Improving the life of every person in New Zealand affected by arthritis

Questions about arthritis? Come along to this drop-in clinic in Westport. We’re here to answer your questions about symptoms, managing pain and nutrition. No booking required – just come along. When: Wednesday 10 October, 2017, 11.00am – 1.00pm Where: Black Room,...

Questions about arthritis? Come along to this drop-in clinic in Westport. We’re here to answer your questions about symptoms, managing pain and nutrition. No booking required – just come along. When: Tuesday 10 October, 2017, 11.00am – 2.00pm Where: Last Resort Café,...

Questions about arthritis? Come along to this drop-in clinic in Westport. We’re here to answer your questions about symptoms, managing pain and nutrition. No booking required – just come along. When: Monday 9 October, 2017, 2.00pm – 4.00pm Where: Westport Bridge Club,...

The ASB Summer Starter is a 10km fun run or walk from New Brighton Pier to Redcliff’s Park in Christchurch. Taking place on Sunday, 26th November Cantabrians and visitors to the region will be able to walk, run, skip, or roll the 10km course and fundraise...

Are you thinking of taking on a personal challenge this year? Well why not fundraise for Arthritis New Zealand at the same time, you will be helping support the 530,000 New Zealanders living with arthritis… The ASB Auckland Marathon is New Zealand's...

Do you have arthritis? Make an appointment for a one-to-one consultation with Arthritis Educator Zoe Pullman and learn about exercise, pain management, medications and more. WHEN: Thursday 28 September 2017 Appointments available 9.00am – 5.00pm WHERE: Miramar...

Are you living with arthritis? It doesn’t have to hold you back! Come along and learn about arthritis and self-care, managing pain, exercise, and much more. Presented by registered nurse Dave Cox, the session is on Thursday 28 September 2017 at Sir James Wattie Room,...

Make the most of the spring fever in the air and get your dancing shoes on for the Orange Zumba Party on 24 September. The event will be hosted by Dance Soar at 43 Ellerton Road, Mt Eden in Auckland, from 9-10am. RSVP to Darshana on 022 013 5820 and get ready to ZUMBA!

Arthritis New Zealand says the increase in elective surgery announced by the Prime Minister today needs to be matched with early intervention and treatment to reduce the pain and suffering of people living with arthritis. Arthritis New Zealand’s Chief Executive,...

Arthritis New Zealand today expressed concern that medications that are waiting for Pharmac funding could be overlooked because of publicity about new treatments. Ninety-four medicines are currently waiting for a pharmaceutical schedule listing by Pharmac following...

Politics matters! We know that more than 620,000 people have a diagnosis of arthritis. If even 10 percent of those people contacted their local MP they would be a formidable voice for change. How can we make sure this happens? This year’s election campaign is a...

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...

Having ankylosing spondylitis has taught me many things. I was always shy and quiet. I never spoke up for myself and would never ask for help. Over the years I have found my voice, both in talking with doctors and by sharing my journey with people.

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...

Two years ago I left my rheumatologist’s office with nothing more than advice. No further treatment options were available. There was no magic pill to make my pain disappear. Over 30 years of searching for an answer and I finally had a diagnosis. I had a name –...

If you’ve had arthritis a while, the chances are that someone (or perhaps many people) have reminded you of the importance of exercise for managing arthritis. The medical professionals are right about that – exercise is a helpful tool for pain management. In fact,...

I’ve been struggling all week to come up with a topic for this blog post. I haven’t felt particularly inspired or creative and have been struggling just to manage day-to-day life. I’ve put it down to the fact that my arthritis has been flaring a bit this week, nothing...

I was walking to my car when I dropped my keys. I stood staring at them. I was alone on the large expanse of grass at university. No one was around to help. Now what? Arthritis arrives I was only seven years old when I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis...

“That is all I want in life: for this pain to seem purposeful.” - Elizabeth Wurtzel "Your daughter has systemic lupus erythematosus." It was six simple words, strung together in a sentence that would dramatically change a young family’s life, as they nervously sat in...

Another long week at work with 50-plus hours on the clock... again, the extrication of self out of an extremely warm, soft and cosy bed on this cold autumnal morning is a toughie. I have to wake up anyway, even if only to silence the alarm that is yet to go off at...