You’re Not Too Young to Have Rheumatoid Arthritis
If you’re a part of the invisible illness community, you’ve likely seen several spoonies navigating their chronic illness. While there are more younger patients on social media platforms, there’s a myth that certain chronic illnesses, like rheumatoid arthritis, only affect older adults.
Here’s a look at rheumatoid arthritis and how age-shaming can affect younger patients.
There are no age restrictions on developing rheumatoid arthritis
Chronic illnesses don’t have age limits. But, health materials surrounding rheumatoid arthritis often only show older patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the chronic condition is more likely to occur in adults aged 60 and older. Yet, there are 8 out of 100,000 young adults between the age of 18 and 34 living with rheumatoid arthritis as well.
Also, some patients can have rheumatoid arthritis alongside other chronic illnesses. For example, patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can have rhupus. Rhupus is a condition in which a person manages lupus and arthritis symptoms.
Getting a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis becomes rarer as you age. As you get older, you're more likely to develop osteoarthritis rather than rheumatoid arthritis as you get older.
Why age-shaming young patients can affect their health journey
Loved ones and healthcare providers may shame younger people with rheumatoid arthritis, despite sources that prove otherwise.
Here’s how age-shaming affects your health journey as a rheumatoid arthritis patient
It can make you question your illness, although you have proof
Being told you have an older person’s illness can make you second-guess if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Do people assume that you’re lying about your diagnosis? Are the symptoms you think you’re experiencing imaginary?
With all the symptoms, testing, and medications, you know you have rheumatoid arthritis. You’ve likely had the “talk” with a specialist when you were diagnosed with your chronic illness. But, the myths surrounding rheumatoid arthritis can make people question you.
It can affect your mental health
Unfortunately, living with an invisible illness can affect your mental health. You can experience days where your pain is beyond unbearable and you aren’t sure why. On other days, you may be too tired to do your daily activities. Also, there's the realization that living with rheumatoid arthritis is a life-long responsibility.
It can lengthen the journey to diagnosis and treatment
Having people say that you're “too young to have arthritis” can be harmful to your health journey. You may even begin to wonder if your symptoms align with rheumatoid arthritis.
When others try to convince you that what you’re experiencing is not true, it can encourage you to ignore your concerns or try to make up excuses for your health. Also, sometimes healthcare providers can be unhelpful, as they can make unconscious biases about you because you’re not an older adult.
You’re the expert and advocate of your chronic illness. No one can tell you otherwise if you’ve received an official diagnosis. Yet, living with an invisible illness labeled as an older person’s condition can be frustrating when it comes to advocating for your health.
It may be challenging to address the common misconceptions about your chronic illness. So, the best thing you can do is to ignore the naysayers and continue to work towards managing your chronic condition.
How Chronius Can Help
If living with chronic illness feels like a full time job, you aren’t alone.
That’s why at Chronius, we make it easy to navigate the healthcare system as a patient. Our online care management platform brings together all of your health records and offers a 1-click appointment prep tool that easily synthesizes your health story for your care team. You also can track all of your symptoms, identify trends, learn from vetted medical information, and follow a custom patient journey map. Plus, if you needs hands on support, our Care Advocates are available to help you with any issues you may hit up against. Personalized support as you navigate your care journey is what we are all about.
Interested in learning more and signing up for our waitlist? Claim your spot today.
