Arthritis Awareness

Perhaps you’ve heard the expression, “elevator speech,” which is a concise summary of what you want to say that takes no more time than an elevator ride. OK, so maybe you're not exactly in an elevator when it happens. But how best to explain to someone your arthritis – succinctly and confidently – when you have only a few moments?

Consider these tips from Mark Lumley, PhD, professor and director of clinical psychology training at Wayne State University in Detroit.

•    Decide how specific you want to be. Perhaps you only recently were diagnosed and still have much to learn. Rather than go into details, try saying something along these lines: “I have something going on with my hands, I'm seeing a doctor about it.” Or “I have pain in my hands; I take medication for it.” If you're comfortable sharing more in-depth information, you could start with, “I have an autoimmune disease. This means ... ” and explain what you know.

•    Watch your tone of voice. Do you present it matter-of-factly or as a source of embarrassment? Whichever way you go, the person will pick up clues from you and respond accordingly. Lumley suggests you make eye contact with a bit of a smile and confidence.

•    Empower the other person (and yourself at the same time) by inviting him or her to ask any questions about your condition. “It empowers them to be open to you and shows you how to be confident, as opposed to communicating, 'I'm ashamed. I'm insecure.'”

Want to connect with others who have arthritis? Join the Arthritis Foundation's online communities.

By Heather Johnson Durocher 

Arthritis Today Magazine

Published by:

The first evidence that gene therapy can ease symptoms in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been reported by American and German researchers.

To read more on this groundbreaking information, please click on the Medicine Net logo below.

After dropping for nearly four decades, rates of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be rising again in women. 

Epideminologists with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., who are tracking disease trends through the medical records of residents in Olmsted County, Minn., found that the incidence of RA in women in the study population increased by nearly 50 percent from 1995 through 2004, while the incidence of RA in men remained largely unchanged.  This may indicate a nationwide trend.

Researchers aren't sure what's behind the increase, but they suspect an environmental factor, like hormonal or chemical exposure.

Source: The 2008 annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in San Francisco, CA/Arthritis Today Magazine (February 2009)

Answered by Julie Patel, M.D.

Why does RA make me tired all the time?

Q. I have been diagnosed with RA, but my question is, why am I tired all of the time? When I sleep, it's almost like I am in a coma and very hard to wake me up. I am 68 years of age, married and get most of my work in the house done on a regular but slower basis, but the tiredness is frustrating to me. I can sit down and go to sleep. Is this part of RA?

A. Fatigue is a very common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis and may be a result of many different factors. In patients whose RA is not well controlled, ongoing inflammation can cause fatigue. Other causes of fatigue in RA patients include lack of good sleep, depression, lack of regular exercise and anemia. Talk to your rheumatologist to see if one or more of these causes may be contributing to your fatigue. There is treatment, but it will depend on the cause.

Article source: