To be shocked at how debilitating arthritis is...it needs to be talked about more.

[malificent7]

I do not have it but I work in healthcare and so many people have it...maybe 80% of patients. Plus they are of all ages and have it from doing too much sport, not doing enough sport, genetics, wear and tear....a myriad of reasons.
It just causes so much suffering but I feel like it is not a 'trendy' disease and therefore not discussed much.
This is more of a tell me more about arthritis aswell as an aibu.

I understand what you’re getting at, but what do you mean by ‘discussed’? As in round the dinner table? Or a more targeted health campaign?

Yes I totally agree OP. It's not trendy but as you say affects a huge percentage of the population.
I suspect many of them get fobbed off by their GP with the only suggestion being to take pain killers.

Agree, my mum has it, suffered badly for years, now in a care home (she also has Alzheimer’s) and has to hoisted due to pain.

My mum developed arthritis in her back in her 30s and its extremely debilitating. She's early 60s now and walks with a stick and it limits her mobility a lot. Its also caused other issues, like stomach problems from being on anti immflamatories for decades.

Doctors havnt been hugely helpful over the years - a bitnif physio and occasionally referring her back to the pain clinic. Although I don't think there's a huge amount that can be done.

It's not a disease of old people.

Nobody is too young to have arthritis.

Some frankly unrealistic expectations of medicine here. Arthritis is, by and large, wear and tear - sometimes it can be treated but mostly not once it's past a certain point - and it runs in families. Painkillers/joint replacement (which has a set of its own risks and limitations) may be the only options.

@NeverDropYourMooncup

It's not a disease of old people.

Nobody is too young to have arthritis.

Yes, I’ve known children with it.

I have RA. I'm 45 and it must be 15 years since I was first diagnosed. I had known there was something wrong for a lot longer but was continually fobbed off with 'It's your hormones' (to be fair, that can apply to any woman with any health issue!) or 'You're too young'.

It was only when I changed GP that I was listened to. One blood test later, I was in front of a rheumatologist. He took a look at my wonky hands and said 'Oh you've definitely got RA'.

One myth I'd like to challenge has already been mentioned:

Arthritis is, by and large, wear and tear

No. There are two main types of arthritis: Osteoarthritis which is indeed 'wear and tear' and Inflammatory Arthritis. IA is actually an umbrella term, which covers sub-types such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. IA is an autoimmune disease.

Us inflammatory types get quite pissed off at times. We hear statements like 'Oh I've got that in my left knee' and questions like 'Where does it hurt?' (Answer: Every-fucking-where!). There is a shift towards calling RA 'rheumatoid disease' as the term 'arthritis' comes with so many misconceptions.

@malificent7 - Thank you for starting this thread, asking questions and allowing me to rant! Feel free to ask if you've got any questions.

I enjoyed your 'rant'! There are, it is said, over 100 different types of arthritis. Very annoying to be dealing with something very specific and having someone say, "Oh, yes, I think my uncle has that."

@entropynow

Some frankly unrealistic expectations of medicine here. Arthritis is, by and large, wear and tear - sometimes it can be treated but mostly not once it's past a certain point - and it runs in families. Painkillers/joint replacement (which has a set of its own risks and limitations) may be the only options.

Osteoarthritis is just one type of arthritis and yes a huge amount of people will have some level of "wear and tear" as they age.

My type of arthritis (Psoriatic) is a autoimmune illness. I will be medicated for life and will live with periods of remission and flares. At my worst I cannot walk. I was diagnosed aged 38. If I do mention my illness to anyone the usual reply is "my gran had arthritis". I'm sure she did but that kind of comment isn't helpful.

I take a weekly dose of Methotrexate (a medication used in chemotherapy, albeit in much larger doses) which makes me feel shit in very different ways. I have to medicate to dampen my stupidly overactive immune system and protect my joints from further damage. When in a period of illness I also take daily pain medication to allow me to do basic things like walk my children to school.

As well as the physical pain (for me it manifests in my feet) you have the other symptoms - the exhaustion and brain fog can be debilitating in itself. Some days you literally cannot think.

People lose jobs, relationships, friendships, independence, self confidence, self worth to this illness.

Depression and anxiety is common amongst chronic health conditions.

It can be terribly difficult to be diagnosed as many types of arthritis are seronegative so people often have to really push for a diagnosis.

It is a bloody miserable way to live.

I say this as someone who was diagnosed quickly (within months) and who has had a long period of remission.

I don't blame people for not understanding. Even my DP doesn't.

And yes it does need to be spoken about more.

The Versus Arthritis website is a good place to start if anyone is interested.

I agree, I have osteoarthritis and had a hip replacement 8 years ago at 42. It's giving me all sorts of bother again with suspected bursitis now. My other hip is gammy, my elbows knees hands and feet are painful too. I take naproxen twice a day and Co codamol and tramadol. I just get on with it tbh as no one is really aware of how painful it is. I have trouble sleeping with the pain, I have had 2 stress fractures in the last 18 months in my feet and broke my collar bone 2 years ago so I'm basically broken lol 😆
I've never actually looked at an arthritis support group so thank you for this thread and the last poster xxxx

Unfortunately it's another condition (like diabetes) where different diseases have been given partially the same name. Not helpful. Osteoarthritis which I have is wear and tear, often caused by being overweight and injury as in my case. Rheumatoid arthritis etc are auto immune diseases and occur at any age even kids

YANBU, and @RobertaFirmino you’ve saved e a lot of typing

to all who suffer.

Misconceptions about it ‘just being wear and tear’ or a disease only of old people are probably why it doesn’t attract an an equivalent level of research funding to develop new treatments as say, cancer.

They should rename the autoimmune versions of arthritis and diabetes. It would help a bit with genera public understanding.

And it shouldn’t matter if it is a condition arising due to wear and tear. It still deserves research funding and proper support for sufferers. Maybe it’s a kind of ageism at play as well.

Even osteoarthritis isn't just wear and tear, there are changes to the ability of cells to repair in these joints. There is ongoing research into more effective treatments and to try and find more about the causes.

From my family’s experience, I’d say a lot of people think it’s a disease that only affects old people.
My Nana has had it for years - hands, wrists, knees, hips, elbows etc. Multiple surgeries, hip and knee replacements etc. She used to be a fantastic knitter, cool and baker. But over the years, her hands and wrists got so bad she couldn’t do any of it anymore. Then about 5 years ago, 2 of my cousins in their 30’s were diagnosed and the family were really surprised by it because we all saw it as something that Nan had because she was old

Totally agree about the misconceptions of it being about age and 'wear and tear'.

I've had an auto immune variant of arthritis diagnosed since mid 20's, although I have had it much longer. It took a long time to get a diagnosis as it's not RA so no indicators and I was fobbed off by GPs who didn't really consider it due to my age.

Also the idea that being overweight causes it, it's so much more complex than that. There is a huge issue of weight issues with people with conditions such as inflammatory arthritis due to an inability to exercise and reoccurring depression.

I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis at 33, had it a long time before going to GP's. It is painful but I got in to weightlifting and that has made it so much more manageable (minimising the need for medication).

I’ve never heard of it described as a ‘trendy disease’ My old NDN was housebound for the last 15 years of her life. In constant pain with very limited mobility. It’s a cruel disease and whilst it does commonly develop in older age it can affect people of all ages.

Another psoratic arthritis sufferer here. It is debilitating. I spent much of my 20s with two walking sticks and batting off 'yeh i have arthritis in my knee'....

very different to literally your whole body on fire and literally having to wake up every hour in the night to move your joints otherwise you will be in so much worse pain in the morning.

Different to sitting there debating that its better to wet yourself rather than try and rush to get to the loo. Taking horrid medication that causes nausea and vomiting and you having regular blood tests to check your liver isnt packing up. Being on that medication for 5 years because the doctors dont want to prescribe anything else as its so much more expensive and 'it takes some time to work'

Eventually getting some new expensive medication but only to have to inject yourself with (what i think) is the most painful liquid i have ever experienced.

Your partner having to help you at 25 years old to do the most personal of tasks. Because your hands are so painful you cant do it.

That is my experience. More research needs to go into arthritis and in particular a focus on the autoimmune diseases. The newer medication is so expensive that you have to go through a tonne of hoops before they will even consider you.

@gogohm

Unfortunately it's another condition (like diabetes) where different diseases have been given partially the same name. Not helpful. Osteoarthritis which I have is wear and tear, often caused by being overweight and injury as in my case. Rheumatoid arthritis etc are auto immune diseases and occur at any age even kids

Exactly this.

I have osteo and have had it since I was 27. The hard truth is that there's not really much that can be done.

Psoriatic arthritis here too, massive flare up right now, can't drive as wrist and shoulder so painful, killer headache, could just cry at the thought of work as I'm so tired as can't sleep due to pain. Can't take any more time off work, my son looking forward to another weekend doing fuck all as I'm immobile. Also on methotrexate and weekly injections. Early 40s, utterly, utterly miserable.

And it's not a bit painful, it's exhausting, burning agony in many parts of body simultaneously.

I have it. Anyone who says it’s mostly a “wear and tear” disease can do one. I was mid-20s when diagnosed. My disease is mostly managed well, but I still have the odd flare-up which doesn’t cause just joint pain - also fatigue and brain fog, as anxiety and a feeling of worthlessness. The early days before getting medicated sufficiently were dark.