January 9, 2013
Niki wrote:
It’s look like another athlete has Rheumatoid Arthritis. 
“The dual Olympian, 23, was diagnosed with the chronic condition in 2010 and requires weekly Methotrexate medication – also used to treat cancer patients.
At its worst before treatment began, Bobridge was at times unable to open a soft-drink bottle, struggled to put on his socks and was bed-ridden because of aching joints.”
Read the complete article here.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/cyclist-jack-bobridge-reveals-rheumatoid-arthritis-pain/story-fngr0c3d-1226549814678
What our members have said so far:
Cair – I hope treatment helps him carry on with his career because it would be awful to give up something you live and breathe due to illness. I know what it felt like to stop a keen hobby. I still miss hill climbing so much – well maybe someday or something akin to it anyway… Maybe he will be interested in helping to raise awareness.
Rebecca – Too bad we all cant keep our athleticism when RA hits
Cair – Ah I see he is interested in setting up a foundation – Good Stuff!
June – Thanks mate
Toni – I hope he can continue to do what he loves. So many of us though can’t. I do like that he is offering to bring more awareness for RA! So many try to hide that they even have it!
Rosa – And so many more think we exaggerate when we’re in pain….little do they know that this kind of pain is worse than having a broken bone….
Christy – I think it is great when “known” people come out with RA or other autoimmune diseases. It brings knowledge and a face to these conditions. I worry a little that people will automatically think that if we all just try that med that we can bike ride in the Olympics, too, but that is overshadowed by my happiness that he has his so controlled that he can continue doing what he loves for now. It inspires us to find the right med combo for ourselves to get that little bit more back that we’ve lost to RA so far. Pauline Isaac is this saying if you have RA you can be an Olympian, well in that case the ten steps to my toilet i can do in fifteen minutes, but only every so often and will probably fail the drugs test!
Amanda – Someone in the public eye who can raise some awareness and money for much needed research can only be a good thing because God knows we are all suffering and there HAS to be an answer .
Terri – It’s inspiring to see people who are battling RA and winning.
Amanda – I feel for him. Poor fellow. Stay strong
Mary – I love seeing athletes who continue to train and compete and kick RA’s butt!
Carol – I can’t open a soda bottle or anything else without a tool to help me. Yesterday I couldn’t get my socks on either for the 1st time. This truly sucks! My typing is severely hampered now too because my fingers lock up. What’s next? I hope he does well on mtx and goes on to compete again!!
Andrea – I wish him the best but if he does a “Phil Mickelson-like” commercial I may scream.
Deborah – Not happy that he has RA but glad that more and more people are becoming educated about it. People look at me like I must be lying when I tell them I have this so at certain times I can’t do certain things. Even though I try to lead as normal a life as possible. But, at the end of the day my bed is of more comfort than you can imagine. I push, push, push myself even when in pain. Does anyone else with RA do that and do you think it helps or harms me?
Jessica – Go him to continue being an athlete with RA!!!!
Ann – I wish him the best and all of us.I think we need famous people talk about RA.People don’t understand how bad this hurts or sick we feel.
Alex – Hope he speaks truth about the disease and not marketing.
Carol – Yes, he will make a great ambassador–with his worldwide cycling tours, he can spread the word as he has the utility to do so.
Shelly – This is very sad. Though I find it frustrating that he said he forgets he has RA while on MTX. It causes society to think it’s not a big deal because while medication you forget you have it. While it may be true for him, for a large portion of people- like me- that is not the case. It’s exhausting to explain RA and why you are still sick while on medications.
Vee – Just the opening paragraph made me think, welcome to our living hell. Shelly you have said a mouthful. I have a hard time explaining to people that ten years ago I could barely walk, my jaws were darned near locked and i could not eat or talk clearly. The beauty of the medication is the relief and ability to do SOMETHING. I had an Orencia infusion Monday. I have cleaned my apartment, done the wash (three weeks worth) and am about to cook some meals to stockpile for the “off” days. I only present myself when I feel well so they have no idea what I deal with. Tomorrow may not go as well but things are better than they used to be.
Kelly – @ Debra, While we all push to have normal as possible life, when pain is high or your in middle of flair up, it’s really important not to overdo …. There r days I just have to have a ” rest” day or two. If not I can’t recooperate … Good luck!!!
Debi – Vee, I had a problem with my jaw too and they thought I had TMJ, Iwent thru the Oral surgeon exam and mouth guard and by the time I did all that, it cleared up. The pain and locking in my jaw went away. I am the same as you, I tend not to let people see me when I am bad but I think that is a mistake now and I am letting people know more that I just can’t do the stuff I used to. Glad you are doing better now. I hate RA. Hugs
Charla – I feel so bad for him, onset is the worst. My onset was a violent one, I was disabled completely for a couple of months until they got me on a medication, and they had to admit it was RA, instead of the “Gout” they kept insisting on. I wish they didn’t take so long to diagnose, it would save a lot of time if they could prescribe a working medication earlier rather than later.
RA Warriors Philippines – RA is not for wimps…Real men fight RA!
Michelle – um he must not full blown because meds barely make me ok let alone in a 2% gap that affects my immune system more then others.it attacks our body and immune attacks us but can’t get my immune response to back off.still frustrating,especially since he told me that this past year.i guess i’m a complicated case rheumy said. Now people really will think RA isn’t that bad. sorry but he can’t have it bad yet,only the beginning stuff it sounds like.when I had JA age 7 i did gymnastics and ankles got black and blue and went to p.t. all the time.i just thought it was regular arthritis.then the ravage slowly took me with spells that let up and past ten yrs let alone 7 have continually been nightmare. wish him the best but noooo way he has it bad yet. grrrr
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