Moving past the hurt
Sanders, Hunter, and Harris said they don’t dwell on the negatives. Even though medicines help, they conclude that improvement also depends on their strength and outlook.

Sanders can’t do exercises like walking because the impact of each step brings pain. Instead, she does zero-impact sports like swimming.

“I’ve always liked swimming, and now I have an excuse to do it more often,” Sanders said. “You just learn to live with pain. Don’t quit life. Keep going.”

Hunter, on the other hand, increased the amount she walks.

“(Having rheumatoid arthritis) was hard to accept at first,” Hunter said. “You don’t want to feel decrepit and old. Exercise helps. So I try to walk. You don’t even notice it while you’re walking. You don’t have as much pain.”

But even with a positive attitude, Harris said it is still an adjustment. Her fingers wrestle with keys to unlock doors. Grasping things has become a challenge that she doesn’t always meet. Still, she said the only way to deal with it is to keep putting her best foot forward.

Sam Brandon, project manager in public works, said he got fed up with the arthritis in his hands and ankles. He eliminated the pain by changing his diet.

“I was drinking soda and things that were acidic,” Brandon said. “I decided that it was the soda that was contributing to it. So once I stopped drinking soda, all the symptoms went away.”

Brandon said when he drinks soda, the problems return. Lamothe said there has been research on how diet affects arthritis, but that there is no proof that any particular food hurts or helps.

“So we usually try to tell people to have a healthy diet,” Lamothe said. “Keep your weight down, try to avoid abusing carbohydrates, have a low-fat diet.”

Staying fit and controlling weight will lessen the strain on knee joints.

No time like the present
Lamothe said rheumatoid arthritis is better treated when attacked early. Nancy Jones (not her real name) is proof. In March, rheumatoid arthritis hit her at work like a ton of bricks with swelling in her feet, ankles, knees, fingers, hands and wrists.

“I spent the weekend in bed fighting pain and intense fatigue,” Jones said. “By Monday, I felt like my bones were being crushed.”

Her rheumatologist beat down the disease with a slew of medication, including NSAID naproxen, the steroid predisone, and hydroxchloroquine, a drug often used against malaria that reduces joint pain.

Only a week after the disease’s gruff arrival, Jones’ pain and swelling were gone.

“To date, I’ve been very fortunate,” Jones said. “Still no pain and no swelling. And although the fatigue is lessening, I still need more rest and sleep than before the attack. The doctors are mystified, because my symptoms and recovery are unusual.

My case has been labeled ‘interesting.’”

Jones has resumed lifting weights and walking on a treadmill.

She’s also working with her doctor to ease off her medication.

Lamothe said that keeping an eye on friends and family members could lead them to a better future should rheumatoid arthritis make an appearance.

“Refer them to a doctor as soon as possible, not after two or three years,” Lamothe said. “Rheumatoid arthritis in the first 2 or 3 years is when it’s going to cause more damage. That’s why it’s important to make the diagnosis as soon as possible and start treatment to limit that damage.”

Continued
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Normal hip

Arthritic hip