What do Energy, Tenacity, Education and Compassion Have in Common?

By Tamela Thomas, Wellness Manager

They are all characteristics of this month's columnist, Diane Sowinski. I met Diane earlier this year when she came to the Club to do a certification workshop for our Personal Training staff. The workshop was titled "Training Clients with Arthritis." It didn't take but a few short minutes into that workshop to begin to recognize these qualities in Diane and to appreciate her powerful message. Diane has firsthand knowledge of the disease—its physical as well as emotional effects and its unpredictability.

If there was a single underlying message for the Personal Trainers that attended that workshop, it was that arthritis is a very personal kind of disease that doesn't follow all of the rules. One person may have different symptoms and respond to various treatments in completely different ways than another person. If you or someone you know has arthritis, this article should be very helpful. If you don't fall into that category, the "take ownership" message can be applied by anyone with almost any disease or chronic condition.

Managing Arthritis From the Inside Out

By Diane K. Sowinski, Fitness & Exercise Referral Network, Owner

Managing arthritis and all of the symptoms associated with having one of the more than 100 forms of arthritis can be challenging, even on a good day. For some of the more than 40 million people who have some form of arthritis, the good days are few and far between. What distinguishes these people from the ones who seem to be managing their disease with more success?

Having been diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at age three, I have had many opportunities to explore management options. It has been a long 47 years, but along the way I have developed some coping skills which have not only helped me but several other people I have worked with. Managing a chronic, progressive disease is a full-time job. It takes a daily commitment of monitoring symptoms, making decisions, weighing risks, scheduling properly, making doctor appointments and doing many other tasks associated with staying functional and hopefully reducing symptoms. It is a job without an end, but the reward is a better quality of life.

Circle of Care

Let's begin from the inside or with yourself as the center of your circle of care. You are the most important person in your disease management circle. You live with the disease each and every day; therefore, it is your obligation to take the most responsibility for developing a program that works for you. You can start by educating yourself on the type of arthritis you have. The local Arthritis Foundation chapter is a good place to start. They are a wonderful resource for educational information. When reading about what kind of arthritis you have, you will discover that you are not the only person with this disease.

Locating a group of people who share the same challenges can be very beneficial. The Arthritis Foundation sponsors several support groups statewide that deal with many forms of arthritis. Joining a group like this can help give you the confidence to deal with your own disease. There are also other exercise classes and workshops available.

In addition to educating yourself, it is also a good idea to educate the people in your life. Let them know about arthritis in general; what it involves to live with a chronic disease day in and day out. Also, talk with them about their possible willingness and availability to help if the time comes.

Simplify your life as best you can. Reduce stress by becoming more organized. Put yourself on a schedule to reduce the likelihood of over-doing. Get the proper amount of rest, eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water. Combine rest with activity. Exercise daily if at all possible. And when possible, make decisions with your best interest in mind—in other words, be good to yourself.

Friends can also become part of your circle of care. They may be helpful in many areas of your program. Friends can help with errands, children and even housework when recovering from surgery. They can also be there when you want to celebrate your progress after sticking with your exercise program or another personal goal. Continuing to participate in social events is important for a person's general well-being, and having a friend to socialize with makes it even more fun.

Widening the Circle

Moving to the outside of the circle of care, you have the opportunity to recruit several health care and non-health care providers to help structure your individual management program. Some providers include a rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon, acupuncture practitioner, physical therapist, occupational therapist, pain management clinician and a psychologist. The rheumatologist would act as the coordinator of your professional care. He or she would be your primary doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. The other healthcare providers would be referrals as the rheumatologist saw the need.

The local pharmacist who fills your prescriptions is a very important person on your management team as well. He or she cans educate you about their various medications, including the short- and long-term side effects, enabling you to make a more informed decision whether you want to take the medication.

Another part of your management circle could include your employer. Informing them of your particular needs could enable you to continue to perform your job with confidence. Discussing your needs and finding ways to accommodate them with minimal time off the job will benefit you as well as your employer. With careful planning and possibly "flex scheduling," most people with arthritis can remain on the job at a very high level of function.

Rewards

As you can see, staying functional, productive and relatively pain free involves combining many self-help and professional strategies. Working together to formulate a plan takes time, some trial and error, and a willingness on the part of the person with arthritis and their provider to work together. It is the continual work that brings success.

I have been combining all of the elements in my circle of care. My disease has continued to progress and I have more joints involved than I ever dreamed possible. After having seven surgeries to help repair the damage, I still remain functional. I have a full life working, enjoying recreational activities, volunteering, and being a wife and mother. I know without my circle of care plan, my life would be very different than it is today.