"I've got rheumatoid arthritis."
"Ah, ok, I understand because you are a massage therapist and you use your hands a lot."
"No."
Akward silent.
"It is an autoimmune disease. Nothing to do with being a massage therapist."
The conversation above is what I usually get from people when I tell them my condition.
Let's clarify things and stop the stereotype.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) only really affects older adults.
People can develope RA at any age, but the most common age is between 40 and 60, or a bit older for men.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are pretty much the same thing.
RA is an autoimmune condition which means your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints causing inflammation, enormous pain and swelling. If inflammation is uncontrolled this, in some cases, could lead to joint deformities.
Osteoarthritis is a very common form of arthritis causing general 'wear and tear' of the joint.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect organs as well as joints in the body.
RA is a systemic disease, meaning that it doesn't just affect your joints. RA can affect a person's whole system including organs such as the lungs, heart and eyes.
4. Which gender is more commonly affected by RA?
Women. RA impacts roughly 2-3 times more women than men. If period, giving birth and menopause wasn't enough.
5. Cold weather can cause rheumatoid arthritis.
RA is an autoimmune condition and is therefore not caused by cold weather.
However, people with these conditions find that cold weather can affect their symptoms, including making their joints feel stiffer or with increased pain.
6. Which of the following statements is true about RA?
A) It is curable disease.
B) It is a chronic condition tha can be managed with treatment.
C) It only affects the joints.
D) It is caused by poor diet.
The correct answer is B.
There is currently no cure for RA. However early diagnosis can make a huge difference and increase the chances of reaching remission and avoiding long term joint damage and disability.
7. Exercise has no benefit when you are diagnosed with RA. It is a false statement.
There is a lot of evidence shwoing that physical activity is safe and has many benefits for people living with RA. Physical activity improves RA symptoms and lowers the risk of developing heart disease.
8. You can normally tell just by looking at someone that they have rheumatoid arthritis.
Look at me. Can you tell I have an autoimmune non-curable conditions?
RA is a hidden illness you would never be able to tell someone has the condition just by looking at them. Many can assume that 'you look too young to have arthritis' or 'it's just a bit of joint pain.'
This is why it's time to stop the stereotype.
This illness thaught me that you never know what is going on behind a smile.
For more information about RA please feel free to visit: https://nras.org.uk/
Source for the post: National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
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