It’s probably safe to say that we all know someone with arthritis – many of us simply by looking at ourselves in the mirror. A common disease in people over 50, arthritis typically manifests as pain, stiffness and inflammation in joints such as the hands and wrists, knees, hips, feet and ankles, shoulders and lower back. While osteoarthritis is easily the most popular form of this disease, affecting 15% of the global population over the age of 30, there are more than 100 different types of arthritis. There is no cure.
While September honours Arthritis Awareness Month in Canada, this debilitating condition is something we are continuously aware of throughout the year. Many of the patients we treat at both our Cranbrook and Castlegar locations are afflicted with arthritis in one form or another, and we offer a variety of mobility and lifestyle aids to help these individuals enjoy greater independence in their daily lives.
At Kootenay Columbia Home Medical Equipment (KCHME), Arthritis Awareness Month is even more important to us on a personal level given that one of our team members suddenly came down with severe rheumatoid arthritis in 2019.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Unlike osteoarthritis, which occurs over time through the general wear and tear of the joints, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when an individual’s immune system mistakenly attacks their own body tissues. This reaction affects the lining of the joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.
Far from the stereotypical “old person’s disease,” our KCHME team member felt the first echoes of rheumatoid arthritis at the tender age of 40. Up until then, this individual had enjoyed a very active lifestyle, working as a part-time fitness coach and personal trainer from the age of 19, and participating in half marathons and CrossFit competitions throughout their adult life simply for the fun of it.
Suddenly, our team member began to experience pain in the left knee. Given their passion for running, they thought it was simply a muscular issue and reduced their workouts while icing religiously. The pain only got worse, with their knee swelling to the size of a cantaloupe.
“I remember once going to get gas and after I filled up, I couldn’t get back into my vehicle,” they recall. “There was a car waiting behind me and I simply couldn’t move. My knee had completely seized up. It was frustrating, embarrassing and extremely stressful.”
After a series of doctor appointments, X-rays and MRIs, and one blissfully therapeutic – though short-lived – steroid injection, our team member was eventually scheduled for exploratory arthroscopic surgery to get a closer look at the cause. Unfortunately, however, the provincial health authority in British Columbia would only examine one knee at a time, an approach our team member believed would negatively impact the other knee by compensating for the imbalance.
Our team member ended up consulting with a physician at a private clinic, underwent bilateral arthroscopic surgery for both knees, and was diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome (aka runner’s knee) and rheumatoid arthritis.
By now, this individual’s formerly active lifestyle had done a 180°. “I went from living at the gym and running track to sitting on a couch and staying home,” they confide, adding that they had begun using forearm crutches and a wheelchair to help get around, especially when travelling.
“I avoided grocery stores and other activities that involved having to walk a distance due to the energy required to participate. I ordered groceries online and took to adapting my life to accommodate my limitations such as sitting on a stool to prepare meals. It took all my energy just to move from one room to another. I stopped going out to socialize and see friends. I remember one time I went to my son’s basketball game and that was like the big event of the week.”
After the surgery and diagnosis, our team member was put on a series of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic synthetic medications. These drugs are designed to reduce the body’s immune response and come with the same distressing variety of side effects one can expect from traditional cancer treatment.
After several months of unsuccessful treatment, our team member was introduced to biologic drugs and has since enjoyed improved pain management, mobility and quality of life. “It’s not perfect but it’s my new normal,” they elaborate. “Being on this medication, I have to adjust what my world looks like. I don’t have the same energy, some days are better than others, but I’m on the remission side now and that’s progress.
“On a personal level, the hardest part of living with rheumatoid arthritis is grieving my old life and the freedom I used to have. What inspires me, however, are some of the arthritis patients we see here at work. They’re living with mobility issues, they know life hasn’t handed them the easy stick, but they aspire to overcome and are always nice, kind and gracious.
“Thanks in part of the example they’ve set, I’ve come a long way. There was a time when I couldn’t even talk about what I was going through; there was just too much emotion. Now I can share my story and encourage others suffering from arthritis or a change in mobility to try and stay positive and persevere. In life, you don’t always get to pick your circumstances but you do get to pick your attitude; I prefer to look at life and see all the things I can do, be positive and carry on.”
If you or someone you know is suffering from arthritis, the Arthritis Society Canada website is an exceptional resource for treatment options, support and education tools, lifestyle advice and more. You are also welcome to drop by our Cranbrook and Castlegar locations and consult with us on any of the solutions we offer that can help improve the quality of life for those with mobility issues due to arthritis. If you prefer, you can also contact us online or over the phone and schedule a one-on-one consultation session.