Amye L. Leong - The Complete Idiots Guide to Arthritis

Table of Contents

Arthritis affects nearly 46 million Americansalmost 300,000 of them childrenand countless millions more worldwide. From the wear and tear on joints that results in osteoarthritis to the malfunction of the bodys immune system that leads to rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammatory arthritis, this disease touches all of us.

The word arthritis means inflammation of the joints, but thats just touching the surface. Arthritis causes pain, stiffness, swollen joints, and in some cases, serious disability. There is no cure for arthritis yet, but we can treat its symptoms. Recent discoveries of new medications have improved the quality of life for many people with serious forms of arthritis. In some cases, the results have been nothing short of miraculous. Still, there is much work to be done if we are to find the cure.

Living well with arthritis means taking an active role in your health care. That means watching your diet, combining exercise with rest, conserving your energy whenever possible, and using the resources available to you. It also means educating yourself about arthritis, seeking professional guidance and treatment from the health-care professionals who are knowledgeable about arthritis, and following their recommendations.

Arthritis used to be thought of as a disease of old people. We know now thats not true. Arthritis can affect young children, teenagers, young adults, and the middle-aged, as well as the elderly. It doesnt discriminate on the basis of age, gender, ethnicity, or race. We are all vulnerable, but that vulnerability has heightened our awareness and fueled our desire to find the cure.

Each day the cure gets closer. You can add your voice and your support to the cause. Support legislation that funds research by writing to your state legislators. Make your wishes known. Join the Arthritis Foundation and become part of the future. Think youre just one person and that you wont have any effect? In the words of Margaret Mead, American anthropologist: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, its the only thing that ever has.

This book is a ready reference for anyone interested in learning more about arthritisits causes, symptoms, and treatment. Read the general information and then find the chapter or chapters that answer your specific questions. Its divided into four parts:

Part 1, Understanding Arthritis, explains how healthy joints work and what happens when arthritis enters the picture. Youll learn to recognize the symptoms of arthritis and how to navigate your first appointment with your rheumatologist.

Part 2, The Different Types of Arthritis, gives you an overview of some of the most common forms of arthritis, along with explanations of symptoms, causes and risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.

Part 3, The Path to Treatment, takes the next step after diagnosis. Youll learn about various treatment options: medications, lifestyle changes, surgery, and complementary medicine.

Part 4, Living with Arthritis, gives you helpful information on managing pain, fighting fatigue, maintaining your family life, and managing your work life.

Youll also find three appendixes: a glossary that defines unfamiliar terms, a handy list of acronyms, and resources for further information.

Youll find all kinds of tidbits of useful information scattered throughout the book. Look for these pearls of wisdom:

No one is responsible for my getting three different forms of crippling arthritis, but rising up out of a wheelchair to become an international patient advocate took the love and persistence of family and friends, and even innocent bystanders. First, my parents, Harvey and Jeanne Leong, and sister Christine, looked beyond our Chinese culture of disability and shame to provide me the love and facility to get through each day of pain. I realize that extra attention demanded by the disease of my parents for my medical care took away from that of my sister, so I am grateful to have a big sister we all call J (Jay-Jay means big sister in Chinese) to always be there when I needed a big sister. Love goes to my niece, Amye Michelle Chow, and nephews, Christopher and Nicholas Chow, who grew up seeing their auntie in hospitals and playing with the arthritis-friendly gadgets as a normal part of their everyday life, who have become wonderful young adults today sensitive to the needs of anyone in pain.

My thanks to the thousands of people Ive met through speaking engagements around the U.S.A. and in 15 countries who heard my stories of determination. They not only walked away inspired to make their own arthritis battle one of emotional victory over physical disease, but also became determined to work with their physicians to achieve acceptable success and transformed themselves into personal patient advocates. I thank the establishment of physicians and health professionals who, back in the early 1980s, took a chance to let me into the inner circle of professional associations despite my not having the appropriate letters after my name. Today, patient advocates are an integrated force, indeed a movement of caring, eloquent, and effective people who speak up for our physicians in crises because theres not enough trained rheumatologists to care for the millions in need. I am honored to have broken physician-patient barriers for so many other advocate colleagues today.

And finally, to the innocent bystanders who tilted their heads and furrowed their brows in rejection of seeing a crippled me trying to hobble across the street before the light turned red, I say thank you. Your questionable looks of disbelief motivated me to spring out of the doldrums of physical and emotional disability to educate myself and fight for the services I needed to regain my independence. Those bystanders motivated me to understand the power of my own will and intellect in dealing effectively with arthritis. If I can do it, you can too. Go for it!

Amye L. Leong, M.B.A.

I need to thank Linda, my wife of 37 years, for not only tolerating but supporting all the evenings and weekends away from family while Ive pursued my professional career. Im also grateful to the late Dr. Gerald Rodnan, who ignited my interest in rheumatology at the University of Pittsburgh in 1973.