More than half a million Kiwis live with arthritis, which causes swollen joints and pain. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 200913WCSM - ARTHRITIS2
More than half a million Kiwis live with arthritis, which causes swollen joints and pain. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 200913WCSM - ARTHRITIS2
Wanganui woman Janice Hall was in her 30s with two young daughters when she noticed she couldn't bend her fingers.
She ached all over and was often very tired.
After many tests she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
That was in 1986. Now Mrs Hall is a cheerful, active womanwho is enjoying her retirement and doesn't let arthritis slow her down.
Mrs Hall is just one of more than half a million New Zealanders who live with arthritis. This week is Arthritis New Zealand's annual appeal week, with a street collection happening in Wanganui on Friday.
Mrs Hall has no family history of arthritis, but her condition became so bad her two daughters - then aged six and 10 - helped their mother brush her hair.
"I couldn't even clean my teeth without help. Looking back now, it was a very hard time."
She "got through" with the help of family and a supportive doctor.
Staff and volunteers from Arthritis New Zealand were also an important part of Mrs Hall's learning to live with the illness, providing her with information and support.
Janice Hall
These days, Mrs Hall is in a "good space". She volunteers for Arthritis New Zealand as assistant to the Wanganui educator, does work at the Bason Botanic Reserve, enjoys being a grandmother and tends her beautiful garden alongside husband Graeme.
"I do have to take it easy. I can garden for a day, but not many days in a row. And I have to watch my diet."
She takes medication, although she's recently been able to scale back the dosage.
"I do think I am very lucky," Mrs Hall said.
There are around 140 different types of arthritis, of which osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout are the most common. Arthritis can loosely be described as a joint condition, and the most common symptom is very painful joints, often with swelling and loss of mobility.
There is no cure for arthritis but, as in Mrs Hall's case, it can be managed.
Darryl Ward from Arthritis New Zealand said it was often thought of as an older person's condition but could hit at any age.
"There are around 1000 children living with arthritis in New Zealand," he said.
Arthritis was still trivialised, he said. "People are still told 'it's only arthritis' by others who are unaware how painful and debilitating the condition can be."
Mr Ward said Arthritis New Zealand received about 12 per cent of its funding from the Government.
"Without the generosity of our donors and volunteers, we wouldn't be able to help those who live with the pain of arthritis every day."
Arthritis New Zealand's annual appeal is from September 24-30. You can donate when you see a collector on the street, through the website www.arthritis.org.nz, or text "joints" to 5464. Or phone 0900 333 20 to donate $20.
