Over 15 years ago, Julia Fisher started noticing a change in her game. “I was playing a lot of basketball and I just kept thinking I was just getting my fingers jammed and couldn't figure out what was going on. But my mom has it well and she immediately knew what it was. Oh my goodness my heart just broke.”
Julia was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis – one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases. There is no cure. The goal is to reduce inflammation and prevent bone damage with medication.
“The estimates are up to a half percent to one percent of the population who suffers from it but that's probably maybe six times that risk if you have a first-degree relative who rheumatoid arthritis,” says Dr. Jonathan Waltuck of Emory University School of Medicine.
Julia's mother has firsthand experience with RA. She was diagnosed with the disease at 40 years old. “Because I had surgeries on my toes early on, and then I was hoping she didn't have to go through all of that,” says Lynn Ostenson.
While it is a diagnosis no one wants to hear, ongoing research has made Julia's experience with RA a completely different one than her mother's. Drugs are that much better.
“Particularly in the last 15-16 years there have been a number of new medications mostly called biologic drugs. They have really changed the outlook dramatically of people with rheumatoid arthritis.”
Julia only has occasional flare-ups. “I am able to live a full and happy and pain-free life right now.”
