Day 105: Pop stars can get arthritis too

Raising awareness of arthritis in young people is difficult at the best of times. Although 15,000 young people suffer from arthritis (fun fact fans, that's the same number of young people that suffer from diabetes), it is still thought of as an 'old person's disease'. 

Because of this young people do not present to their GP early enough when they develop symptoms. 

Because of this GPs do not refer patients soon enough when they eventually do present. 

Because of this many young sufferers are too embarrassed to talk about their illness. 

It is never talked about on television, or on the radio, or in newspapers, because it's seen as such a boring and irrelevant topic, what with it just being something only grannies get 'n' all. Which is why when Jessie J spoke openly about having arthritis in the press last week I thought, finally, here's someone who can raise awareness of the disease and help to eliminate that stigma. But no sooner had I punched my young, arthritic hand in the air with delight, Neil Sean comes along and writes the following in the Metro:

"Expect to see more health updates from Jessie J, who has already spoken of her broken ankle in PR terms. Now the singer is telling everyone about her arthritis... not exactly the stuff of pop stars."

Well, Neil Sean, here's a reality check for you. Pop stars can get arthritis too. ANYONE can get arthritis. This includes you, your friends, your kids; not just your granny's best friend's neighbour. 

Reading this article gave me a reality check too. I've spent the last ten years going on and on (ok, I know, and on...) about how important it is that we raise awareness and educate people about the signs and symptoms so that if they are unlucky enough to get this bitch of a disease they GET DIAGNOSED EARLY. We can't stop someone getting RA, but we can influence their prognosis. Studies have shown that if a person is diagnosed within 12 weeks of their first symptoms they are more likely to respond to treatment and go into remission, thereby limiting joint damage. But at the moment this rarely happens, primarily due to a lack of awareness of the disease. It didn't happen to me, and it didn't happen to anyone else I know with RA, either. So it's about time I stopped talking about it and started DOING something about it. My dream is that one day every sufferer will be diagnosed within this 12 week window. So get talking about it. Know the symptoms. And watch this space. Especially you, Neil Sean. 

Love,

Cat x