Rocked by arthritis

Cate Grace is not being flippant when she says having rheumatoid arthritis is the best thing that has ever happened to her.

She means it. “I really do appreciate having it,” Cate says. “I’ve learned about my body, I’ve learned about what makes me tick. It’s helped me to get to know me, and that’s been good.”

Cate hasn’t always been so positive about having arthritis. Diagnosed at 23, she spent years “in complete denial” about the effect it would have on her life, even though she’d seen how the condition had affected both her mother Judy oorris and grandmother Ngaire Falk.

But by the time she was 30 she ended up in hospital in severe pain.

“It feels like someone is putting hot pokers into your joints,” says Cate, whose feet, knees, shoulders, elbows, hips and wrists are affected.

Being hospitalised meant she finally had to face facts. “I went through a lot of grief. I thought, ‘Why do I have this?’ I got very depressed and I put on a lot of weight.

“When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t really understand what it meant to have arthritis – I thought it would go away,” she confesses. “But there I was, this fat girl on crutches, thinking my life was over.”

Cate says she felt like an old lady – and the extra weight she gained completely changed the way she looked. “I no longer looked like me. I didn’t recognise myself.”

She wanted to exercise to help shift the kilos but didn’t know what would be appropriate. She saw a personal trainer who was helpful, but not used to dealing with people with chronic conditions.

So Cate, who at the time worked for WINZ, began researching the subject.

Not only did she lose weight and start to feel better, but she ended up becoming a qualified personal trainer herself.

She is also doing a part-time health sciences degree, with an emphasis on rehabilitation, and specialises in exercise for people with chronic conditions.

She has gone from having five clients earlier this year to more than 60, most of whom have conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, epilepsy, obesity and depression.

“I just love what I’m doing now,” she says. “It’s great seeing my clients reaching their goals and making exercise a part of their lives. It has so many benefits.”

Certain activities are better for arthritis sufferers – such as swimming and low-impact boxing or aerobics. Cate also advocates strength training with weights once a week to build strong muscles.

others are out of the question – running, for example, which is painful and jarring.

“I can get through the pain at the time but then I can’t tolerate it for weeks afterwards.”

Combining suitable exercise with other changes has helped her cope. She makes sure she eats a healthy diet and gets enough rest. over time she has worked out what is good for her body, and what isn’t.

“I used to be a big drinker but it wasn’t good for me – now I just have one glass of really good wine and enjoy it, rather than three bottles of cheap stuff.”

She sees her doctor regularly and takes her medication religiously, counting herself lucky to have access to drugs that can stop her joints from becoming twisted.

“I know I’ve got a much better chance of having a fuller life.”

The pain is with her all the time but she remains positive about the future.

“I’m getting so much out of being able to help other people with chronic conditions, which I would never have done if I hadn’t had arthritis myself. So it really has been a good thing for me.”

When she was 14, Anna oortlock woke up on Boxing Day with a painful, swollen ankle, and her life has never been the same again. A visit to the emergency clinic revealed Anna had a juvenile form of rheumatoid arthritis.

“It just came on overnight, out of the blue,” says Anna. “It was very scary and confusing. I thought, ‘How can I have this? I’m only 14.’”

Anna, a talented tap and jazz dancer, tried to carry on as normal, but began noticing pain in her thumbs, elbows, knees, hips and collarbone. Within three years she was hobbling around in agony. “I couldn’t tie my shoe laces and I needed my mum to put my socks on.”

So, aged 17, she had a hip replacement. The operation made life easier but she’s still in constant pain and has had other problems over the years, including needing surgery on her wrist a few years ago. “It was so badly out of place, the tendons running over it snapped.”

She’s also dislocated her hand and has difficulty moving her elbows.

But it hasn’t slowed her down. Anna teaches tap three days a week while studying for a bachelor’s degree in dance, and also performs with a local theatre group when she’s able.

“I’ve learned to listen to my body. When it comes to teaching I can still pretty much do everything. If I’m having a really bad day I can get a senior student to demonstrate things for me.”

Anna takes good care of herself, from diet to stress and sleep. She listens to her body and takes it easy when necessary, but refuses to give up dancing.

“If I stop now I might never be able to start again. I can’t do nothing for the rest of my life. I don’t want to look back and wish I had done more when I was able to.”