Category: Articles

The collective effort to understand and overcome arthritis continues

Cover Story by Teri Pinney

But, arthritis has a way of sneaking into our lives. Sometimes it arrives after a lifetime of wear and tear. Sometimes it follows a sports injury, accident or surgery. Often, it runs through generations like an unwanted family heirloom. Or it simply shows up one day like an uninvited guest, unpacks its bags and refuses to leave.

Nearly 60 million Americans live with some form of arthritis. Here in Hawai‘i, an estimated 275,000 individuals have it. This includes approximately 150,000 kūpuna who navigate each day managing aches, stiffness, swollen joints and physical limitations.

Yes, arthritis boasts a big club made up of neighbors, strangers, friends and family members. I know, because I am a member of this club — the club nobody wants to join.

Thirty-five years ago, arthritis entered my life. I quickly learned that the disease wasn’t a one-size-fits-all diagnosis. For more than three decades, these chronic conditions affected joints in my fingers, wrists, toes, jaw, neck and spine. Dressing up in high heels was out of the question. I gingerly twisted water faucets, unscrewed bottle caps and turned doorknobs as though they were torture devices. It hurt to stand and walk. It hurt to sit.

As a writer and educator, my career meant daily pecking on a computer keyboard. I remained silent about the persistent throbbing in my fingers and wrists. Articles had to be written and deadlines needed to be met. Walking across hilly school campuses was something I had to endure, one painful step at a time, as I hurried to class. It didn’t matter whether my joints weren’t cooperating, students were waiting.

Over time, I graduated from a cane to a walker, and when it was too painful to bear, a wheelchair. My calendar became less about social gatherings and more about appointments with rheumatologists, orthopedists, neurologists and pain specialists.

And everybody had a suggestion for me. Do this or don’t eat that, they would say. I listened to the well-meaning advice and tried just about everything — homeopathic treatments, special diets, exercise programs, herbs, vitamin supplements, massage gadgets, pain medications, biologics, etc. Then came the suggestion of titanium replacements.

I was fortunate to be under the care of highly skilled medical professionals who helped me reclaim my mobility and my quality of life.

Treatment Begins With a Proper Diagnosis

Arthritis is not a single disease. It is an umbrella term encompassing over 100 conditions. For example, osteoarthritis wears joints down over time. Rheumatoid arthritis makes the immune system attack healthy tissue. Psoriatic arthritis affects the joints and skin simultaneously.

People have studied and recorded arthritis for over 2,000 years, with formal scientific and clinical testing beginning in the early 20th century. Unwavering dedication from scientific and medical professionals are aimed at finding a cure and increased support for people living with this crippling disease. The scientific community has launched an unprecedented, multibillion-dollar effort to better understand and treat the arthritis that millions endure. Once viewed as an unstoppable consequence of aging or simple wear and tear, arthritis is now understood as a complex disease with multiple biological pathways that can be targeted through modern medical research.

Some people swear by remedies passed down from relatives, friends and neighbors. Traditional beliefs have always had their place. But when arthritis begins calling the shots, science requires serious attention and adherence. Getting properly diagnosed is the starting point to fighting the disease. Proper diagnosis may require x-rays, MRIs, bloodwork and consultations with specialists. It may take months.

Once physicians understand what they’re dealing with, treatment options become clearer. And sometimes benefits from treatments take a while to become effective. This requires patience and discipline to follow what the doctors recommend.

Too many people still dismiss persistent joint pain as an inescapable consequence of aging. They put off seeing a physician, assuming nothing can be done. Yet early diagnosis and treatment can make an enormous difference, particularly with inflammatory forms of arthritis, where untreated disease can cause permanent joint damage. Today, arthritis management includes disease-modifying medications, biologics, physical therapy, injections, joint replacement surgery, lifestyle changes and pain management strategies.

Hope: The Arthritis Foundation Hawai‘i

The Arthritis Foundation Hawai‘i (AFH) connects, educates, advocates for and supports individuals and families living with arthritis, while maintaining a strong local presence that has been part of our island community for decades.

In 2025, approximately 25,000 patients in Hawai‘i attended educational events, logged on to virtual webinars or accessed digital resources. Hundreds of people also participated in AFH’s annual walks and social gatherings. Now, the organization is looking ahead and avidly recruiting volunteers for its annual Walk to Cure Arthritis on April 17, 2027.

Volunteers help to plan, promote and create a memorable gathering, while raising critical funds and awareness for people living with arthritis. For someone newly diagnosed, simply meeting another person who understands what it is like to live with chronic joint pain can be powerful.

AFH has served Hawai‘i residents since 1966, focusing its efforts on education, advocacy, support, fundraising and connecting patients and families with helpful resources. Over the years, AFH has hosted juvenile arthritis programs and family activities, educational workshops and support groups in addition to Walk to Cure Arthritis and the Taste of the Town gala events. AFH has also been involved in legislative advocacy efforts at both state and federal levels.

Leading those efforts today is Executive Director Jennifer Schack, who works as the local representative of AFH. She shares that since COVID, AFH experienced a dip in engagement with the public. “People may have forgotten that AFH is still here to help them,” she says.

“Our message is that there is hope!” says Schack. “Together, we can create stronger communities and a better quality of life for everyone affected by arthritis.” Hope, however, requires helping hands and financial support.

AFH is actively seeking sponsors and community partners to help continue and expand its work throughout Hawai‘i. Businesses, organizations and individuals support educational programs, community activities and events that bring together people affected by arthritis.

Sponsorship does more than help pay the bills. It allows AFH to reach more people, increase awareness and connect patients and families with information and resources they might not otherwise know are available. For local businesses looking for a meaningful way to give back to the community, becoming an AFH partner offers an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of Hawai‘i residents.

There are multiple sponsorship opportunities available at a wide range of contribution levels, allowing businesses and individuals to participate at a level that best suits them.

Where does the money go?

The AFH Board Chairman Marty Welch offers some historical perspective. “When the national foundation began in 1948, arthritis was often dismissed as an inescapable part of aging. Nearly 80 years later, organizations like the AFH continue to challenge that misconception and emphasize that arthritis is a serious medical condition. Yet, thanks to advances in medicine, research and determination, many people are proving that an arthritis diagnosis does not have to define the rest of their lives,” he says.

Arthritis at Work

Marty, who is also CEO of the Hawaii Employers’ Mutual Insurance Company (HEMIC), sees another side of arthritis — its impact in the workplace. Arthritis does not disappear at work. Employees may continue showing up every day while coping with pain, stiffness, fatigue and limitations that coworkers never see. Workplace understanding, reasonable accommodations and early treatment can help people remain productive and independent.

Arthritis@Work (arthritis.org/partnership/atwork) is a free AFH program that offers turnkey tools and resources as part of an existing corporate wellness program to support arthritic employees while reducing missed workdays, increasing productivity and lowering healthcare costs. That sense of understanding is central to AFH’s mission.

“Those living with arthritis often feel isolated,” Jennifer says. “When they discover there are others experiencing the same challenges, it can be incredibly empowering.”

The foundation’s work extends well beyond support groups. AFH advocates on behalf of patients at the local and national levels, helping promote access to medications, affordable healthcare and public policies that can improve quality of life. It provides educational resources, encourages physical activity, supports research and continues to challenge the stubborn misconception that arthritis is simply something people must accept as they grow older.

The Many Faces of Arthritis

Over 100 forms of arthritis have been identified. Osteoarthritis is the most common and is often associated with aging and wear and tear. Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself. Gout can strike without warning. Lupus can involve the joints. Fibromyalgia frequently accompanies chronic pain.

Arthritis doesn’t care about your age, occupation, income or ZIP code. While conducting research for this article, I made an interesting discovery. Many people besides myself had stories to tell about their battle with arthritis, including nearly everyone at Generations Magazine (GM). In fact, in any group of people, you will find someone who has a story. This is no surprise: Arthritis affects millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands here in Hawai‘i.

Perhaps that is why arthritis feels so universal. It doesn’t care whether you’re an artist or an accountant. It doesn’t care if you spent your younger years running marathons or sitting behind a desk. It can settle into our joints and refuse to leave.

AN UNWELCOME TRIO: In my case, it took years to diagnose. Yes, it was arthritis — but what kind? Mine arrived in the form of psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. So which treatments had a proven track record of helping people like me? Those answers would make all the difference in the world.

My arthritic condition affected my spine. The medical experts treating me took over a year
to determine that I was a perfect candidate for titanium vertebrae replacements. I wasn’t sure I wanted to choose this option, but I also knew I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life watching from the sidelines. So, I finally relented and agreed to spinal surgery, not once but twice! One surgery addressed my upper spine and neck, while the other focused on my lower spine near the tailbone. Recovery was rough going at first. There were difficult, frustrating days. But eventually, I came to appreciate the value of science.

I was placed on a carefully tailored regimen of biologic medications, supplemented by the occasional extra-strength acetaminophen, as needed for the occasional flare-ups. But, little by little, in a couple of months, something remarkable happened. I not only walked that hilly school campus and climbed up three levels of stairs where I taught, I also pulled a trolley full of books up each flight of steps. I had begun to feel resilient — like a modern-day bionic woman! Today, at 76, I’m happy to report that my golf game is in far worse shape than my arthritis.

GENETICS: There is something sobering about realizing that our bodies carry histories of their own. We inherit our mother’s eyes, our father’s smile and sometimes, our grandmother’s troublesome knees.

GM publisher Cynthia Arnold, doesn’t have arthritis, yet, but she expects to. “Arthritis is in my genes.” At 47, Cynthia focuses on prevention. Like many Generation Xers, she wonders what symptoms to watch for and what steps she can now take to preserve her mobility. She asks the questions many readers probably ask themselves: Should I exercise more? Should I lose weight? Should I alter my diet? Are my stiff fingers in the morning something to worry about?

Haley Burford, GM staff writer, shares similar concerns. Arthritis runs in her family as well. “All I can do is live in the here and now and take care of my health,” Haley says. At 25, Haley represents the other end of the spectrum. Arthritis is not yet a daily reality, but rather a question mark lingering on the horizon. Chronic illness doesn’t just affect those who have it; it affects the people who love them and sometimes the generations that follow.

For many families, arthritis becomes part of the family narrative. We remember grandparents rubbing their hands. We remember parents declining invitations to go for a walk or lingering behind. We remember hearing “It’s going to rain tomorrow — I can feel it in my knees.” As children, we chuckled. As adults, we can now check the weather ourselves.

INJURY: Arthritis caused by an injury, known as post-traumatic arthritis, happens when physical trauma damages the cartilage or bone inside a joint. There is a certain wisdom that comes with aging. By our 70s, most of us understand that our bodies have been keeping score all along — every injury, every slip.

GM Webmaster Mahlon Moore, 75, discovered that orthopedic surgeons can be annoyingly accurate on occasion. Fifteen years after shattering his hip in a fall, his physician predicted arthritis would eventually arrive.

“Well, ‘older’ is here,” Mahlon says. “He was right.” Long walks he used to enjoy are now a thing of the past.

INEVITABILITY: Leigh Dicks, 71, GM content coordinator and bookkeeper, never saw it
coming. She had no family history of arthritis — no warning signs. But years of tennis and pickleball eventually resulted in osteoarthritis, cartilage loss, bone spurs and ultimately, a total hip replacement.

Ironically, many people with arthritis have spent their lives doing exactly what doctors have said to do — stay active! They ran, swam, played tennis and more. Yet, arthritis reminds us that life is not always a meritocracy. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things simply wear out.

As my own physician once implied, if we’re fortunate to live long enough, many of us will eventually experience some degree of arthritis.

SUPPLEMENTS: Mention joint pain in a room full of seniors and prepare yourself for an avalanche of recommendations. You’ll hear about supplements, turmeric, anti-inflammatory diets, creams, injections, compression socks, water aerobics, tai chi, acupuncture, yoga and more. Some approaches are backed by decades of scientific research. Others fall under the category of “Well, it worked for my cousin Kimo.”

Sherry Goya, GM’s community relations director, found unexpected relief. Following a meniscus tear and arthritis diagnosis, 73-year-old Sherry began taking an astaxanthin supplement. “I’ve had no pain for a few years when walking downstairs or playing tennis,” she says.

MANAGEMENT: And then there’s GM Art Director Wilson Angel, 66, who perhaps summarized concerns about arthritis best. “How do we keep it at bay as long as possible?” he asks. “And if we’ve already reached that stage of constant pain, how do we live with it?” That is the question. Perhaps, that’s the real story of arthritis. Not whether we can avoid it entirely, but how we manage and mitigate its effects when it arrives.

There is no single experience when it comes to arthritis. It can be inherited or acquired. It can arrive suddenly or gradually. It can be mild or debilitating. It’s both a 25-year-old worried about the future and a 76-year-old grateful to be able to walk.

If the staff of Generations Magazine is any indication, arthritis doesn’t get the final word. We may bend. We may creak. We may groan. But we’re still here.

New Reasons for Hope

Evidence of arthritis has been found in human remains dating back thousands of years, including Egyptian mummies and prehistoric skeletons. It seems arthritis has been walking beside humanity for a very long time. The difference today is that we have options — and hope.

Billions of dollars have been invested worldwide in arthritis research, treatments, medications and surgical advances. Today’s patients benefit from biologic medications, minimally invasive procedures and joint replacements.

Every year, scientists uncover new information about the causes of arthritis. New medications continue to emerge. Surgical techniques improve. Researchers move closer to understanding and perhaps one day curing many of these conditions. Until then, organizations like AFH continue helping people live fuller and healthier lives.

AFH is also a leading voice for patient rights, working to break down barriers in healthcare while advancing a bold scientific agenda designed to improve quality of life today and moving us closer to tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

In many ways, AFH represents the best of our island values: Neighbors helping neighbors, communities supporting one another and people refusing to let adversity have the last word.

Pain & Perseverance: the Battle Continues

The room was filled with people eager to support AFH’s mission at a recent meeting. Many also shared their own experiences with arthritis. Their stories served as a reminder that behind the statistics are individuals facing very real concerns about mobility, independence and the future.

Noe Tupou, a professor at a local community college, spoke candidly about her own journey. “I’m trying to learn everything that I can about this disease. I’ve had it for years and worry that my condition will worsen.” But her willingness to become involved with AFH reflects an important part of its mission — bringing together people who can learn from, encourage and support one another.

Like Noe, many seniors living with arthritis made the decision early on to wage a personal war against the disease. For some, it has been a decades-long campaign. Their first line of defense was knowledge. They asked questions and stayed informed about the latest research and treatments. The second line of defense was determination. They refused to let arthritis dictate the terms of their lives. And the third was perseverance. They kept moving forward — sometimes slowly, sometimes painfully — but they never gave up, ensuring arthritis will not get the last word.

TERI PINNEY is a seasoned educator, grant consultant and professional writer with decades of experience in education and nonprofit leadership. She has been a teacher, assistant principal, college instructor, small business owner and grant administrator. A retired kupuna, she currently works as a clinical experience facilitator for Western Governors University, guiding future teachers in student teaching programs. Born and raised in Hawai‘i, Teri’s writing is rooted in professional insight and personal reflection.