This article has been edited from it's original publication.
Imagine you are talking to someone and they say, "I was just diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis". From the images below, choose the faces that would most likely make that statement.
1.
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
If you picked #2, 3 and 4, you are correct! These would be most likely to say this statement because typical onset is between the ages of 20 and 40, however there is also a prominent strand of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and it can be diagnosed at any adult age.
If you picked #1, 5 or 6, although Rheumatoid Arthritis CAN BE diagnosed at any age, it is less likely they were just diagnosed because of the typical young age onset.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is NOT "arthritis", or joint pain brought on typically by aging, wear and tear and injury. It IS an autoimmune disease caused by the body attacking its' own healthy cells, resulting in deterioration of joints, connective and soft tissue. It also is paired with extreme fatigue, occasional nausea and fevers, muscle aches and pain as well as a variety of other symptoms.
We aspire to broaden the understanding of RA. Perhaps by understanding autoimmune arthritis is typically* a younger disease, just as wear and tear arthritis is typically* an older age disease, this will help alleviate the misunderstandings associated with it. It is not a wear and tear condition and those diagnosed at all ages must constantly deal with explaining what they have.
So, if someone says, "I was just diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis", for those 40 and younger, we hope they stop experiencing the common response, "Oh, but you're too young to have arthritis!" , brought on due to lack of knowledge about the disease and typical age of onset. And for those who are diagnosed over the age of 40, we aim to dissolve the assumption that what they have must be the wear and tear strand.
Please forward this quiz to anyone who may think that "arthritis" and "rheumatoid arthritis" is the same. It's time they understood.
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*typically- typically defined for the purpose of this article refers to the average age of diagnosis for different arthritis based conditions. Typically, Rheumatoid Arthritis is diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40 but can occur at any age, even infancy. Typically, Osteoarthritis is usually diagnosed over the age of 55. However, it can also occur in any age, including childhood. We stress "typically" in an attempt to re-brand what Rheumatoid Arthritis is. By focusing on the average age of onset, we feel it will force society to see it is a separate condition than that experienced by the common understanding of the term 'arthritis'.
Comments
I WAS just diagnosed last December and I am 66 years old.
I was diagnosed last year I am now 34 years old picked the correct pictures
I was just diagnosed at age 50.
I was diagnosed 34+ years ago since the age of two AKA JRA...thanks for showing the MANY faces of RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, which is an auto-immune disease that attacks ones body.
Hi ladies! Thank you so much for your comments! I love this quiz for the reason of the common misunderstanding of autoimmune arthritis vs wear and tear arthritis, but I think I'll edit it to make a percentage (like 3 out of 4 are under the age of 50?) That way it won't seem we aren't discluding anyone. Also, Helen and Kim, I would love to profile both of you for an article about your experiences with being diagnosed and how it affects your life...there is going to be a series starting called "Who Am I Now?" and thus far I only have stories of 20 somethings, 30 somethings and 40 somethings who must realter their lives, I'd love to have both of you tell your stories for the 50's and 60's. Please email me at tiffany@bucklemeupmovement.com if you are interested!
I was diagnosed at 59 and I am now 66 years old. It has completely altered my life. I do not feel my age in spite of the aches and pains and get very frustrated because I cannot do the things I want to do because of being unable to walk or stand for very long periods and extreme fatigue.
Rabbit,
I would like to extend the offer to you, which I mentioned to the other ladies diagnosed over 50, to talk with you more about your struggles. I am also working with the Arthritis Foundation's program, Let's Talk RA, becoming very involved in their 2010 initiatives. One of the things we are looking at, as well as here at the Examiner, are categories of sufferers...while the average age of diagnosis is 20's to 40's, and we hear those stories most often, we would like to tell YOUR story too. Please, if you are interested, contact me at tiffany@bucklemeupmovement.com, I'd love to speak with you more about your story.
I have had RA for about 4 years now and it has been a constant struggle. I am a police officer and was a ten year member of the SWAT team. I relied heavily on my physical fitness in my job. I was an avid runner and loved outdoor activities. All of those things are almost non-exsistant. I have a five year lod son and he is growing up hearing me say "I'm sorry daddy doesent feel good right now". I want my life back and right now would settle for being able to walk him down the street to trick or treat.
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