YOUNG PEOPLE GET ARTHRITIS TOO!
Monday 17 March, 2014 – Arthritis & Osteoporosis Victoria’s young Ambassador, Nicole Yeomans was diagnosed
with juvenile idiopathic arthritis when she was just 18 months old. Now, at 26, she has rheumatoid arthritis and is
busting myths about one of the oldest known diseases during Arthritis Awareness Week (23 – 30 March).
“Growing up, I thought it was normal to have pain. It wasn’t until I started going to school that I realised that not all
children had to put ice packs on their knees to cope with the pain,” said Nicole.
When Nicole was in high school, she was unable to finish a six-day hike to the top of Mt Speculation due to her
condition. She promised her teacher that one day she’d come back and finish it. And she did. With a group of friends
she made it to the top of Mt Speculation, at the same time raised $18,745 for Arthritis & Osteoporosis Victoria’s kids
program.
Nicole is one of the 1.5 million Victorians living with arthritis or one of more than 100 other musculoskeletal
conditions.
Linda Martin, CEO of Arthritis & Osteoporosis Victoria said that it is a myth that only older people get arthritis.
“Our report, A Problem Worth Solving revealed that 58.4% of the 6.1 million Australian cases are in the prime
working age bracket of 25 to 64 years. In Victoria alone there are around 54,000 cases of younger people who live
with a painful musculoskeletal (MSK) condition. Even babies have arthritis,” said Ms Martin.
“In addition to the debilitating pain of MSK conditions such as arthritis, the economic pain to Australia is enormous –
now costing $55.1 billion (in 2012) and rising. It affects more people than any other health priority area including
heart disease, mental health, obesity and cancer. The time for action is now.”
Nicky has learnt how to self manage her pain and has recently started an exciting career as a digital producer in
Melbourne. She wants others to know that there is help and they can start by celebrating Arthritis Awareness Week
at one of the many events and activities happening across the state, including:
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Tai Chi and Nordic Walking demonstrations on St Kilda Beach – Sunday 23 March
Donate to the Myth busting Arthritis Appeal – www.arthritisvic.org.au
Participate in one of our ‘Help Our Help Line’ sausage sizzles and fundraising events being held by A&OV’s peer
support groups across Victoria – various dates & locations
Visit our Information stand in the QV Centre cnr Lonsdale & Russell Sts, Melbourne – underground level near Woolies
& Big W – all week
Watch out for Tai Chi flash mobs in the CBD
Information stand at the Austin Hospital Rheumatology Clinic – Tues 25 March
Tai Chi for Arthritis Leader Training (2-day course for health professionals, sports science graduates, fitness
instructors, Tai Chi teachers) – Elsternwick - 29 & 30 March
Join the A&OV Team ‘Moving It Not Losing It’ for Run Melbourne – 27 July
Sign up for our annual conference ‘SLEEP PLAY LIVE’ and hear from experts at St Kilda Town Hall or tune in online via
the live webcast – 22 June
“If you’ve got a bad back, sore neck, tennis elbow, wobbly knees, agonizing hips, aching joints, fingers, toes, feet …
basically if you’ve got pain anywhere, Arthritis & Osteoporosis Victoria will help get you moving again. And if you
happen upon a tai chi flash mob during the week, feel free to join in,” said Nicole.
To donate to Myth busting Arthritis Appeal call 1 800 011 041 or www.arthritisvic.org.au
To talk to a nurse, call the free A&OV Help Line on 1 800 263 265.
Media contact: Jodie Harrison
T: (03) 8531 8024
M: 0425 754 370
www.arthritisvic.org.au
[email protected]
About Arthritis & Osteoporosis Victoria
Arthritis & Osteoporosis Victoria is the State’s peak body representing 1.5 million Victorians who live with arthritis,
osteoporosis and over 100 other musculoskeletal conditions. We receive only $32,000 in recurrent funding from the
Victorian Government and rely on the generosity and support of our donors to provide important services, advocacy,
information, education and research.
More arthritis myth busting
1. Myth - Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis - Studies show no change in occurrence of arthritis between
‘habitual knuckle-crackers’ and ‘non crackers’. ‘Knuckle-cracking’ in people with weak or damaged joints due
to arthritis could potentially lead to ligament injury or acute trauma to the joints but it does not cause it.
2. Myth - Exercise will make your arthritis worse - Exercise is medicine! In fact if exercise were a pill, chemists
would fill their shelves with it. There are volumes of research that prove that exercise keeps your joints
moving. At Arthritis and Osteoporosis Victoria we are committed to making physical activity available to all
people and together with your help we can ensure that people of all ages with a musculoskeletal condition
learn how to positively manage their condition.
3. Myth - Bed rest is the best thing for back pain - When pain flares up in your back, it is very tempting to
simply curl up in bed. Bed rest may be recommended when pain is especially severe; however making it a
daily habit will only intensify the discomfort. Gentle movements or stretching will work better to relieve the
pain than bed rest. Doing this will also release pain relieving neurotransmitters such as dopamine and
serotonin. Moving through the pain will help to relieve it. Always consult a health professional to discuss
appropriate exercise for your needs.
4. Myth - It’s not that big a problem - In fact, it’s a huge problem! Musculoskeletal conditions affect 6.1
million Australians with a 43% growth in cases projected over the next two decades. It cost the economy
$55.1 billion in 2012 and that figure is rising. Yet, we only receive minimal government support…that’s why
we need yours!
5. Myth - You just have to learn to live with the pain – nothing can be done. Something can be done. You may
have experienced that feeling of hopelessness on being told that nothing can be done about your condition
and the pain associated with it. The impact that a myth such as this has on people living daily with pain can
be enormously damaging. Through physical activity, participating in self management courses or attending
seminars, you can learn how to manage pain, feel more in control of your condition and improve your
general well being.
Available for media photo opportunities/interviews:
 Tai Chi and Nordic Walking demonstrations on St Kilda Beach – Sunday 23 March
 Kids & Families Gathering – Collingwood Children’s Farm – Sunday 30 March 11am to 3pm
 Tai Chi Flash Mob – Melbourne CBD
 Linda Martin - CEO Arthritis & Osteoporosis Victoria
 Nicky Yeomans – A&OV Young Ambassador
 Assoc Professor Andrew Briggs - Manager of Research, Knowledge & Policy, A&OV
 Lisa Halfyard – lives with osteoarthritis (has had five leg breaks). Will be in the A&OV Team ‘Moving It Not
Losing It’ for Run Melbourne
 Noel Smith (Lead Ambassador for A&OV) – lived with arthritis since childhood. Multiple surgeries/hip
replacements. Noel also Chairs the Public Transport Access Committee and Austin Health Consumer Advisory
Committee
 Kim Stanbury – Retail Manager of QV Centre – 39 yr-old working mother who has had a hip replacement due
to osteoarthritis
 Dr Ian Relf, MBBS, BSc(Hons), MSc, Dip RACOG, FRACGP, FAMAC - Ian has 20 years of medical experience as
a General Practitioner. He has wide practical experience in Medical Research including holding a current
$600K National Research Grant in Arthritis and Knee Pain at Melbourne University (Research Fellow). Ian is
National President Australian Medical Acupuncture College. He is a mentor and lecturer for Monash
University Department of General Practice and serves on the Board of A&OV.