While driving...

I was driving home to Pasig yesterday through the regular Friday night traffic of Manila, along a favorite route with less cars. Here is to share some observations and thoughts (with arthritis and rheumatism interface, of course):

1. During red lights, motorbikes invariably get ahead of your car and position themselves in front of all cars, so they go first on green. I counted 7 bikes in the UERRMM stop lights, 3 bikers with asymmetric backs, one shoulder carried higher than the other - this may create pain and discomfort over one side of the back and shoulder.

2. Officers manning traffic: some are, some are texting - the texter's thumb is a painful condition of the first finger due to overuse injury.

3. Jeepney drivers along side my car, or overtaking me: sitting almost sideways, either right shoulder or left shoulder rotated to the front. This may result in lowback pain and pain on one side of the back.

4. Street children threading in and out of rushing jeepneys, between cars and 18-wheelers! This one is life and limb matters - not arthritis or rheumatism! One wonders how far the DSWD programs trickle to the streets. By the looks of it, the programs do some and leave some on paper. Marvel at how we Filipinos thrive on lack [luck]!

5. Drivers driving and phoning/texting huhummmmm. Again, a matter of life and limb, but for those who survive, its still neck pains, stiff neck and texter's thumbs for you!

Back to the achievable and doable with results:

Check your riding posture! You may NOT need the doctor or pain medications at all!