Disability

The answer for me is ‘Yes’ as it has done (permanent disability) but hopefully for folk diagnosed more recently and able to take the the newer drugs - anti -TNF’s and biologics - this may no longer be the case. I’m into my 5th decade of living with this. Misdiagnosed/undiagnosed for the first two decades of that, so untreated! It has munched its way through multiple joints, took my sight with cataracts from steroids ( thankfully reversed) and caused hearing loss and the need to start using hearing aids. Along the way I’ve had multiple joint fusion surgeries, developed spinal problems needing remedial surgery and other treatment, had two bouts of Sepsis from out of control infections and multiple stays in an isolation room at the hospital with Neutropaenia! There’s likely some things that I’ve forgotten - oh yes, secondary Sjogrun’s syndrome, carpal tunnel inflammation bilaterally, trigger finger bilaterally, inflamed Achilles tendons and Plantar Fasciitis!


My career ended 11 years before state retirement age due to being unable to continue working - too many infections from contact with the public and crippling pain.
Despite all this (and the chronic kidney disease since birth) I have a sense of humour and despite my life having become much smaller since the pandemic it is rich in love and friendship with family close by and my adult daughter sharing a house with me (acting as Carer when needed) and the joys of 4 small grandchildren. Thankfully I have always been a ‘cup half-full’ person and practice Gratitude daily for my many blessings.

In terms of depression- living with a chronic, deteriorating, painful condition can be off itself ‘depressing ‘ and there is definitely a period of adjustment after diagnosis that is akin to grieving and can take some time (and years) to work through. Thankfully, unlike my grandmother’s generation we do now have treatments other than mega doses of aspirin and then mega doses of ‘Brufen’ (her term, I think it was early ibuprofen). And it’s no longer a certainty that the diagnosis will lead to a life in a wheelchair. But all these new treatments come with side effects some of them very unpleasant so it can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride with settled on treatment periods followed by disruptive periods of ‘it’s not working anymore’.
And whatever treatment you have catching a bug/virus then flaring painfully for several weeks can be miserable.

As a retired therapist I can tell you that statistically 80% of people who have any type of arthritis whether inflammatory (RA) or wear and tear (OA) experience at least one bout of depression requiring medical attention from a doctor. So it is enormously common and of an ‘adjustment’ or ‘situational’ type of depression.

The key thing is to find ‘your tribe’ - other folk living with the same condition in all its many forms are the best source of support, information and normalising the things that are happening to you and your body. I wish that the internet had been around in my 20’s - the sheer comfort of being able to find others living with the same condition and the access to up to date information is huge.
I read the Journal of Rheumatology online and research new developments or symptoms/conditions that I develop and can therefore go to my Rheumatology appointments armed with questions, evidence and sometimes information that they haven’t yet read themselves. This allows me to be an equal in the management of my condition (s).

One of my frustrations about being limited physically is eased greatly by the fact that, despite occasional brain fog, my mind works fine. So reading widely, listening to blogs and podcasts, watching U Tube videos of lectures and talks occupies my mental energy when my physical ability lags way behind.

If you do become depressed then talk to someone about how you are feeling, there are disease specific help lines that offer talking support. Or ask for a referral to counselling or therapy - look for someone who has an interest in long term health conditions. If you don’t ‘click’ with them then try someone else until you find ‘your person’. It is hugely helpful to be able to talk to and offload (constructively) to someone who is not involved in your life in any other way. They can help you unlock your stuck points and speak your truth about the reality of your daily life with this disease. So often society only wants to hear “I’m fine” and expects you to be silent about your suffering and frustration and appear ‘marvellous’ ! Speaking in confidence to a helpline/ counsellor/or therapist gives you the opportunity to be truly heard and be allowed to be honest without worrying about hurting anyone’s feelings.

This site is great because it opens up those conversations about the tough stuff and I really appreciate the efforts of the community managers/moderators in opening up discussions, supporting folk and keeping things honest but upbeat.

Happy New Year 2025! I hope that you have the best year that you can😀

Cece xx

, I don't think I can add much more to the thorough information Cece already shared. As she said, RA does and can cause permanent damage (one of the reasons getting early treatment can be so critical), but that doesn't necessarily mean it will result in permanent disability for everyone. Here's a link to some RA Myths and Facts, https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/what-is-ra/myths-and-facts. I want to direct you attention to Myth 3, "MYTH 3: Even with early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, damage and disability is still inevitable with RA."


As far as the second part of your question, while RA isn't necessarily a cause of depression, dealing with a chronic condition can sometimes lead to mental and emotional struggles, including depression. I'm sharing a link to some information about the emotional impact of RA that you might be interested in, https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/symptoms/depression-anxiety-and-emotional-problems.

I hope that Cece's comment and the articles I've linked, can help answer your question, but please don't hesitate to reach out if you have other questions or are looking for other information. And hopefully others here will chime in and share their experiences with you too.

Wishing you a gentle day! -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member)

Hi . I also want to echo what said because,much like her, my wife, Kelly Mack (a contributor here) was diagnosed a long time ago, before modern treatments with the damage to show for it. Kelly was diagnosed at age two, 45 years ago and has used a wheelchair since childhood. She also went to college, has a graduate degree and a career, loves to travel and spend time with friends and family. I'm not saying it is easy and don't want to paint with rose colored glasses. It can also be hard and painful and takes work and there are certainly down times, but a full and happy life is absolutely possible.
The even better news is that, as Cece3 noted, there are now quite a few treatments available that can do much to stave off major RA damage. A number of years ago Kelly started a new treatment that has brought her inflammation numbers into the normal range for the first time. Our contributor Daniel (also diagnosed as a child many years ago) had a similar experience. On more than one occasion we have had discussions with Kelly's rheumatologist about the hope that children diagnosed today won't have the same level of damage. The trial and error method of finding a treatment can be frustrating, but even that could be changing with tests for precision medicine, such as the PrismRA test (see: https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/rheumatoid-arthritis-patients-humira-prismra-test-trial-error/). Hope is real.
All that said, the emotional aspects of a chronic condition like RA are also very real. It is important, as you have done, to acknowledge the possibility of depression and to seek support. Support can come in many forms, such as community (see David's article on this: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/chronic-illness-support), family and friends (See Tamara's article: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/counting-blessings-support-network), or professional. Please be open to seeking whatever you need. Also, know that this community is here for you. Best, Richard (Team Member)

Happy New Year to you All!
😊🎉