Staying Active With Arthritis

Growing up, I was an active child, and I carried that lifestyle into adulthood. As an occupational therapist at an assisted living community, I spend a lot of time coming up with programs to keep seniors active. However, when I was in my early 30s, I noticed a painful spot on my foot that was aggravated when I played outside with my children. My initial thought was that I needed new shoes. After purchasing a new pair and performing various stretching exercises, I realized the painful spot felt like a bone spur. I knew I needed to get it checked out.

My Arthritis Diagnosis

I visited a rheumatologist who diagnosed me with osteoarthritis -- the most common chronic condition of the joints, which affects about 27 million Americans. While arthritis runs in my family, I was a bit surprised to receive this diagnosis at such a young age. In my professional career, I've worked with patients living with all forms of arthritis. So, I'm aware of the signs, symptoms and the impact arthritis can have on people. Often, my work involves making modifications for seniors who have limited mobility and dexterity resulting from living with rheumatoid arthritis before the availability of today's biologic medications. These changes range from replacing zippers and buttons on clothing with more user-friendly Velcro strips to modifying activities so it's possible to continue doing them, like bowling from a seated position.

While the effects of arthritis can sometimes seem overwhelming, I also see how an active lifestyle can benefit people living with the disease. Most people worry that exercising with arthritis can harm joints. But research shows that exercise can be an effective method for reducing pain and improving movement in patients with certain types of arthritis. This has given me hope and motivation as I've gone through treatment, including surgery, for my arthritis and, most importantly, it's been a source of comfort since my daughter was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis.

My Daughter's Story

Starting around age 5, my daughter Laniese developed a love of basketball and she dreamed she'd one day play on the high school team when she got older. However at age 9, she was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, a disease affecting nearly 300,000 children in the United States. Her first question was, "Can I play basketball?" At the time, the answer was no. But today, she's playing on her high school team and running cross country in the off-season.

Despite my shock when we received Laniese's diagnosis, I knew that because I'm living with arthritis meant I was in a better position to help her manage the disease. I have encouraged Laniese to always be active, which is fairly easy when you have a child who is passionate about a sport. Although she has her bad days and must encourage her teammates from the bench sometimes, she has overcome many obstacles to reach her dreams and has learned a lot along the way.

One of the key things she has learned is the importance of continuing to move when living with arthritis. Laniese noticed she experienced more flare-ups in the off-season because her activity level decreased. For this reason, she decided to start running cross country. While activity can be good for the disease, there's a tricky balance between resting your body and staying active. As a mother and adult living with arthritis, I stress the importance of knowing when it's appropriate to push through and when you need to rest.

Our Story

Since our diagnoses, Laniese and I have discovered several ways to stay active. We go on walks, ride bikes, shoot hoops in the driveway and even do aerobic exercise programs together, such as yoga and pilates. Every year around the holidays, we participate in the Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Run/Walk in our community. This is a fun and festive holiday-themed 5K, held in major cities throughout the U.S., that brings together supporters and people living with arthritis to raise funds and awareness.

Although we both experience difficult days, Laniese and I want to inspire those with arthritis to stay strong and keep pushing through. It's important to stay active and to find a sport or hobby that you enjoy. If you or someone you know is suffering from arthritis, I hope our story provides encouragement. While living with arthritis can be challenging, we find inspiration in the Arthritis Foundation's mantra, which champions people saying, "Yes" to overcoming everyday struggles and participating in the activities that bring enjoyment.

Staci Penner lives with her husband and two children in North Newton, Kansas. She is an occupational therapist, with a degree from the University of Kansas, and has worked with patients of all ages. Staci was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her 30s and her daughter was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis five years ago at the age of 9. Staci and her daughter travel to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri every five weeks for her daughter's JA treatments. Staci seeks to raise awareness for all who are diagnosed with arthritis, especially children affected by JA.