I was thinking I might try to walk a one mile route in Atascadero CA ... with my cane.  But got to thinking -- does anyone really care about OA anyway?  As in when I approach people should I choose to do this...to ask for fundraising support --- would not I get some kind of crazy look -- like, "hey you are older than 50 and you have arthritis -- what's the big deal"

Any perspectives?  I know the RA meds in part are to help stop joint damage that would lead to joint replacement........well at 51 I am bionic in 4 wt. bearing joints and others maybe waiting in the wings........and I'm feel I'm left high and dry - with little support or understanding.

The Arthritis Foundation is in the middle of a huge initiative to bring OA to the forefront and to ensure that progress is made toward developing treatments and prevention strategies for OA.

The OA Initiative includes many facets:

• A screening questionnaire that people can use to help determine if they have arthritis and to encourage them to get diagnosed by a health professional
• An Ad Council Campaign (to hit the airwaves January 2010) about OA and disability prevention
• A Summit with the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to lay out a 5-year public health plan for the country regarding OA
• The Foundation funds $2.5 Million in OA-specific research and holds an OA-specific research conference each year.
• The Foundation has just formed an OA Alliance and OA Alliance Leadership Group to ensure that the Foundation is meeting the needs of this important constituency group.
• Evidence-Based Life Improvement Series classes
• The list goes on. 

We are here for you. We feel your pain. We want to help and empower you.

GET OUT THERE AND WALK AS BEST YOU CAN.

YOU'LL BE HAPPY YOU DID!  

I felt the same way you do for some time, and still do during the worst times of pain.  It seemed everything was RA or nothing, but many with RA also suffer with OA and other diseases.  What I found encouraging was the sharing of the trials and successes in day to day life here on the forum.  Even though I have not been diagnoised with RA, the pain is very real, the flares are there, the limitations are definitely there too.  At least we OA sufferers are not swamped with perscriptions and side affects, but on the opposite view we have nothing to slow the destruction.  Keep your chin up and hang in there.  I hope you stay connected and it sounds like the Arthritis Foundation and Advocacy Program are on high speed to put "our OA disease" up front too.  I also have had a knee replacement and am facing another.  The stigma of aging and arthritis is an unfair image all of us deal with also.  I was only 45 when the pain began and walked and felt like 70.  No one seems to understand except for those who struggle also.  It's an unfortunate fact - for now anyway.  Please do stay connected.  There is a lot we can learn from those in the forum and everyone is very supportive.  Take care! God Bless!

Linda

Linda

I appreciate your information and support.

The sad part is besides OA and RA, there are more than 100 forms of arthritis. I think it’s important that we always talk about arthritis as one disease. It affects people without regard to gender, race, or age. OA is by far the largest of the more than 100 forms of arthritis, and as Beth points out, a lot is being done. All of the 100 forms of arthritis are important to those affected by their particular form of arthritis.

Thanks to Linda for bringing awareness to her OA, and having the courage to say something. Awareness is the only way we can raise funds for more research into prevention and one day a cure as well as all the great programs the Arthritis Foundation offers.