fight the Fusion week starts. 

Fight the Fusion is all about bringing awareness to arthritic conditions, including Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Juvenile Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and any other arthritis related conditions. 

I will be making a donation to Arthritis Research Canada at the end of that week, but the goal of this fundraiser is awareness and engagement. 

We have raffle prizes again this year, which will be unveiled during the FTF week. 

Here's how you can win:

1. Post a photo of yourself doing something ACTIVE. It doesn't matter what activity, just anything to get your joints and your spine moving, up to one entry per day. Use the hashtag #fightthefusion on social media and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. If you post each day, that's 8 entries in the raffle prizes. (Only one prize per winner - even if one name is drawn multiple times). 

2. For 5 extra entries, follow me and the sponsors of Fight the Fusion on Instagram.  

3. For 10 extra entries, make a donation of $15 or more to Arthritis Research Canada. There is a donation link available on my Facebook, as well as on this blog (web version). Don't forget to leave your name and email address if you want to be entered into the raffle. 

4. Draw will happen live-stream via Twitch. 

**Prizes are only available to be won in Canada this year. This fundraiser is not affiliated with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Twitch, or any other social media platform. 

Let's get moving! 

Yoga in the Snow

There is just something about being outside when the air is crisp and the snowflakes are massive. 

It also helps when the pups want to get involved in my yoga sessions. 

Ablation Update

Alright - it has now been over a month since I had the nerves in my SI joints ablated to help with some of the pain caused by Ankylosing Spondylitis. 

Here is the short version: the ablation has been worth it for me. I have experienced some reduction in pain and some changes to my pain - enough that makes the procedure worth it. 

Here is the long version: the ablation reminds me of certain medications - what it is doing is masking the pain or, more specifically, preventing the feeling of the pain from reaching my brain. This means that my body is still responding to pain that I feel in a different way. Instead of feeling like a knife or frozen skewer running through my SI joints, it is more like an ache, and my body remains stiff, but the pain is dulled. It's an odd sensation. It has been helping me move better around the house, and walking or climbing stairs isn't so excruciating. With that said, I will notice my body having difficulty with stairs at times, from pain that is higher than it feels.... I'm not sure if this is making sense, but it is the only way I have been able to describe it all. 

The pain still exists, and my joints are still deteriorating, but I feel less of it because my nerves cannot send those pain signals to my brain. 

Of course, one of my initial reservations of this procedure is the entire idea of killing nerves. If there is an injury or pain unrelated to my illness, will I feel it? 

I have been assured that these nerves do grow back, which is why I was willing to give this treatment a try. Also, this procedure is allowing me to move my joints more (which is good for AS). I can slowly increase my activity levels without feeling as severe of pain and without causing any more damage - unless I were to repeatedly subject my lower back to physical trauma (in athletics like snowboarding, for instance). 

The injection sites also remain numb - which is super weird - but not truly bothersome. I am unsure of how long that is expected to last, but I'll find out in the coming weeks. 

Fingers crossed that the effects of this procedure are able to last 6 months to a year. 

Fight the Fusion 2020 Update

Last year I started an annual fundraising campaign to help bring awareness to arthritic illnesses like Ankylosing Spondylitis. We had a bunch of amazing prizes, many from local vendors, and encouraged people to show how they #FightTheFusion in their daily lives and make a small donation to Arthritis Research Canada. 

While fundraising for various chronic illness organizations still remains a necessary part of healthcare research, the situation with Covid-19 has become a top priority. 

Although we have a gorgeous donated photo of the Aurora Borealis that was going to be given as a draw prize, we knew early on that this fundraiser would not look the same this year. 

So instead of campaigning for donations, we are asking that you continue to share your photos of how you Fight the Fusion AND tell a candid story about how you are handling the isolation. We are not asking for donations this year. I think 2020 will be a year where every single person struggles financially and medically. Show us how you are fighting your own medical battle with acts of kindness, uplifting stories, funny or inspiring isolation photos, and how you are staying safe during a novel crisis. Show us why being #highriskcovid19 is not all bleak and boring, but instead how much strength it takes to stay calm while being high risk. 

The donated photo will be put into next year's Fight the Fusion week draw prizes. 

Fight the Fusion week officially starts on April 27th - this year will be an awareness campaign only. We would love your participation! 

Stay safe. 

Braving 'General Admission'

Concerts are often a little intimidating for me since my mobility began to diminish. At first with stairs being so difficult, then using my cane or walker, now using a wheelchair for large events, concerts can be relatively inaccessible. 

I had not been to a 'general admission' concert in ages - actually I'm pretty sure I have only been to one - until last night. 

I had the opportunity to see Our Lady Peace in concert. 

I have waited several years for them to come here and the tickets to be somewhat affordable - and last night was my chance. 

My adoring husband went to check out the venue the day before. It was basically one huge room that used to be booked for trade shows. Concrete floors, a couple of bars set up, and some benches waaaaay at the back. It was clear I would be using my wheelchair - even just to get across the lot into the venue itself - but then when we saw that there were virtually no seats, I was glad I had brought the wheelchair. I would not have been able to be there without it. 

We got to a nearby restaurant 2 hours prior, and were in line 1 hour before the concert started (I wanted to be as close to the stage as possible). Luckily, it was fairly quiet. There was a group of maybe 10 of us who were determined to get front-row views, with the remainder of the main audience area empty. The barrier at the front was a little high, and I was expecting a packed show, so I didn't feel appropriate taking up the most prime spot. We (my brother and my husband were with me) moved over to the side - the barrier there was a little shorter and I was away from the primary spots. 

I thoroughly enjoyed myself. 

There were, of course, a few issues. People tend to forget that a wheelchair is an extension of the human being sitting in it. My brother & my husband constantly had to run a little subtle interference because people kept hitting me or leaning on my chair, kicking it, or even moving it (mostly on accident - beer and excitement can do that). That only slightly bothered me - more because I was worried someone would fall on me, spill all over me, or that someone could wind up injured. What bothered me more was a bit of attitude from a select few people who kept looking at me as though I didn't belong there. That if I cannot stand to enjoy a concert, I should sit way at the back so that other people, able people, could enjoy themselves. 

I understand it to a point. I get that my chair takes up potentially two people (even though it is a small wheelchair). I get that it is bulky. 

But I paid the same amount for my ticket. I received no special treatment - we simply arrived early, like many others. There was no designated handicap zone, so I had nowhere else I was 'supposed' to be, and I'm still a human being who wants to enjoy a concert from one of my all-time favourite bands. 

On the upside - those people were few and far between. Most people were incredible. There was this kind lady right next to me that kept checking to make sure I could see, who told a girl to be careful because she was trying to squeeze past me (and then blocked her from doing so). There was this entire group of people who seemed to be aware and understanding. My line of sight was rarely obstructed, and if it was, it was always by accident. There were also several people who accidentally ran into me and apologized immediately, who I then made friends with as we bonded over shoes, football, and hair haha.

Plus - when a concert gets that packed, it's useful to have this bubble-block around me. And brakes. I was parked. 

It also meant that I could not fathom trying to go to the washroom at any point during the concert... which is a bit difficult when I also have Crohn's Disease ... but I made it until the very end! 

Would I brave another general admission concert - daring to park my wheelchair in a prime spot again? For a band/artist I absolutely love, yes!! 

If it's an artist I just enjoy listening to, or someone I have seen before, I would likely choose to sit further back, a ways away from the danger of getting hurt, as my nerves had me a touch distracted, but I loved every moment of Our Lady Peace. 

Just because people are disabled does not mean that they can't do 'normal' things. I mean, one of the only reasons I don't do a lot more is because of inaccessibility to venues - not because I feel out of place. I am also very happy to say that a woman with vision issues brought a stool and parked herself by us as well. 

I hear all the time about people wanting those who are disabled to participate more - trust me, we are trying! We are there and we are loving these incredible events, despite a little awkwardness. 

I am so grateful to my brother and my husband. Thank you!! 

Yoga for Instagram

My activities over the past few years have dwindled to a few. Trust me, I am ecstatic that I can still paddle and practice yoga, but those are my main sources of exercise. 

This blog and how I share this blog has a lot to do with Instagram. On IG, though, sharing pictures is the main focus, so I share photos of me practicing yoga. 

Now, before you turn away all eye-roll-like, my yoga photos are not what you would picture on the 'gram. I do not have a professional camera, for one. What I do have is a smart-phone with a fairly impressive camera. 

I do not take photos of every single time I practice yoga. I take photos every couple of weeks, and then share one photo a day. It isn't some glamorous event... I usually fiddle with trying to find decent lighting, pick out an outfit that allows me to practice comfortably while getting some decent shots, and then propping my phone up on a book, a shelf, or on board games teetering on a shelf trying to get the best vantage point. It is all a little bit ridiculous. 

The best part, though, is the actual taking of the photos. See, my phone sits on a shelf, pointed at my yoga mat while I practice. I use a voice command to take these photos... which means that I practice yoga and randomly shout "CAPTURE" or "SMILE" when I have reached the calm moment in a pose. Of course, it doesn't work every single time, so you might hear me shout the same word over and over trying to catch a picture before I become too flustered and move out of a particular pose.... which was meant to provide some serenity. 

Which is partially contradictory... to give up the calm to try and capture a photo.... 

But that is also precisely why I never shoot video of my practice. I need those privately calm moments, without the camera. 

Yoga is for me... although when I am stressing about getting decent photos, it doesn't always feel that way. Trying to take these photos, however, does provide me with some much-needed motivation and structure. When I feel especially ill, yoga is the last thing I want to do. For instance, for the past 2 weeks, even leaving the bedroom has been a major difficulty. My energy levels and overall flare-up has had me on non-stop resting mode. Yoga can actually help me during these times if it doesn't deplete my energy to irreversible levels. Knowing that I was running out of pictures helped motivate me to practice even when I was not feeling entirely up to it. 

Alright, anyways, what's more is that I do not have this picture-perfect practice. I am not a yoga instructor. I do not attend yoga classes anymore. I practice at home. Some of the most basic poses are far too painful for my body. Even transitioning between poses is less of a 'flow' and more of a 'stop-and-start' with jerky, unbalanced, often comical movements. 

There are lots of photos I do not share - photos where I lose my balance, where I am just lying on the floor waiting for my body to allow me enough energy to continue, and even photos where I think I am perfectly in a pose but really I am not even close. 

I find this mostly when I 'think' my back is straight or even arched. Trying to get into Crescent pose is highly difficult and even painful most of the time. I still gently try - because I want to keep my spine strong and as flexible as possible - but the photos themselves show a very subpar level of practice. Downward Dog is another pose I rarely even attempt anymore because of my shoulder blade pain, but as you can see below, I am not even close to getting it right. I even went on my tippy-toes with partially bent knees in an attempt to help me straighten out my back. 

The saddest part is that I thought I had it. 

Nope. 

Still a curved spine. 

Now, logically I know that my spine curvature at the top is the progression of the disease (Ankylosing Spondylitis), but I still seem to hold out hope that I can stretch my way back to a better posture. 

I might be out to lunch. 

Yoga on Instagram often looks poised, serene, relaxed, mixed with perfect photography skills. 

Not on my page. 

My page is filled with repeating poses, attempts at halfway decent photos, and an entire array of silent moments off the screen that make up the bulk of my personal practice. 

Here are some of the misfit poses and photos that I rarely share - to show that the 'gram only shows a small fraction of what is really behind the scenes.

Yoga is supposed to be an intensely personal experience. My practice is tailored to my specific needs and level of strength and flexibility. I am always working on improving my skills without causing more pain. I have SO much I need to work on - breath, flexibility, strength, technique, meditation, etc... - but it is a practice all my very own. No matter what, that is a beautiful thing and I am happy to share my imperfect practice.  

The Lighter Side of: Using a Cane

Having difficulty with mobility is not exactly a positive thing. With deteriorating back and hips, mobility can take a big hit.
I first began using a cane when I was 26 years old. I often have a limp due to pain and muscle spasms in my back and hips, and my energy levels have dropped tremendously from my body constantly battling itself.
Using a cane was a hit to my pride, but it also opened up more opportunities. The same thing occurred when I began to need a wheelchair for certain outings.

The Lighter Side of using a cane is that you can find very pretty, sparkly, or interesting canes for all occasions and all sorts of extra little parts. You can find handcrafted wooden canes, canes specifically for ice and snow, collapsible canes that can fit in a purse, or even canes with a secret compartment for pills or other small items.
Plus, if you cannot walk very far without an aid, a cane can give you the opportunity to get out more! It is even better if you are deteriorating slowly enough that you can use a cane when you need it, but can forego the cane if you are having a better day.
In addition to all of that, when you are someone who requires a cane (especially if you are a young person), people are often a little more kind. They may ask if you need help, hold doors open for you, you might get some special treatment or some nice parking spots, and it can even spark conversation. It is not all bad to be losing mobility. That doesn't mean I'm happy about it, but there are some silver linings.

FtF Prize Pack #6

Our 6th prize pack is very much like the 5th prize pack.
The bookmarks are a little different, and the painted panel is the bright yellow like our main logo.
Music from Karissa Diane and artwork from The Lighter Side of Medicine.

Music, stories, and a reminder to stay active and keep fighting fusion in which ever way you can!

Day 1 of Fight the Fusion Week

WELCOME TO FIGHT THE FUSION 2019!!!!

Welcome to Fight the Fusion 2019. This is the FIRST year rolling out this fundraiser. This campaign has been founded and organized by Karissa via The Lighter Side of Medicine - an illness blog that attempts to embrace the lighter side of having various serious illnesses.
One of these illnesses happens to be Ankylosing Spondylitis. It is a type of Spondyloarthropy under the umbrella of Arthritis. It begins with inflammation, most commonly in the spine and SI joints, then causes erosion of those joints, and ultimately the fusing together of joints and bones, severely affecting mobility. The age this disease is most often diagnosed is between 25-35 years old.

This campaign is to bring awareness about all of the various types of arthritis and spondyloarthropies, raise money for Arthritis Research Canada, and to have fun while doing so!

Fight the Fusion is about encouraging each other to be active, to be supportive, and help raise awareness for Ankylosing Spondylitis, all the different types of arthritis, and to raise funds for Arthritis Research Canada.
There are 8 prize packs available to be won, and the rules are SIMPLE!

A. Share a photo of yourself being active and use the hashtag #FightTheFusion.

This can be an old photo, a new photo, a photo of you practicing yoga, or taking the dog for a walk, or stretching out beside the fire, swimming, hiking, climbing, biking -> absolutely any activity. We want to see people talking about arthritis and spondyloarthropies. We want people to tell their stories about how inflammation has affected them and what activities are helpful. This can be done on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

B. Make a donation of $10.00 or more to Arthritis Research Canada OR purchase a Beam by Nimbleback.

There is a link on The Lighter Side of Medicine BlogSpot page that will take you directly to PayPal. There is also a link to donate directly to Arthritis Research Canada. The PayPal and direct donations will have 100% of these funds going to Arthritis Research Canada. Or you can purchase an incredible BEAM by Nimbleback. With EACH purchase made during this week you will receive your Beam - your new best friend on the yoga mat - AND they have so generously committed to donating a part of the proceeds to Arthritis Research Canada.

By following these two steps you will be entered to win one of the 8 prize packs available!!

You can, however, increase your odds and get extra entries!
To gain 10 extra entries, you must follow all of our sponsors on Instagram, tag 3 friends in the earliest post made on April 27th, and share a story of how inflammation affects you and how activity helps you live better.

*This campaign is not affiliated with Instagram, Blogspot, or any social media company itself, the opinions expressed are my own and exclusive to The Lighter Side of Medicine. 100% of donations during this campaign go to Arthritis Research Canada. Prizes can be won by any person living in Canada or the United States.*