Arthritis 101Arthritis Information line

1-800-321-1433 (ext. 1)

info@ab.arthritis.ca

www.arthritis.ca

Program Overview

• Arthritis Information

• Becoming a Self-Manager

• Community Resources and Tools

Arthritis Information

Arthritis means inflammation of a joint.

Symptoms include:

• Pain• Stiffness• Occasional swelling• Difficulty moving a joint• Joint damage

Dispelling Arthritis Myths

MYTH 1: Arthritis is just aches and painsFACT: Arthritis causes severe joint pain and

damage

MYTH 2: Arthritis is a disease of the elderlyFACT: Arthritis can strike anyone at anytime

MYTH 3: Arthritis is not a costly diseaseFACT: Arthritis costs $6.4 billion in labour

market and healthcare costs annually

You Are Not Alone!

• Affects one in six Canadians• More women than men are affected• Juvenile arthritis affects those under the age of 16• More than 100 different types• A cure has yet to be found

Joint Points

• Cartilage is 65-85% water

• Pressure on our knees is 10X our body weight when we run

• No man-made substance is a better shock absorber than cartilage

Impact of Arthritis

• Difficulty with daily tasks

• Stress

• Disability

Limiting the Impact

Early diagnosis, self-management and treatment can help you take control of your disease and avoid serious joint damage.

Early Warning Signs

• Pain in your joints for six weeks or more

• Morning stiffness or trouble moving joints upon waking

• Swelling to any of your joints

• Pain that interferes with your work and/or daily activities

Categories

There are two main categories of arthritis:

Inflammatory DegenerativeRheumatoid arthritis

Psoriatic arthritisAnkylosing spondylitis

Systemic lupus erythematosus

Osteoarthritis (OA)Degenerative disc diseaseCarpel tunnel syndrome

Inflammatory Arthritis

• Rheumatoid Arthritis • Autoimmune disease• Extreme fatigue• Unusual stiffness• Pain and swelling • Restricted movement• Tends to be symmetrical

Risk Factors - Inflammatory

• Age (often starts age 30 – 60)• Family history• Gender (female)• Trigger (viral or environmental)• Smoking

Diagnosis - Inflammatory

• Personal medical history• Family history• Joint examination• Blood tests• X-rays

Degenerative Arthritis

• Osteoarthritis• Affects 1 in 10 people• Degeneration of cartilage• Pain and stiffness• Decreased range of motion • Tends to be asymmetrical

Risk Factors - Degenerative

• Age • Family history• Excess weight• Joint injury• Other types of arthritis

Diagnosis - Degenerative

• Personal medical history• Family history• Joint examination• Rule out other types • X-rays - changes are visible

Let’s review I or D?

Usually starts in middle age (30 – 60 years)

Osteoarthritis

An autoimmune diseaseProgresses slowly, getting worse over a period of years

D

I

I

D

Inflammatory or Degenerative?

Inflammatory or Degenerative? Let’s review I or D?Affects fewer joints and tends to be asymmetricalRheumatoid arthritisPain and swelling in weight-bearing joints such as knees and hipsRequires a trigger – viral or environmentalTends to occur in joints subject to wear and tear by excessive use

D

I

D

I

D

How Arthritis is Managed

• Nutrition• Physical activity• Medications• Self-Management• Surgery

Becoming a Self-Manager

We are all responsible for managing our own health!

Self-Management

Self-Managers…

• Take control• Work in partnership• Make decisions• Make sure it gets

done!

Self-Management

Key elements of self-management

• Communication• Physical activity• Nutrition• Treatment• Joint protection

The key to success in any undertaking is first learning a set of skills and then practicing them until they have been mastered

Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP)1-800-321-1433

Communication

Your arthritis health care team

The more you know about your disease, the more control you have and the better you will feel!

Communication

Can explain the medications your doctor prescribesMost likely the first person you will talk to about your arthritisCan providing counseling on finances, employment, family & general coping

Arthritis specialist

Who’s who on the team?

Pharmacist

Rheumatologist

Family physician

Social worker

Communication

Takes your history, reviews your symptoms and takes vitals before the Dr. sees youPerforms your hip replacement

Suggests specific exercises and therapiesRecommends ways to modify your activities to reduce pain, fatigue and improve function

Who’s who on the team?

Nurse

Orthopedic surgeon

Occupational therapist

Physical therapist

Communication

Who’s missing?

Let’s brainstorm who’s missing from this list:

• Nutritionist• Massage Therapist

Communication

Your family and friends

• Know how to communicate your needs to family and friends. • Let them know when you need help and when to allow you your independence.

Communication

Your co-workers and employer

We’ll help your co-workers and employer learn more about the disease to ensure success in the workplace.

CommunicationPutting your pain into words

Being able to describe your pain helps your health care team diagnose and help you.

 Here are some examples of words to describe pain:• Deep• Sharp and throbbing• Dull• Pins and needles• Shooting

 Let’s work together as a group to expand this list.

Physical Activity

The revolution in treatment is physical activity

Pain causes activity

function and quality of life

Physical activity makes sense

• Reduces stress and promotes relaxation• Improves sleep quality and duration• Enhances emotional wellbeing• Reduces body fat while increasing muscle mass• Strengthens immune system• Regains or maintains independence

Nutrition

Healthy eating habits…

• Improve energy• Reduce the risk of many

other health issues

Nutrition

Good nutrition helps you:

• Manage symptoms• Prevent complications• Gain control of your

health

Canada's food guide

can help you plan for better overall nutrition

Visit Health Canada’s website today to create your own customized food guide!

www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Treatment

Medication is no magic bullet…InflammatoryPain relievers

Anti-inflammatoriesInjections: steroids Disease-Modifying

Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)Biologics

DegenerativePain relievers

Anti-InflammatoriesInjections: steroids & viscosupplementation

Surgery

Often a last resort; may be necessary if:

• Your joints become badly damaged or your pain is extreme

• Inflammatory arthritis is not responding to medication

Alternative Therapies

Complementary and Alternative Therapies include:

• Other healthcare providers• Supplements• Psychological techniques• Physical and topical treatments

Joint Protection

• Pacing• Positioning• Adaptation• Assistive devices

Assistive Devices

Take an active role

Journaling or record-keeping

Keeping a journal or health record is an excellent way to log information about you and your arthritis.

Take an active role

• Take part in decision making• Be honest with yourself and others• Learn as much as you can about your arthritis• Understand your options• Be persistent• Keep track of progress• Explore all options• Don’t give up!

The Arthritis Society has developed forms to help you optimize the time you have with your doctor.

CommunityResources and Tools

Beat the Clock Toolkit

The Toolkit helps to

• Improve communication• Save you time!

Remember…

Take Part Be realistic.

Be ready for your visit. Talk about all symptoms. What do you expect from the health care provider?

Ask questions about the diagnosis, test results, treatments and if follow-up is required.

Briefly repeat what both of you discussed.

Follow up on any instructions/recommendations.

Prepare

Ask

Repeat

Take Action

Important Connections

The Arthritis Society Programs• Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP)• Chronic Pain Management (in select communities)• Physical Activity and Arthritis• Joint Health in the Workplace

Arthritis Information Line1-800-321-1433 (ext. 1)

info@ab.arthritis.cawww.arthritis.ca

Local Resources

• Lethbridge• Medicine Hat• Calgary• Red Deer• Camrose• Edmonton• Edson• Grande Prairie• Fort McMurray

5 Tips for fighting arthritis

• Get educated• Stay involved• Know your team and resources• Stay healthy• Know your medication responsibilities

Summary

Arthritis Action Plan

• We all need a plan• What did you learn?• What did you want?• What can you do

next?

Next Steps

• Continue your arthritis education journey

• Commit to becoming the best self-manager you can be

• Make the connections you need

Evaluation

Please take a few moments to complete the session evaluation.

Remember…

The Arthritis Society Arthritis Information line 1-800-321-1433 (ext. 1)

info@ab.arthritis.cawww.arthritis.ca

THANK YOU

KEEP IN TOUCH!