Happy World Arthritis Day!

Hey everyone! It’s Rosie again (๑>◡<๑)
I just wanted to welcome you all to our very first H.A.R.U post, which will be a part of a bigger segment known as the Health and Recovery Unit. This segment was named after our invisible illnesses mascot Haru; if you’d like to learn more about him and how he came to be you can click here.

Now on to the main event -

It’s fall here in Canada, the leaves are changing colours, the days are getting shorter, the temperature is dropping, and I’m sure many arthritis sufferers can feel it in their bones… In honour of World Arthritis Day (October 12^th) I wanted to talk about what arthritis is, my experience with it, and the tricks I’ve picked up along the way. So let’s get started!

First of all, what is Arthritis?

Arthritis is sort of an umbrella term used to describe an inflammation of the joint; and it can affect one or more joints throughout the body.

What exactly is a joint?

A joint is a place where two or more bones meet; and serves the purpose of holding bones in place as well as allowing them to move within a limited range.

According to Arthritis.org there are well over 100 types of arthritis. Now I won’t go through all of them, but I will briefly go over the four most common types of arthritis, and the ones that I’ve been diagnosed with.

1. Osteoarthritis (OA)

Let’s start with the most common, Osteoarthritis (OA) which is categorized by the protective cartilage inside the joint breaking down. This in time leads to bones rubbing against one another (makes me cringe just thinking about it…). Many parts of the affected joint, such as the cartilage, the bones, the synovium and the ligaments can become very painful.

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an auto-immune disorder. The joints along with many organs are targeted by the body’s immune system. The job of a normal and healthy immune system is to protect its host from invaders, bacteria, and viruses. However in someone with an auto-immune disease, the immune system will go into overdrive and begin to attack healthy tissues. In cases of RA the immune system has been known to mainly attack the lining of the joints, known as the synovium. Over time, persistent inflammation permanently damages and breaks down the joint. RA can cause pain to the joint’s synovium, bones and ligaments.

3. Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)

Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is also an auto-immune disorder. The immune system attacks the host, causing inflammation and pain throughout the body. PsA affects many parts of the body, joints develop arthritis, the connective tissue where tendons and ligaments connect to bones develops inflammation known as enthesitis, and the skin develops psoriasis.

4. Gout

Then there’s Gout, which is a form of inflammatory arthritis. However it does not cause body-wide inflammation like RA and PsA, instead the body creates too much uric acid crystals. If too much acid is produced, or if the acid is not expelled fast enough, it can start to build up in your blood. This is known as Hyperuricemia. An excess of uric acid can form crystals in the joints, which results in very painful joint inflammation. It can strike very quickly, and leave you in excruciating pain.

Over the years I have been diagnosed with a few illnesses, the ones related to arthritis being Rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud’s arthritis, and signs of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Arthritis is definitely not a fun illness to live with, but luckily I have a wonderful team of doctors who I am very grateful for. They help me manage my illnesses whilst still getting the most out of life. And on a lighter note sometimes having arthritis makes you feel like you have a secret super power, such as being able to predict when the weather is going to change. Many patients who suffer from arthritis have noted that they can feel the shift is pressure in their bones. It’s not always easy, but it can help to put a positive spin on things and laugh about it. Scientists have not been able to definitively determine the connection between arthritis and the changes in atmospheric pressure, that being said exposed nerves can feel changes in pressure, and low temperatures can cause the fluid inside joints to thicken which makes you feel stiffer.

Haru’s Tip #1:

Since we can’t control the weather we need to find other ways of managing a flare brought on by the pressure change. When a storm is moving in, warm blankets and tea are definitely a must for me.

                         

5. Raynaud’s Phenomenon

We’ve already gone over RA so let’s take a look at Raynaud’s arthritis next.
What is Raynaud’s Phenomenon? In short it is a vascular disorder, in which the blood vessels contract in the extremities (fingers and toes). There aren’t very many arteries in these areas of the body so when they start to spasm it makes blood flow very difficult, in turn this causes the skin on those areas to turn white, then blue, and then red. The first recognized description of Raynaud’s was written in the 1800s by Maurice Raynaud, a French physician, who the phenomenon is named after.

Haru’s Tip #2:

A while back I had read several articles on how some people were using compression gloves to help with their arthritis. I thought well this is interesting, maybe I could use them to help with my Raynaud’s, I mean it is a type of arthritis right? It should just be transferable? Wrong (haha), turns out with Raynaud’s you don’t want to add any extra stress to your arteries since they are already having a hard time. So definitely NO to the compression gloves. The best thing to do if you suffer from Raynaud’s arthritis is to keep your hands and feet warm. My rheumatologist gave me a trick, he said that if you can keep your wrists and ankles warm then you’ll have an easier time keeping your hands and feet warm. He also said that it was better to use mittens instead of finger gloves, and to use layers as long as they weren’t constricting. 

6. Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)

Next comes the Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Like many of the others I’ve mentioned before this, AS is an auto-immune disease and a form of inflammatory arthritis. The name Ankylosing Spondylitis sounds like a made-up name, like “Stickit Tudamanlyotis” (bonus points if you know what that’s from) so let’s break it down; the word “ankylosing” means to fuse, and “spondylitis” means inflammation of the spine. For all of you fellow dinosaur enthusiasts you may recognize the word ankylosing as well as the term “spinal bony plate fusion” from the Ankylosaur. The Ankylosaur is part of the armored dinosaur family that inhabited the earth alongside the tyrannosaurs, the iguanodons, and triceratops.

In humans the immune system attacks the tendons and ligaments attached to the bones in the joints. As the body attacks itself it also furiously tries to repair itself by forming new bone. This leads to the fusing of bones, or them growing together, kind of like the Ankylosaurs. These new formations make your spine stiff, and inflexible. You are also increasingly at risk of spinal fractures due to the progression of the erosion and thinning of the bones.

Haru’s Tip #3:

MOVE AROUND! Jump up, jump up and get down!
No but really, apparently moving around actually helps with the pain, and here are some reasons why:

- Stronger muscles provide better support for your bones and joints.

- The more you move, the more supple you become, and the less stiff your joints are. This allows for a greater range of motion to be maintained.
- A healthy weight helps puts less pressure on your joints.
- Endorphins are a great naturally occurring painkiller which can be released in the body after exercise. 
- Getting your body tired can help with a good sleep. Sleep is very important in allowing the body to heal itself.

It can be a daunting idea to exercise especially when your body is already in so much pain. I spoke to my therapist about this exact same thing. We discussed how most things in life require us to withstand many different levels of discomfort, and we need to decide which discomforts are worth it. Some people will say that the discomfort one endures while wearing heels or corsets is worth it and some would argue it isn’t. At the end of the day it’s a personal choice. We can also choose to take actions that will bring us closer or further away from our goals. My goal was to find a way to better help and support my body. I wanted to take an active role in caring for my body so we could work together. I knew there would be some discomfort associated with exercise, AND I also knew it would bring me closer to my goal. I decided I could tolerate this discomfort, and so I just pushed forward. I can honestly say routine exercise has helped me a lot.

That being said there are still some things to be aware of. ALWAYS consult your physician with anything you are unsure of. Start off gently and increase exercises gradually. Learn your limits and don’t be afraid to push yourself a bit here and there. Exercising even for totally healthy people can cause discomfort and pain, this is normal and should subside after a while, however if the pain persists you should check in with your physician.

Haru’s Tip #4:

Look for low-impact exercises such as, resistance training, swimming, aqua fitness, yoga, etc. If you also struggle with getting cold in the water I would recommend looking into purchasing a wetsuit, I found it to be very helpful.

Feel free to share any tips you’ve got down below; I’d love to know how you guys manage your arthritis symptoms. Until Next Time,  

Happy World Arthritis Day! Don’t stop moving and be kind to yourself and others.

~ Stay Obsessed