Acupuncture for symptom management of rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study.
Monthly Archives: September 2011
Acupuncture for Arthritis: An Interview with Patient Jenn Mroz
How old were you when you were diagnosed with JRA? I was about 3 years old when I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) but was showing symptoms earlier, probably around 2 years old. It was actually my Grandmother who noticed that something seemed wrong. They ran tests to figure out why I was in so much pain and were looking at some pretty scary things like cancer.
What do you remember about being a young person with arthritis? I remember many trips to Boston for check-ups with my doctors. There weren’t (and still aren’t) very many pediatric rheumatologists and the closest was at Children’s Hospital in Boston. It was usually an all-day affair with my rheumatologist, physical and occupational therapy, x-rays, lab work (which I was deathly afraid of), and sometimes an orthopedist. I remember having a difficult time in gym class and some teachers who didn’t understand juvenile arthritis or what I could and couldn’t do. That if I couldn’t do what they were asking me to do, it wasn’t because I was lazy. I had (and still have) great friends. I don’t remember that my arthritis was anything we talked about as I was growing up. It was nothing I felt I needed to hide or shy away from. It was just a part of my life, but not my whole life, if that makes any sense.
You work now as a hand therapist. Did your experience of living with RA have something to do with that? I do think my decision to enter health care was influenced by having JRA but not overtly. When I was very little I wanted to be a veterinarian or a preschool teacher (like my mom) or maybe a lighthouse keeper! Looking back, my parents realized that this disease was something I could be living with the rest of my life and it would be important for me to learn how to adapt, modify activities, and be as independent as possible. When I began to look into college and a career, occupational therapy seemed a natural fit. In some ways I had been doing it all my life. Becoming a hand therapist was something that evolved over time after several years working as an OT, but that’s another story!
Many communities don’t have good medical resources for people with rheumatologic diseases. What have you found in Eugene? Access to care is a huge issue. I feel very fortunate to live in Eugene where there are many resources available. I have a wonderful rheumatologist, Dr. Wasner, and an internist, Dr. Dukeminier. Not to mention a great acupuncturist! I have begun to look at diet and lifestyle factors like meditation and stress management and how these may influence my disease. I also have been converting to a gluten-free diet. It’s too early to tell if these changes are making a difference but this is a community where you can find the resources to explore those options.
What are the most important benefits you’ve had from acupuncture? I’ve worked with acupuncture for several years. I’m very aware that the medications I take, while they have been the best way to manage my arthritis so far, have the potential to be very toxic and harmful to other parts of my body. I really think that acupuncture has helped to balance the impact of those side effects. The medicines that work best for RA also suppress the immune system, and I strongly believe that I am able to fight off colds and other infections because of regular acupuncture sessions. Over this past year, I have had a little more trouble with some of my joints, and acupuncture has helped to ease the pain of those flare-ups too. So yes, I’m a big believer in acupuncture and the role it plays in managing my arthritis and improving my overall health.
Tell us about your work with the Arthritis Foundation. I’ve been involved with the Arthritis Foundation off and on for several years. I’m one of the organizing committee members for the Eugene-Springfield Arthritis Walk and 2012 will be our fourth year. It’s been very interesting to hear other people’s stories and find the similarities and differences between their experiences and mine. Last summer, I volunteered at Camp JAM for kids with arthritis and their families. It made a huge impact on me. For the first time, I was surrounded by kids with arthritis and adults who had been living with arthritis since they were kids. It’s hard to put into words, but it was amazing to be surrounded by people who knew exactly what I had gone through as a child and what I still go through as an adult. No one else really gets it. I also found myself wanting to tell every kid and parent at the camp that having JRA doesn’t mean you can’t have everything you want out of life. It may make it more challenging at times, but who doesn’t have challenges!
–Jenn Mroz, Eugene, Oregon