Freedom on Four Wheels
Originally published in Arthritis Today

By Christina DiMartino

A Professional Opinion

Barbara Butler is a certified psychotherapist in Dallas. She also has rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that began causing her pain 22 years ago, at age 32. She says her own condition and car challenges help her empathize with patients who also deal with arthritis and related driving problems.

After going through 31 surgical procedures attributed to her arthritis, Butler says she felt she had no choice but to alter her mindset regarding her independence. "This disease has caused me enough physical discomfort," she says. "I'm not giving in to any mental discomfort. As soon as I could function following those operations, I was back behind the wheel."

The last operation Butler faced was in October 2001. "By September 2001, I was having difficulty walking," she says. The bones in the ankle of my right foot had eroded so badly that the doctor used the phrase 'the bone is dead,' in explaining my condition."

Although the goal of the operation was to fuse the bones, once her ankle was opened on the operating table, the doctor found the bones had a corn meal-like consistency. He removed the anklebones completely and inserted a temporary structure secured with pins. Following some bone graft procedures planned for spring 2002, she will undergo a permanent ankle replacement procedure.

When Butler's arthritis originally became so painful that her children had to turn the key in the ignition for her, she knew it was time to make a car change. Unwilling to give up the idea of having a sporty vehicle, she test drove several and opted for a BMW Z3 Roadster.

"It surprises people to hear this," she says, "but it fit my criteria list perfectly. There's enough room to get in and out comfortably, the tilt steering wheel doesn't constrict my movement, the door handles are easy to grab, and the ignition is placed so the key is easy to turn. The clutch isn't too tight, and the pedals don't tire my legs and feet. Yet, it's a great looking car."

The cast-like boot that Butler has to wear on her foot (for the six-week post-surgical period) has been an inconvenience, but it doesn't affect her positive attitude about driving again. She says she has every intention of driving home from the doctor's office the day he takes it off.

"The surgery wasn't on my 'clutch' foot," she says. "So I'll be behind the wheel again right away. I get really antsy when I can't get around by myself, so I work hard at maintaining my independence."

Determination to enjoy as normal a life as possible and maintain her independence is the driving force behind Butler's attitude about her arthritis. "You can be someone with arthritis, or you can be someone whose arthritis is merely one component of your life," she says. "The decision is entirely yours."