Wednesday 13 July 2016

World Arthritis Day


World Arthritis Day falls on October 12th 2016, and this years theme is all about taking control 'it's in your hands, take action!', because that is just what the people living with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases are doing every single day, whether it's just getting out of bed and making it through the day with a smile on their face, despite the pain they are enduring on a daily basis, they are taking control and they are living their lives.

If you aren't familiar with Repetative Motion Disorders (RMDs) then here are a few facts and figures to get you a little more acquainted. Maybe you know someone who suffers with arthritis but don't understand the extent of the condition?

RMDs are commonly classified into inflammatory and non-inflammatory types:

- Common Non-Inflamatory RMDs
Degenerative spine diseases, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis and Fibromyalgia

- Comon Inflammatory RMDs 
Rheumatoid Artiritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Reactive Arthritis, Connective Tissue Disease and Polymyalgia Rheaumatica

The fact is that RMDs affect a quarter of all people in the European Union, which is a whopping 120 million people (Figures taken prior to Brexit...) and almost every family unit is effected in some way shape or form by RMD, for me it's my Mother, she has been living with Rheumatoid Arthritis for more years than I can remember, and my Grandad also suffers with it, and in recent months has gone on to have a knee replacement.

Living in pain is hard, and I don't think that anyone can truly understand the hardship until they live it for themselves. That is exactly why Premier Bathrooms have launched their very own campaign to demonstrate just how strong the people who live their daily lives with Arthritis really are.




The Premier Bathrooms Seconds Matter Campaign  introduces Nick and his twin brother John. Nick slips into a Arthritis simulation suit, while his brother carries out his normal day to day errands. The twins highlight the contrast between how an able-bodied person copes when their mobility is suddenly taken away or restricted.

It is very easy for the likes of you and I to 'think' we could deal with it if that card was dealt to us, but could we really adapt to living with everyday pain and still show the world a smile? Could we accept that simply getting out of bed and getting to the bus stop would be laced with additional challenges that could mean we would never make it to the bus stop in time?

What does a second mean to you? I mean a second is no time at all right? Now imagine adding seconds, or minutes onto everything that you need to get done. Imagine brushing your teeth being a painful and scrutinizing task that could very well mean you won't make it to work on time that morning.

I think this video is incredibly eye opening, and for me it really highlights what people living with this illness have to endure on a daily basis. You can get involved with World Arthritis Day as an individual or as a business, and I think this a condition that deserves to be highlighted and given a wider acceptance and understanding.




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