Sue’s Story
Lacing up for Hope: How the Jingle Bell Run is Fighting Arthritis
Sue, over 350 million people around the world have arthritis. In fact, 1 in 4 American adults suffer from arthritis. It is the tenderness and swelling of one or more joints. Although there are over 100 different types of arthritis (which have causes and treatment methods), common symptoms include stiffness, joint pain, swelling, a decreased range of motion, and redness. It could be caused by obesity, muscle weakness, genetics, or injuries.
One of the most common types of arthritis is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. It causes the cartilage on the ends of one’s bones to wear away and the bones to rub against each other. This leads to pain in one’s fingers, hips, or knees. Although the damage to the joints cannot be reversed, osteoarthritis symptoms usually can be managed. Another common type of arthritis includes rheumatoid arthritis, which is when the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. This leads to the joint lining to swell, damaging the cartilage and bone. Its symptoms include inflammation, pain in the knees and wrists, and larger joints in the feet and hands.
Despite arthritis being the number one cause of a long-term disability in the United States, a survey of 1,350 participants found that 67.4% of respondents said that their members of the household are sometimes or never aware of their arthritis. Many people still do not recognize early signs of arthritis, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. However, the Arthritis Foundation has set out to combat arthritis and “[envisions] a world where all people with arthritis are living a life without limits” (Arthritis Foundation). The organization aims to connect those with arthritis with others who understand the challenges. It also works to influence healthcare policies and works to develop effective arthritis treatments.
The Arthritis Foundation is hosting its 40th year of its infamous fundraiser, the Jingle Bell Run. Together, on 12/8 at 8:00am, participants wear holiday attire to walk or run to raise funds to support arthritis treatments and local programs. Help the organization fight arthritis by signing up below!
Works Cited
“About Arthritis and Ra.” Global RA Network, globalranetwork.org/project/disease-info/. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
“About Us: Arthritis Foundation.” About Us | Arthritis Foundation, www.arthritis.org/about-us. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
“Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment.” Edited by David Zelman, WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/arthritis/understanding-arthritis-treatment. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
“For Arthritis Patients, Good Support Can Be Hard to Find.” The Rheumatologist, 28 Sept. 2023, www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/for-arthritis-patients-good-support-can-be-hard-to-find/.
Macon, Brindles Lee. “Arthritis: What It Is, Symptoms, Causes, and More.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 2 Feb. 2023, www.healthline.com/health/arthritis#treatments.
“Osteoarthritis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 16 June 2021, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351925.
“Sue’s Story.” Arthritis Action, 19 Apr. 2023, www.arthritisaction.org.uk/living-with-arthritis/sue/.