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Arthritis the forgotten disease |
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Written by editor
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Saturday, November 14 2009, 9:11 PM |
Officially, it is called arthritis. Off the record, it is called debilitating, a robber, the pain master, and the list goes on.
Despite one in 1,000 children contracting juvenile arthritis and more than 500,000 Canadians living with the most debilitating chronic disease in the nation every day, a disease that costs $4.4 billion a year in lost time from work and disability payments, few know much of it.
Heather Dougall of Calgary, director of development for the Arthritis Society, Alberta and Northwest Territories, said that is what makes the society’s annual Jingle Bell Walk and Run for Arthritis so important.
With Camrose and Red Deer runs history, the society already has $102,000 in the jingle bell kitty. The Lethbridge figure Saturday and today’s tally in Calgary are still to come.
The regional goal is $150,000.
Holly Melvin knows arthritis first hand; in fact it started when she noticed her thumbs were sore. It was finally her family doctor who diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis — an infection of the blood which causes the body’s immune system to think the body’s joints are a foreign object.
She started treatment immediately. Two anti-inflammatory drugs worked — for time. Then came use of a cancer treatment drug that reduces the immune system.
Now, she takes three pills every day. Once a week she gives herself an injection and every two months she goes to a private clinic to take medication through an IV.
The swelling has gone down in her body, except in her thumbs. She has to get cortisone shots in the thumb joints at times.
There still isn’t a cure.
Vicki Terrick of Taber has cared about her parents’ fight with arthritis for years. Three weeks ago, they both moved into her home for some TLC.
“Dad’s health isn’t good, but now, he can’t work at his carpentry job,” she said following the run. The arthritis has hit his legs and he can hardly walk. For a long time, he woke up with sore legs. He was always rubbing his legs.” Her dad is 61.
She said her mother, 57, noticed arthritis in her hands, not a good sign for a woman who loves cross stitching. “Now it is in her joints.”
Arthritis was foreign in her family until her parents were diagnosed.
“I used to work in a nursing home in Cochrane and seeing all those older people with swollen hands and joints was awful to see,” she said.
The walk and run had different meanings for different participants.
Tami Reynolds and her family drove 290 kilometres from Consul, Sask. just to participate, partly to help the cause of education and fund-raising for research and partly to get some family and friends, including Andrea Niemans of Lethbridge, involved in the walk and run.
The Melvins brought Holly’s brother Mark Mullen and his wife Georgia. The men did seven kilometres, the ladies four km.
David Borrows of Coaldale said his family hit the pavement for the third time, always to support his father David who suffers from severe arthritis.
“Arthritis is a bad thing and we should fight it,” he said of the fund raising project. “We got lots of pledges so we could try to help dad. Maybe this will help somebody else.”
“Arthritis is a big scare for me,” he said. “When I’m 50 will I have arthritis too?”
Annie Engbrecht and husband Ernie brought along Mirion Bossert of France. The raised $375 from friends and co-workers.
“We do all the runs in Lethbridge as a way to try to keep fit and a way to support the causes,” said Annie.
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