INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Osteoarthritis may sound like just another part of getting older. However, for millions of women, it can mean years of knee pain, stiffness and losing the simple ability to get up, get out and keep moving.
The CDC says about 33 million US adults have osteoarthritis. This condition is the leading cause of disability among adults. It's the third most common diagnosis for inpatient hospital stays, and women are more likely than men to develop it, especially after age 50. Now, a research study is asking a different question: what if some of that damage could be stopped before the pain even starts?
Inside the gym, women are pushing, lifting and walking toward better health. However, there's a lot more riding on these reps than just a number on the scale or blood test results.
"Finding out that my cholesterol was high. I had grandchildren coming, so that was huge for me was realizing that, you know, I wanna be around for them, and I want to be able to do things with them," Linda Whitlow said.
"Women are about, almost two times more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis than men are," Shannon Mihalko, PhD, Behavioral Psychologist at Wake Forest University said.
That's why study participants Linda Whitlow and Laura Cauble have made a four-year commitment to finally break the cycle.
"What I need is follow-up, and this is a four-year program, and I thought if they're gonna weigh me once a week for four years, I'm gonna keep it off," Cauble said.
"We're now looking at whether we can use exercise and diet in people who are overweight and obese to try to actually prevent knee OA from developing," Mihalko said.
OA occurs when the tissues in the joint become inflamed, and the loads on the joint are excessive, resulting in degeneration of the cartilage and surrounding tissue. The result is pain, swelling and loss of motion.
The Wake Forest researchers said losing just one pound can take about four pounds of pressure off your knee with every step you take, adding up to thousands of pounds less stress over the course of a day.
"We found that we can have even more profound impact with 10 percent weight loss," Mihalko said.
What's more important is you keep the weight off, according to other experts. They said the hope is to change how we think about osteoarthritis, not just treating the damage after it happens but helping women prevent it in the first place.
Health experts said one thing many people don't realize is that your knees absorb forces equal to three to six times your body weight every time you walk or climb stairs. Researchers said that's why even modest weight loss and regular exercise can make a big difference in protecting joints over time.
Joint pain is a warning, not a diagnosis. Checking early signs of join pain will help you identify the cause and get the right treatment
Joint pain is one of those things that many people think, “Oh, that’s just part of getting older” or “That’s just part of working too hard” or “I may have arthritis”. But for women, when they are in the middle of juggling their careers, keeping their homes running, and taking care of their families, it’s easy for them to sweep their constant discomforts or joint pain issues under the rug. Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of joint pain in women, but there are several other types of medical conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, hormonal changes, infections, and nutritional deficiencies, among others, that cause this pain.
The sooner these warning signs are recognized, the better the chance of avoiding any long-term problems from these underlying medical conditions, Dr Sharmila Tulpule, orthopaedic surgeon and regenerative medicine specialist, tells Health Shots.
Persistent joint pain, swelling, or morning stiffness may indicate more than arthritis and should be evaluated by a doctor. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock
Warning signs that women in joint pain should not ignore
1. Stiffness of the joints in the morning for longer than an hour with pain
It is typically normal to experience some stiffness after being inactive, but if, after sleeping, you find that your joints are stiff beyond an hour each day, this could be a sign of an inflammatory disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis or RA) rather than simply a degenerative joint type of arthritis. Early identification of these issues is critically important because if diagnosed quickly, the treatment can prevent severely damaged joints and enable the patient to retain function in those same joints.
2. Swelling, redness, and warmth in the area of the joint
Noticeable swelling, redness, or warmth in a joint can indicate that there is an inflammatory process taking place, or an infection or autoimmunity. They should not be self-treated with just over-the-counter pain relievers, especially if they have occurred recently or have worsened over time.
3. The pain is caused by multiple joints being affected
Arthritis from age is mostly found in the larger bones of the skeleton that bear our body weight—for example, hips and knees. However, when several joints are involved at the same time, especially smaller joints—hands, wrists, ankles, and feet—this might indicate a systemic disease like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid issues.
4. Feeling tired continuously along with pain in the joints
If you are always tired no matter how well rested you are, it should raise a red flag. Fatigue, when there is joint pain present, could be from an autoimmune disease, chronic inflammation, and/or a vitamin deficiency. Many women mistakenly identify fatigue as a stress-related reason. However, if you have had fatigue for an extended period of time, you should consult your doctor.
Persistent tiredness can be linked to many health problems. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock
5. Joint pain following fever or infection
Following a viral or other type of infection, a feverish experience will often leave behind rheumatic joint pain that should be considered very seriously. Some infections can create acute inflammatory reactions in your joints, and if not adequately treated, will potentially lead to chronic inflammatory conditions of your joints.
6. Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
If you experience any unexplained weight loss or a lack of appetite, there may also be a systemic disease process underlying your arthritic joint pain. It should therefore require immediate evaluation to determine if there are serious underlying illnesses.
7. Difficulty performing everyday activities
Difficulty with daily activities due to joint pain is a sign of how poorly the patient’s condition impacts their quality of life as well as their ability to live independently. Obtaining timely medical counsel at this stage should allow for determining the cause and then starting an appropriate treatment course.
In many cases, women place the wellness of their family’s health ahead of their own. Nevertheless, chronic or atypical joint discomfort should not go unrecognized or be treated as a natural consequence of advancing years. Timely evaluation by a qualified physician will assist in evaluating the cause of the problem and potential risk for future development, as well as increase mobility and create an environment that enhances overall quality of life.
There comes a moment in every woman’s life when their joints begin to remind us that they’re there, be it a bit of stiffness after a long day, a squeaky knee in your morning yoga flow or the nervous anticipation that accompanies rising from a deep armchair. For many of us over 35, these changes simply feel in keeping with the natural rhythm of ageing, but perhaps it doesn’t have to be that way, with modern science suggesting that joint support doesn’t always mean surgery or compromise.
Collagen has long been hailed as a supplement for skin and joint health, but until recently the options were limited. Marine and bovine collagens have dominated the market, while so-called ‘vegan collagens’ rarely contain collagen at all, instead relying on plant extracts that only aim to stimulate production. For women seeking something both effective and ethical, the landscape has been frustratingly sparse.
This is the gap that Feel – a UK-based wellness brand – is striving to close. Its new Pro Collagen Type 2 for Joints (prices from £39.50, Wearefeel.com) is the world’s first vegan collagen supplement of its kind, using a unique bio-mimetic formula that’s designed to mirror the exact collagen type found in human cartilage. Backed by clinical trials and built with sustainability in mind, it takes a contemporary approach to joint care, combining innovation, efficacy and responsibility in one daily ritual.
A new standard for collagen supplements
Feel Type 2 Collagen for Joints is the only collagen in the world that is identical to human Type 2 Collagen. (Feel)
Unlike marine or bovine formulas, Feel’s vegan collagen – powered by a component called VeCollal® – is created through advanced fermentation, producing amino acid chains that mirror human Type 2 collagen, which is the very protein found in cartilage. This is what makes it unique: rather than asking the body to make do, it actively engages with the collagen genes in cartilage cells, stimulating up to 50 per cent of them.
In practice, that translates to improved flexibility, better joint cushioning, and even measurable gains in bone density. Clinical studies have shown benefits in as little as 12 weeks, suggesting this isn’t just another wellness fad, but a scientifically grounded shift for joint health.
The two teaspoon ritual for real clinically proven results
In 12 weeks, participants noticed a 67% reduction in joint stiffness (Feel)
Supplements that demand complicated routines rarely stick. Feel’s collagen was designed for ease, available as a powder in two flavours – watermelon or mango-vanilla – that dissolve within a glass of water. The recommended dose of two teaspoons a day (or 6g) is all you’ll need to see results over time, making it a non-cumbersome routine addition to your breakfast or mid-afternoon break.
Beyond cartilage support, the formula also includes vitamin C to aid absorption, turmeric for inflammation and elderberry for antioxidant protection. Together, these extras ensure Feel’s type 2 collagen can support not just movement, but wider health resilience, too.
The mobility mindset
For women navigating busy lives, decreasing bone density becomes not only uncomfortable, but inconvenient amid the increasing demands of the modern world. With Feel, you can expect to see improvements to stiffness and inflammation and, unlike traditional collagens (which are harder for the body to absorb), the smaller molecular size of the type 2 pro collagen allows for easier uptake and faster results.
Whether you practise a vegan diet or you’re simply looking to cut down on your animal-derived intake, Feel equips you with the means to do so – without compromising on effectiveness. With 20 per cent off first orders across all collagen lines using the code ‘INDITYPE2’, this is your invitation to explore what your day to day could look like with better joint and bone health.
The theme for World Arthritis Day 2025 is “power of dreams,” which embodies the goals and hopes that drive individuals with arthritis to forge ahead
With its establishment in 1996, World Arthritis Day was intended to raise global awareness of arthritis as a public health issue. Organizations such as the Arthritis Foundation offer patient resources and information on the impact of arthritis while also celebrating the strength and resilience of affected families and individuals. International rheumatology organizations — including the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) — host campaigns to help achieve their goal of advocacy for rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Their theme for World Arthritis Day 2025 is “power of dreams,” which embodies the goals, hopes, and visions of individuals with arthritis. World Arthritis Day is an integral part of furthering scientific research, medical education, and disease awareness.
To gain further insight on the role of providers in enhancing care, as well as promoting awareness and understanding of how patients can prioritize and be empowered to take charge of their bone and joint health, we spoke with experts Melanie Smith, MD, PhD, and Francis Keefe, PhD. Dr Smith is an attending physician in the Division of Rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York. Dr Keefe is a professor in psychiatry and behavioural sciences, psychology and neuroscience, medicine, and anesthesiology and a member of the Duke Cancer Institute at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
Credit: Getty Images
How can clinical practices, by addressing barriers in rheumatology, play a role in guiding patients towards seeking early care for their symptoms, which has been associated with better outcomes, lower health care costs, and higher quality of life?
MS: One of the issues we have in rheumatology is overall awareness of rheumatologic conditions and the role of the rheumatologist, such as educating the general population, partnering with primary care providers (PCPs), and offering referrals to other specialties. Because autoimmunity may have a genetic component, families should be educated about symptoms that need evaluation in the future. In addition to these factors, misinformation leads to a delayed diagnosis. It is important for providers to dispel myths to encourage patients to seek early care and enhance their quality of life.
Providers should discuss important patient values and preferences and build achievable goals around them. This value-based approach can potentially encourage patients to engage in meaningful activities, which can improve the impact of the care they receive.
FK: Rheumatology is a tertiary care discipline. A significant time may have passed by the time a patient with arthritis visits a rheumatologist. Patients often work with their PCP and see a rheumatologist only for a consultation, once or twice a year. Rheumatology evaluations and assessments need to be focused on the disease process while simultaneously understanding how symptoms are affecting patients’ lives. Although pharmacotherapy has been the mainstay of arthritis treatment, the risk for medication side effects must be considered. Even with optimal medical management, patients still face challenges. In addition, management of pain — by both providers and patients — is important for achieving optimal quality of life.
What should clinicians consider in terms of screening practices to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate management?
MS: We discuss with PCPs about their role in referring patients in a timely manner or encouraging patients to seek care and get a second opinion from a rheumatologist. For inflammatory arthritis (IA), it is important to refer a patient with joint swelling that lasts for more than 2 days and morning stiffness for at least 60 minutes. It has been observed that PCPs often emphasize laboratory values, but many of our patients have normal values for erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, negative rheumatoid factor, and negative cyclic citrullinated peptide, and still have IA. This results in a delayed diagnosis. Clinical diagnoses for rheumatic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, are dependent on joint examinations and other factors, not only on blood tests.
FK: If we think about a patient population that often doesn’t get referred to a rheumatologist until later in their disease trajectory, it is those with social determinants of health (eg, low income or living in a rural areas) that increase the risk for delayed treatment. Because of costs, some individuals with osteoarthritis may wait until the pain is intolerable and only then seek referral to specialists.
Persistent pain and other arthritis symptoms also tend to affect psychologic well-being. Screening questionnaires can help [clinicians] identify problems and understand the impact of symptoms on quality of life. Many PCPs already use pain and depression screening tools not only to get a sense of disease severity, but also to understand the impact of a disease on quality of life. Rheumatologists also need to incorporate these tools in their practice to understand the disproportionate impact of pain on daily life to improve and encourage self-management.
While pharmacotherapy is the mainstay of arthritis treatment, the addition of lifestyle interventions is shown to be effective for patients with rheumatic disease. Are patients routinely counselled on incorporating lifestyle changes? Is there evidence for their effectiveness?
MS: Most patients with IA report benefit from being active; so, exercise is commonly recommended at my practice. To improve adherence to exercise regimens, providers and patients together can discuss the form of activity that patients enjoy and increase the frequency. If patients do not engage in regular physical activity but have their joint inflammation under control with medications, we refer them to physical therapists to start a weight training or cardiovascular fitness program to avoid risk for injury. Another consideration is the important role of a healthy diet and supplementation with calcium and vitamin D for optimal bone and joint health.
What steps can health care providers take to empower patients to be proactive in their joint health?
FK: Living with arthritis means accepting that pain and other symptoms will persist but realizing you can still have a meaningful life. Providers should discuss important patient values and preferences and build achievable goals around them. This value-based approach can potentially encourage patients to engage in meaningful activities, which can improve the impact of the care they receive.
MS: The most important way to empower patients in this regard is enabling them to stay active by recommending regular exercise and healthy sleep habits. Patients with IA should be counselled on a case-by-case basis regarding improving their joint health. Another important aspect is getting patients the help they need; for example, referrals to physical therapists for an exercise program or to address disease-related postural issues. I believe that helping patients with their psychologic health could make them empowered to take control of their arthritis symptoms as well.
Can you highlight the role of collaboration with different specialties (eg, psychiatry/psychology) and other stakeholders (eg, patient advocacy organizations) in enhancing care and achieving optimal patient outcomes?
FK: Arthritis self-management can be thought of as occurring along a spectrum. At one end is a self-directed approach in which, through experience, patients learn a variety of strategies they can use to manage their arthritis symptoms. At the other end of the continuum is formal self-management training programs, often led by professionals (eg, nurses and psychologists) that systematically teach patients coping strategies for managing arthritis symptoms, such as relaxation, goal setting, mindfulness-based meditation, and problem solving. Training in self-management is widely available through community groups, self-management classes, arthritis programs designed for patients and peers, books, handouts, and other community-based resources.
Apart from this, many rheumatologists provide education about self-management when they give interactive talks in the community about arthritis, such as at nursing homes and communities of older adults. Further, referral for formal training in self-management becomes critical when patients have severe depression or pain, which significantly affects their quality of life. Embedding psychologists into primary care settings where providers are being trained to identify symptoms and provide timely referrals for formal training in self-management is increasingly being seen as valuable to health care systems. Specialists in self-management have developed collaborations with organizations, like the Arthritis Foundation, and this collaboration has been instrumental in increasing access to accurate and timely self-management materials for patients. Educating patients about the importance of a comprehensive care model that combines specialist care with self-management is beneficial.
MS: Many of the conditions of IA co-occur with other systemic diseases. For example, some patients with IA have comorbid inflammatory bowel disease or psoriasis, with rheumatologists working closely with gastroenterologists or dermatologists. Some patients have other organ involvement and then we work closely with those specialists, like pulmonologists or nephrologists. We also work with mental health professionals, based on patients’ symptoms. Rheumatology is multidisciplinary, and as rheumatologists we must be team players to get the best care for our patients. Advocacy organizations play an important role in education. At HSS, we have social work departments with various support groups for patients with a new diagnosis or established RA. We encourage patients to connect with this network.
With women forming a major part of the rheumatic disease population, how can their care be more informed in terms of creating awareness and offering resources?
FK: Research shows pain severity differences between men and women. Our team has worked with women with arthritis and their pain, and related coping mechanisms. We found that women vs men are more active in their coping strategies, are more likely to prefer involving others in their coping efforts (ie, as “communal copers”), and adopt a greater variety of approaches. It may be important to explore the social context here, such as asking women about family responsibilities, self-care techniques, and social activities — all of which are very important and help to avoid setbacks.
MS: There are specific considerations for patients who are women. One is for patients with childbearing potential or who are interested in being pregnant — a situation which changes the way providers think about contraception, treatment, and disease management. We have discussions with patients about their preferences and care plans. In the disease diagnosis stage, some women with arthritis symptoms during postpartum or [when] entering menopause have misdiagnosis of their condition because of overlapping symptoms. Further, new mothers may not necessarily put their health first and ignore symptoms (it is a common time in a woman’s life to have an autoimmune disease). Another important aspect is that IA is a risk factor for osteoporosis, which especially affects postmenopausal women. Providers should advise patients to receive bone density scans for preventable fractures.
These three women are pushing themselves beyond their limits and encouraging others to come along for the ride
Around 1.3 million people in the United States live with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)—and most of them are women. This chronic autoimmune disease, characterized by joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, and fatigue, doesn’t present the same path for every person. In fact, no two people have the same RA story. But what’s universal is that it is possible to achieve great things while managing the condition. We spoke to three women whose stories of triumphing with RA are nothing short of inspirational.
“I’m Proud to Call Myself a Triathlete.” –Chem Palarca, 42, Manila, Philippines
Courtesy of Chem Palarca
My RA story: I was diagnosed with RA in 2006, when I was still very young. It started with foot pain which was initially diagnosed as tendinitis; I thought I got injured during a dance competition. I was prescribed a special type of shoe and given high grade nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) but these had no effect on the pain; in fact, it worsened. As the months went by, it spread from my foot to my bigger joints: elbows, knees, shoulders, and jaw. Getting out of bed in the morning was always a struggle. My lowest point was when I couldn’t walk, chew (because my jaw was affected), comb my own hair, or fasten my bra. I remember one night I just literally cried myself to sleep while my mom and sister were massaging my joints.
My orthopaedic doctor finally referred me to a rheumatologist, where it took one blood test to determine that I had RA. The doctor gave me steroids just to get through the severe pain, which immediately helped. My initial treatment was methotrexate because I couldn’t afford biologics then. While the pain lessened, it didn’t completely go away and I was still in a pain range of 2 to 5 on a scale of 1 to 10 every single day.
It was 2016 when I finally could afford biologics, which are very expensive. On my third month of monthly infusions, I was declared in remission. This lasted for three years, then a very stressful personal experience caused my RA to flare again. Since then, my doctor has been adjusting the frequency of my infusions in the hope that I’ll go back into remission.
My greatest triumph: When I first went into remission, it felt like I got my life back. I threw myself into all sorts of sporting activities: I tried surfing and yoga, I learned how to swim, and I got interested in freediving, which may be considered an extreme sport because it’s a type of underwater diving that relies on you holding your breath (rather than using any breathing apparatus until you resurface). I loved it so much, I trained to a competitive level and started competing in 2022.
Later, I got seriously interested in multisports, taking part in aquathlons at first and later triathlons, too. In my first aquathlon I wasn’t chasing a personal record, so I was able to enjoy just being able to move. It felt great to feel my body swim and run. My first triathlon in September 2022 was in New Clark City in Pampanga in the Philippines. It was the best feeling ever: I was finally able to call myself a triathlete. It brought so many feelings to the surface: I remembered my rheumatologist telling me I could be in a wheelchair in 10 years. I had a great feeling of accomplishment; I felt like I’d conquered my condition.
Last year, I completed the 2.5 kilometre “Swim Junkie” in Lobo, Batangas, Philippines, one of the hardest swim courses in the world due to the strong current.
I used to hate RA—for a time all I felt was self-pity. But somehow, I have learned to embrace it alongside accepting the fact that my body has limitations—and that’s just fine. Throughout it all, I learned to be kinder to my body and myself, which is also a triumph alongside my sporting achievements. There are days I still feel fatigued or my joints are painful and that’s OK because I’ve accepted that I will not always be strong. This journey has taught me to be very patient, to hold on to my faith, and to appreciate the present moment. By striving for my sporting goals, I’ve completely reinvented my “brand”: I’m no longer someone suffering from chronic pain but someone living an active, healthy lifestyle.
“I Exercise, Meditate, and I’m Planning on a Beautiful Future.” –Bex Zisk, 35, Portland, OR
Courtesy of Bex Zisk
My RA story: I was diagnosed in 2019 at age 29, right before my 30th birthday and right before the pandemic began. My RA journey was tough. I started out on moderate medications, and it was obvious to see that they were not working. My body started to deteriorate very quickly. I was finally able to get on an insurance plan that allowed me to take biologics, but my first med I tried did absolutely nothing for me. Every day, I woke up in pain, and it was getting worse and worse to the point that I needed to start buying walking aids. I soon needed a wheelchair, a walker, and a shower chair because I didn’t even have the ability to stand through a quick shower. I tried about five biologic medications before I finally found a combination that worked—just one part of the treatment plan that has given me my life back. But it took almost two years to find a combination that worked, and in the interim, my joints deteriorated very quickly. My fingers are slightly twisted already, my feet have very little cartilage in them, and I have already had a knee replacement on my left knee. RA can take over very quickly if untreated or not treated properly. I unfortunately had to learn that the hard way. I gained a lot of weight from the stagnation, but since my knee replacement and finding the proper combo of meds, I am down 50 pounds, which has helped me get back to exercising, so I have built back a lot of strength in my knees, feet, and ankles. I am in a much better place today than I was in early 2020.
My greatest triumph: Getting the knee replacement truly gave me my life back. I’m thankful for my team of doctors who worked overtime to get me the referral—most doctors did not want to do it since I am “so young.” Some days are worse than others, but overall, I feel like a new person. I never thought I would even walk again, so I am truly grateful. It has allowed me to work in different areas again, areas I couldn’t do before because I couldn’t stand long or even walk across an office. It has also helped with breaking through my depression and anxiety that naturally came with my RA diagnosis. That’s one part that doctors don’t talk about: How will it affect your mental health, especially when you are young like me? You feel like you are robbed of your future. All these plans you’ve made, travelling, family planning, name it. I stopped planning a future, but now that I have my life back, I’m back to making travel plans. I’m able to hike again, and I can even begin planning my wedding that’s been on the back burner because of how much time and effort it took for my RA to get in control.
I think being able to exercise again is another huge triumph. You won’t believe how much you miss working out when you literally aren’t able to do it! I will never take it for granted again now that I am able to do it! I’ve gotten back down to the weight I was at pre-RA, and it feels so good!
Plus, I have a whole new confidence and outlook on life. I decided to go back to school so I can venture into starting another business, one that I believe is a good field to be in and will be stable for a long time, just in case my RA decides to rear its ugly head again.
At my lowest point, I was drinking almost every night to numb the physical and mental pain. I was a mess. I wanted to die. The pain I was in was unbearable. I also just wanted to know “why me?” Why was I diagnosed so young with this crippling disease? I’ll never know that answer, but today, I have broken out of that depression. I wake up feeling fresh, motivated, and ready to take on the day—even with its challenges because I know that currently, they are nowhere nearly as bad as they used to be. I exercise daily, I meditate, and I am continuing to plan for a beautiful future—and a beautiful future it will be.
RA almost took my whole life away. It took a part of my life away, but I am working on looking past that and accepting it. I have worked hard to show RA that I am bigger than it, and I’m grateful it has worked so far. All I can do is wake up each day and hope that it will never get that bad again. I remind myself to keep moving, keep eating well, and keep positive. I will win this battle. I will not let RA win. It’s my life to live and I am going to live it!
“I’ve Turned My RA Into a Platform to Help Others.” –Catina Morrison, 41, Seffner, FL
Courtesy of Catina Morrison
My RA story: My RA journey is one that spans decades, even though I didn’t receive an official diagnosis until 2016, when I was age 32. For over 30 years, I lived with unexplained pain, fatigue, and inflammation that were repeatedly dismissed by medical professionals. Despite being a registered nurse for nearly 20 years now, I was misdiagnosed multiple times, most notably with fibromyalgia. I heard far too often that my symptoms were “in my head”—an experience that reflects a painful form of medical gaslighting that so many women, especially women of colour, endure in silence.
I spent years advocating not only for myself but for patients just like me, all while enduring the debilitating effects of an illness that had no name for far too long. It wasn’t until I found a rheumatologist who truly listened and took a comprehensive approach that I was finally diagnosed with RA. That moment was both heartbreaking and validating. For the first time, I had an answer—and with it, a path forward.
Once I received my diagnosis, my treatment plan shifted drastically. We moved away from band-aid solutions and instead pursued a holistic and evidence-based approach. I began an intervention strategy that included disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, and emotional support. Over time—and with patience, persistence, and prayer—my RA entered remission. I don’t take a moment of my journey for granted.
My greatest triumph: My greatest triumph is turning my pain into purpose by founding Inflamed Sisters Thriving, a non-profit organization that empowers women living with inflammatory diseases to thrive personally and professionally. After navigating years of misdiagnosis, medical bias, and physical suffering, I knew I wasn’t alone, and I became determined to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming space for others like me.
Inflamed Sisters Thriving Inc. was born from a simple, radical truth: We are not our illnesses, and we deserve to be seen, heard, and supported. Through our work, we promote diversity, equity, and inclusion with a holistic approach in medical research and business, while advocating for workplace environments that uplift women with disabilities. We host events, retreats, and summits that focus on healing the whole woman—mind, body, and spirit—and equip our community with tools to thrive, not just survive.
Founding this non-profit while managing a chronic illness, pursuing an executive MBA, and working in healthcare leadership is a testament to resilience. I turned my diagnosis into a declaration: that no woman with an invisible illness should ever feel invisible again.
Building Inflamed Sisters Thriving has completely transformed how I view my RA. What once felt like a life sentence has become a life mission. I no longer see RA as something that broke me. I see it as something that awakened me.
RA didn’t just test my limits. It revealed my strength. It brought me to my knees, yes, but it also taught me how to rise with intention and the strength of resilience. It helped me find my voice in advocacy, my calling in leadership, and my tribe in sisterhood.
Today, I live with gratitude, not resentment. I honour the parts of me that were once overlooked and silenced. I’m proud to say I’m in remission, but more importantly, I’m at peace. I’ve reclaimed my story, and now I help other women do the same. RA may have shaped my path, but Inflamed Sisters Thriving gave it purpose.
