OH! Magazine - Australian Version October 2018 | Page 9

THE TRUTH ABOUT
ARTHRITIS
CreakyJoints Australia reveals what arthritis looks like.
hile most Australians might know
a relative, friend or acquaintance
living with arthritis, few are completely
aware of the sometimes debilitating and
isolating consequences that come from
living with the disease. That’s why, this
spring, CreakyJoints Australia , the go-to
source for Australian arthritis patients
and their families, is raising awareness
around the stark reality of living with
arthritis.
W
Canberra resident, Janine Monty, was an
active and ambitious 36-year-old when
she was first diagnosed with various forms
of inflammatory arthritis, including mixed
connective tissue disease, rheumatoid
arthritis and undifferentiated spondylitis.
It was a development that would
eventually ‘dismantle’ her life.
‘I used to be really fit and active – I used
to run 5km a day just for fun. I was a web-
developer and had great contracts. Life
was going really well’, Monty explains.
‘Once the arthritis took over, I couldn’t do
what I used to, and I wasn’t so much fun
anymore. Eventually, my marriage ended
and I lost my job. Arthritis dismantled my
life completely’, she explains.
Despite crippling pain and other medical
complications, Monty remains determined
to be an active and enthusiastic
contributor to society. ‘On my “good
days” I do as much exercise as I can; I go
to the gym and visit my physical therapist.’
The trouble, she says, it that most
Australians have no concept of what’s
hidden under the surface of her positive
attitude, or what it’s like for her on ‘bad
days’ when her condition renders her
entirely crippled and exhausted.
‘People don’t understand how debilitating
arthritis is. They think it’s just sore joints,
but there are days when I am in complete
agony and feeling horrible. That’s why I
may have to turn down a social event at
the last minute. That’s why you won’t see
me at the gym. That’s why I am unable to
reply to your email or text message.’
By speaking up about her condition,
Monty hopes to shed light on the invisible
struggle going on inside the homes of
arthritis sufferers, every day. The main
points she would like all Australians to
know are:
Appearances are deceiving: ‘I may look
100 per cent well; I can be going to the
gym and exercising, or out for coffee,
smiling and chatting. But don’t be fooled.
You don’t see what went on behind the
scenes: the medication I have to take; the
pain I’m smiling through; the recuperation
I’ll have to do afterwards.’
They aren’t lazy or ‘slack’: ‘When you’re on
a disability pension people can assume
you’re lazy, and when you’re on opioid
medication, there’s a stigma that you’re a
drug-addict. But none of this is true.’
They are able to contribute: ‘I can’t hold
down a full-time job because I never know
when I am going to be up or down, but I
am able to use my skills as a freelance
copywriter and designer. All that’s
required is for employers to be flexible
and understand that there are days I
simply can’t work.’
Every day is different: ‘If I wake up to a
“bad day” I will have to cancel
appointments and miss deadlines.
You may have seen me at the gym
yesterday – I may have been okay then –
but today is a totally different story. If I
say I’m in a lot of pain, please, listen.
Believe me. I know my limitations and I
know, more than anyone, what I’m
missing out on if I don’t show up to
something.’
Isolation is not voluntary: ‘If you know
someone in your life with arthritis – a
friend, family member, neighbour – and
they haven’t been out of the house, that’s
the time they may need you most. Knock
on the door. Check on them and offer your
support or a cooked meal.
If you know someone living with arthritis,
keep reaching out to them. It’s important
to keep inviting them to social gatherings
even if they have had to cancel ones in
the past. Don’t give up on them – just try
and act with compassion and appreciate
that every day can be different for those
living with arthritis.
CreakyJoints Australia
Founded in 2015, CreakyJoints Australia
is the go-to source for Australian arthritis
patients and their families who are
seeking education, support, advocacy and
patient-centred research. For more
information visit www.CreakyJoints.org.au
OH! MAGAZINE ( OCTOBER 2018 )
9