Come along and learn more about arthritis and self-care, including pain management, exercise and much more. When: Wednesday 25 October 2017, 10.00am – 2.30pm Where: Churton Park Community Centre, 75 Lakewood Avenue, Churton Who: Robyn Tuohy, Arthritis Educator...

Take charge of your arthritis with a new phone coaching service available throughout the Waikato DHB region.  Call 0800 663 463 to sign on for three months of a telephone coaching service, and learn how to: Understand your arthritis Manage pain Gain skills for the...

Beyond joint replacement, what other solutions are there for arthritis pain? Come along and learn about how pain works, exercise, weight loss, medications and more. When: Friday 17 November 9.30am – 11.30am Where: Pohutukawa Room, Kapiti Community Centre, 15 Ngahini...

Come along and learn how to make a flare-up plan for your arthritis. See what strategies work best, and about some of the great equipment that’s on offer to help you through. When Thursday 23 November 10.00am – 12.00pm Where Paraparaumu Library Meeting Room, 9 Iver...

Come along to this drop-in clinic on 14 November 2017 from 11.30am-2.30pm. Broadlands Drive, Rolleston. Arthritis Educators Carolyn Wood and Allan Desquitado will answer any questions you may have about living with arthritis. The Foyer, Selwyn Aquatic Centre. No swim...

People with arthritis in the Waikato DHB area now have access to personalised telephone coaching from Arthritis New Zealand. The service is designed to help people manage their pain and other symptoms, improve their quality of life and slow the progression of the...

Our new CEO It is with great pleasure we announce the appointment of Philip Kearney as the Chief Executive Officer at Arthritis New Zealand. Philip's many accomplishments include his roles as Director, Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Otago,...

Do you have a child who has been diagnosed with arthritis or another rheumatological condition in the past year? Applications are now invited for places at the 2018 Arthritis New Zealand Children’s Camp on 23 – 25 February, 2018 in Matamata. What does camp involve?...

Questions​ ​about​ ​arthritis? Come​ ​along​ ​and​ ​learn​ ​more​ ​with​ ​Arthritis Educator​ ​Zoe​ ​Pullman​ ​in​ ​a​ ​small,​ ​friendly​ ​group clinic.​ ​Topics​ ​include​ ​exercise,​ ​managing​ ​pain and​ ​fatigue,​ ​medications,​ ​and​ ​sleep. When: Thursday​ ​9​...

Come along and find out more about the role of exercise in managing arthritis, and the activities available in your community.   When: Thursday 2 November 2017, 11.00am -12.30pm Where: YMCA, Somme Road,Heretaunga, Upper Hutt Presenters Arthritis Educator:  Robyn Tuohy...

Exercise for thumb arthritis There is increasing evidence for the benefits of strengthening exercises for thumb arthritis. Exactly which exercises? Still nothing specific from the literature! Go for pain-free We try and give pain-free exercises whenever we can,...

“Your disease is something you have, not who you are.” “Don’t let your disease define you.” These are common phrases those with chronic illness often hear. When I think about it the flip side of these sayings, though, I realise that chronic illness is a major factor...

It’s pretty easy to forget about looking after ourselves some days, especially if we have a lot of things going on, or we are having a bad health day. A chronic health condition certainly makes this a little harder than ‘normal’, and the stress of daily living can get...

Yes, I know I am young and to you I look perfectly healthy sitting inside my car. I can see it in your eyes – you have already judged me before I’ve even attempted to move. I bet you didn't know that I get nervous butterflies every time I pull into that park. I...

Oh bother, it’s time; and, look, outside it’s dark and raining again. No, it’s hail too, wow, it must be cold, time for the Swanndri. Bah, it’s a struggle, what is it now? Oh of course, yesterday on the river with the whitebaiters in the rain, must’ve gotten wetter...

This blog takes six hours to write up, on average. During the working week I spend a total of 56 hours at home, including sleep time. I struggle with reading and writing, always have, probably always will. What to say? Where to start? Letters, words, and sentences...

Exercise for thumb arthritis An increasing body of evidence is out there for the benefits of strengthening exercises for thumb arthritis. Exactly which exercises? Still nothing specific from the literature! Go for pain-free We try and give pain-free exercises whenever...

Osteoarthritis of the thumb is one of the main arthritic problems that a hand therapist* can help with. The joint in question is the one at the very base of the thumb down near the wrist joint. You may hear the term ‘CMC’ joint being referred to, or the ‘basal joint...

It is 6 o'clock at night and I have finally finished work for the day. I head to the fridge to check what I can cook for dinner. In another life I was a chef and loved to cook. Now I dread it. Oh goody, mince again. Maybe lasagne? The thought fills me with dread. Not...

The iciness quickly cut through to the bone as I walked to the beach. Then the pain transferred to the cutting of razor sharp edges of oyster shells and dull bites of stones on bones as they hit pressure points of my feet.

I started gripping the toilet-roll-holder as a ‘push me up.’ However, while this helped me to get back on my feet, it still caused a nasty crunching pain in my knee. I was also concerned that one day the toilet roll holder would give way, causing both me and the toilet wall a significant problem.

what’s often overlooked with many chronic illnesses and disabilities is the way they can shape you in positive ways as a person. I think I would have grown up to relate to the world in a different way if I hadn’t had arthritis since childhood; not necessarily in a better way or a worse way, just differently. Some of the aspects of my character that I’m most proud of have, I think, been enhanced by the experiences I’ve had. Let me elaborate.

Dear pharmaceutical companies,

I’m really reliant on you guys right now. These last few weeks I’ve realised just how reliant.

You see, I need your medications to lower my immune system’s response. Your creations keep me moving. They give me the ability to get up in the morning, care for my children, walk my youngest daughter to school, go to work, attend university, use a knife and fork, cook meals, and sometimes if I’m lucky, they give me the energy to catch up with my friends and have a good time.

Find what works for you. Keep some energy for enjoyable activities. Hang in there and don’t go it alone – reach out for support. Spring is just around the corner!

I would encourage you not to be afraid or embarrassed to talk to your GP or rheumatologist if you’re struggling with insomnia, anxiety, mood swings, lack of appetite or feelings of exhaustion. Six months on an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication may make all the difference to you. It never hurts to ask.

A key task for me in my work at Arthritis New Zealand is promoting awareness and services about gout amongst Pacific communities. Gout is the second most common form of arthritis in New Zealand and more prevalent here per head of population than anywhere else in the world. More than 160,000 people were diagnosed with gout in 2014 and 22,000 of these were Pacific people.

I learnt a lesson last year while taking this arthritic body on holiday. Here we were in scenic Queenstown on a coach tour when a last-minute change of hotels meant my request for a room with a walk-in shower was a ‘no go.’ All the rooms in this hotel had a shower...

As with anything else, the tougher and more distant the gain, the more satisfying the reward. Walking to location in the pre-dawn half-light, I’m sure that my forever trusty tripod has turned into the heaviest dark slithering wet beastie with a life of its own.

Today’s words come to you courtesy of something all who live with ART (my nickname for arthritis) will understand, I'm sure. Next month I take part in my toughest cycling challenge yet – the Le Mans Pearl Izumi 24H Velo. Apart from the physical training, the mental...

Tim Neal lives with osteoarthritis and has endured several major operations on his joints. But that won’t stop him competing next month in the Le Mans Pearl Izumi 24 hour cycling race in France and raising money for Arthritis New Zealand. Tim was first diagnosed with...