2024 Top Episode Takeaways & Mail Bag 

 

2024 Top Takeaways/Mailbag Episode

Released Dec. 17, 2024

 

PODCAST OPEN:      

You’re listening to the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast, created by the Arthritis Foundation to help people with arthritis — and the people who love them — live their best lives. This podcast and other life-changing resources are made possible by gifts from donors like you. If you’re dealing with chronic pain, this podcast is for you. You may have arthritis, but it doesn’t have you. Here, learn how you can take control of arthritis with tips and ideas from our hosts and guest experts.

 

MUSIC BRIDGE

 

Bailey Cook:

Hey, everyone. I'm Bailey Cook, and I am so happy to be your guest host for this end-of-year episode of the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast. For those of you who don't recognize my voice, I was diagnosed with arthritis at 8 years old and have had the absolute pleasure of working for the Arthritis Foundation since 2018, and within that time have been a guest, as well as a guest host, on this podcast in the past.

 

Several months ago, I took on a new role here at the Arthritis Foundation that doesn't work directly with this podcast, so I am thrilled to be back today as the guest host. Although I haven't been part of the podcast for a while, I, of course, have still been listening to these great episodes from 2024. Throughout the year, we've had some truly enlightening and ear-catching episodes. I am so excited to reflect back with you today on the key takeaways from this year's best episodes. In this takeaway episode's transcript and in the show notes, you'll find links to each individual episode during the year if you want to get more details about any particular topic and maybe listen to the full episode.

 

In these takeaways, we're just going to roll from one to another chronologically as the year unfolded. You're going to learn the key takeaways of the topics we covered — topics like changing your habits, debunking myths about arthritis, the power of giving back to the arthritis community, traveling well with arthritis, managing weight for arthritis, easing arthritis hand pain, changes in Medicare and insurance marketplace tips, and so much more.

 

Again, if you want to hear the full episode of any topic, you can find it at arthritis.org/podcast. At the end of this episode, after our best of 2024 takeaways, we're going to go to our end-of-year mailbag to touch on some topics our social media followers say are on their minds, so stick around for that, too. Now, let's get our past year's podcast takeaways underway, starting with changing habits.

 

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[From Podcast Episode #95: Change Your Habits for Good | Released 1/16/2024]

 

Stacy Courtnay: 
Let’s wrap up. And let’s each say our top three takeaways from this conversation. And I am happy to start. Because I learned a lot from you. 

Dr. Afton Hassett: 
Great. 

Stacy Courtnay: 
I would say number one is the apex habit, which is the first habit that you want to change, which will lead to more and more better habits. I love that. I love the habit stacking. Oftentimes, we don't give ourselves enough credit for the good habits that we already have, even though we have several other bad habits; but it's good to acknowledge the good ones and just add on to those. 

And I love the idea of the activity pacing. So, whether that is exercise, or a task in the home, doing something for a set amount of time, and then resting, and then starting again. So, I value your knowledge and your advice on all of that. 

Dr. Afton Hassett: 
Great. Thank you, Stacy. We talked about the notion that people go towards pleasure and avoid pain. So, make the new habit something you actually want to do, right? If your new habit is eating more kale, and you despise kale, you're likely not going to do well with that habit, right? 

Make it something that feels fun, that feels appealing, that is really, truly something you want to do. Set reminders, because even though we know that this is a habit we want to do, we feel good about it, we like it, we're kind of excited to do it, we just forget. Because we're stuck in our other habits. About 80% of what we do, believe it or not, are habits. (laughs) 

We are so routine. So, create a reminder to remind... that we need to do this new thing. And then lastly, rewards. It can be something as small as allowing yourself to sleep an extra 10 minutes. Or it can be a snack. It can be a new pair of shoes. It can be a little trip to a favorite restaurant. Whatever it is, give yourself rewards for a job well done. 

Stacy Courtnay: 
Absolutely. I like that. Reward yourself for your good new habits that you're taking into 2024. 

Dr. Afton Hassett: 
Yes.

 

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[From Podcast Episode #98: Debunking Arthritis Myths | Released 2/27/2024]

 

Bailey Cook: 
The question that we asked on social media, we said: What is the most surprising myth or misconception about arthritis that you've heard? And as you can imagine, almost all of them were everything we've talked about earlier: that you're too young, only old people have it. But there were a couple that I wanted to bring up that were really interesting that I haven't even heard of. One of them says that eating cherries will cure arthritis. It goes back to the diet, but… 

Eric M. Ruderman, MD: 
The cherry issue actually is more gout. There's been over the years this idea that tart cherry juice helps gout. And honestly, there is a little bit of evidence it can be helpful, but it's not going to cure it, it doesn't fix it. It's been a while, but copper bracelets used to be a thing; they were going to cure your arthritis. There's all sorts of stuff like that. And the reality is, not so much. And there's no single food that you're going to eat that's going to make your arthritis better. It all comes back to, you know, a good healthy diet. 

Bailey Cook: 
The last one that I'll bring up from our listeners was: that by having arthritis, you can't have kids. 

Eric M. Ruderman, MD: 
Oh, absolutely not true. For many of the things that we see, they happen to women more than men. And so, that's a big issue. And happen in women in their 20s and 30s, when that's really a big issue. And the answer is: not true that you can't have kids. But you need to plan about it. So, it does require a lot more thinking and planning. 

Bailey Cook:  
Well, we always end our episodes with our top three takeaways. So, what would be the top three things that you would want a listener to take away from this episode? 

Eric M. Ruderman, MD: 
I think that number one is partnership with your doctor. And if you have arthritis, that means, in most cases, a rheumatologist, because that's the way you address all these myths. If you've heard something, ask those questions. Because a lot of these myths actually come from people's experiences. And so, they're not completely crazy, but you talk to somebody about it. And make sure that you understand. And that you make your treatment decisions in partnership. 

I think the second thing I would stress is physical activity, exercise if you're up to it and feel that you want to do it, it’s going to be good for you, not harmful, if you have arthritis. And the last, I suppose, would be: Think about your medications as part of your overall plan. And that, while the side effects can be a bit scary potentially, the disease itself can be scarier. Think about that as you consider your management. Think about your medicines. We talked about natural therapies. Think about where they fit in, as an adjunct to your medicines, but not as a replacement for medications that we know can really control your disease and help you live a longer, healthier life. 

Bailey Cook: 
I think those were absolutely perfect. And that would have been exactly what I wanted listeners to take away as well. So, Dr. Ruderman, thank you so much for taking the time and for debunking some of these myths with us. We really appreciate it. 

Eric M. Ruderman, MD: 
Well, thank you for having me. And thank you to the Arthritis Foundation for leading this over so many years, at the forefront of this, to really help us understand these diseases and to help people find the resources they need to take care of themselves.

 

MUSIC BUMPER

 

[From Podcast Episode #101: Living With Arthritis: Silver Linings | Released 4/9/24]

 

Bailey Cook:

We always end our episodes with the top three takeaways. So, Sadiq, we'll go to you first. What are the top three takeaways that you want somebody listening to this episode to leave with? 

 

Sadiq Jiwa: 

So, one, I would say that there's always the good in whatever it is that you're going through if you just look through it. Like, I love... Could you say that quote again from that basketball coach? 

 

Bailey Cook: 

Yep. And I don't know who this quote is from, but it says, "If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." 

 

Sadiq Jiwa: 

That says it all right there as a big takeaway, right? In terms of just your perspective, the way that you look at things. You have a unique perspective, and with a more receptive and a positive outlook, it'll really change the way that you look at things around you. One, and then, two: With that, I think it's echoing something that you said, is that you're not always going to see the silver linings or the good that comes as they're happening. And three, something that we've said here is to really educate yourself, reach out, find the community, find the resources that'll help you manage your own condition. 

 

Bailey Cook: 

Stacy, what about you? 

 

Stacy Courtnay: 

I would say lean on the Arthritis Foundation for connections and to meet others with the same struggles that you may have. We've learned empathy for others and ourselves and to be compassionate towards others and ourselves and then just remain hopeful. The Foundation is raising funds and putting millions of dollars into research to find better, safer, more effective treatments. So, I just feel like hopefully one day we all are going to have our miracle drug. I just encourage everybody to remain hopeful. 

 

Sadiq Jiwa: 

Absolutely. What Stacy just said: It's focusing on the things that you can control. Like, there are a lot of things that we're not necessarily able to control. And a lot of times it's very easy for us to go down the rabbit hole of, “Why me and why is this happening?” Or whatnot. Focusing on the things that you can control and that you can change have helped lead to just having an overall better experience. Stacy, I do have a question for you, if you don't mind. 

 

Stacy Courtnay: 

Yes. 

 

Sadiq Jiwa: 

How old is your kid? 

 

Stacy Courtnay: 

He is 16 and a half. 

 

Sadiq Jiwa: 

How much has your experience of having a condition like RA influenced the way that you've raised your kid? 

 

Stacy Courtnay: 

Well, it was really tough at the beginning for him. I remember when he was probably a year and a half, we were sitting on the floor playing with whatever silly toy at the time it was, and he hit my wrist with one of his toys, and I burst into tears. And he learned from a really young age that my joints were just so tender, and he was always... He was so sweet, like, such a young age, just being very sensitive around my joints. 

 

He began to learn compassion and empathy at that really young age. Like, "Mom's having a bad day. She can't throw the football." So, I feel like he's learned so much. I think John's learned a lot about being compassionate and understanding. We all look healthy, but sometimes things are going on on the inside that a lot of people don't see. 

 

Bailey Cook: 

I think that that is such an important thing to think about. This was an incredible episode. Thank you both so much for sharing your stories and your silver linings.

 

PROMO: 

Ease of Use Certified^® products and packaging are tested and proven easy to use for people with arthritis. See what this unique Arthritis Foundation program has tested and certified. Just go to arthritis.org/easeofuse.

 

Bailey Cook:

Thanks for joining us for these top takeaways of our 2024 Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast episodes. Let's continue the highlights. And if you want to hear the full episode of any topic, just go to arthritis.org/podcast. Let's start this segment by talking about how good it feels to help others. Pete Scalia of PSNeverGiveUp was our host.

 

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[From Podcast Episode #102: The Power of Giving | Released 4/30/24]

 

Pete Scalia:

Well, Dr. LaShawn, to close each episode of the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast, we like to typically share our top three takeaways from the conversation that we just had in this episode. So, what would you say were your top three takeaways from this episode about giving back?

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

I think my top three takeaways about giving back are: One, that giving back is going to have benefits for you as the giver, and it's going to help who you're giving to. Two, giving back is going to provide you that joy, that peace, those mental and emotional benefits that you can't always receive just from maybe doing exercise.

 

And three is share your story, no matter how big of a platform or how small that's going to help people around you and people even beyond that. So, share your story, social media, at your PT visit, to your family member or relative, to someone newly diagnosed. Yes, those are my three takeaways. And I just really want to thank you all here at the Arthritis Foundation for having me. I really love this topic. And just thank you so much.

 

Pete Scalia:

Oh, that is so great, Dr. LaShawn. I love those things. I was coming up with three takeaways, too, just from talking with you today. One thing that I thought was really powerful: You mentioned looking forward to something. And I think people listening to this, you know, having something to look forward to could definitely affect your well-being. And then when you're there, that could affect the well-being of the people that you're giving back to.

 

That sense of encouragement, like you said something, that simple acts can be encouraging. You know, maybe if you're in the moment, you're experiencing a flare. It might be difficult to go to that Walk to Cure Arthritis, but there are still ways that you can give back if you can't necessarily attend an event in person. And then finally, I love the fact that at the end there, we touched on gratitude.

 

And Dr. LaShawn, I have to say, as the guest host of this episode, we are grateful to have people like you who are willing to take the time to talk with us about something that people might not think of. But it could be a really simple way of sharing your own personal story, your own personal experiences, and maybe uplifting others in the process.

 

Dr. Teoma LaShawn:

Absolutely, absolutely. I love all of your takeaways. I'm like, "Oh, yeah, we did talk about that." (laughs)

 

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[From Podcast Episode #104: Calm Your Inner Critic | Released 5/21/24]

 

Jenn Ziegler:

I want to sum up everything that we have talked about with our top three takeaways. Rob, I'm going to let you go first. Because I feel like you have them right there at the tip of your tongue.

 

Rob Wicall:

I'm going to break it down, I think, to four. I'm going to add one. So first one: enough already, right? Enough negative talk already. And we are enough already. You don't have to do anything. You're good enough. What we have is what we have. We didn't ask for it; but we can have the correct perspective. Which is my second one: to live with it in a positive fashion, right? Life is perspective. And you can wallow in it all day; or you can be happy in your life. Live it happily.

 

The third thing is about overcoming. I have that in my bag of tools, keep having these tools to put in that bag, of overcoming moments, of successes. So, when I'm in that bad place, I can pull those out real quickly and easily. And then number four is: Do yoga.

 

Jenn Ziegler:

Love it. Alright. My takeaways. I love your book, Furlosophy. Having a personal philosophy, having a personal mission statement, is important to really kind of propel you forward, keep your trajectory going forward. So, that's my first takeaway, is have a philosophy. My second takeaway is… I actually really love the social media comment about AIR it out. I'm going to take that with me: Aware, Interrupt, Replace that negative self-talk, hands down.

 

And my third one is similar to yours, Rob: Perspective. We all have the ability to change our perspective and to recognize that while our perspective is one way, someone else's perspective of the same thing might be completely different.

 

Rob Wicall:

I love it, Jenn. That's great.

 

Jenn Ziegler:

Is there anything else you want to add, Rob?

 

Rob Wicall:

I would say encouraging everybody to not be so harsh on ourselves in life. We're all in this together. And when you think you're the only one dealing with this, you're not. It's going to be OK. It's not the end of the world.

 

Jenn Ziegler:

It's not the end of the world. Thank you so much, Rob, for joining us on the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast. I love this conversation. Just thank you so much for sharing your experience, your wisdom and your Furlosophy.

 

Rob Wicall:

Thank you, Jenn. Thank you for having me.

 

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[From Podcast Episode #105: Traveling Well With Arthritis | Released 6/4/24]

 

Pete Scalia:

To close out each episode, we typically share our top three takeaways from the episode. I know we covered a lot of different things here. Matt, what would you say were your three takeaways from this episode?

 

Matt Iseman:

Gosh, well, what am I going to say? I think it's this emotional care. msfeefee was just hammering it home. I think the emotional care that we take for ourselves, particularly with travel when everything's magnified. I think the one before msfeefee was talking about the comfortable clothes. The biggest thing, though, is the power of community. Like, what a great resource we are. And I love that tip about the medication. And just what a practical reminder of how much, not just knowledge but experience, is in this community available to us all.

 

Pete Scalia:

Oh, absolutely. My three takeaways are definitely make sure you plan ahead, think of all the things that you might need, whether it's for comfort or whether it's for unwinding when you arrive at your destination. I love that you said to take that time to give yourself a little bit of grace and sort of like decompress once you get to your destination, you know? Stretch out a little bit. And then during your travel, make sure you move a little bit, whether it's, like you said, getting up in the aisles, walking up and down, just kind of common-sense things that you might not think of, right?

 

Matt Iseman:

Yeah.

 

Pete Scalia:

Just being sort of practical and giving yourself that grace when you travel.

 

Matt Iseman:

And don't be embarrassed to do it. Like, you know, that's a thing. People are like, "Oh, everyone's staring at me." No, they're not. Everyone's in their own world. Everyone's worried about themselves. So, do what you’ve got to do to take care of yourself.

 

Pete Scalia:

Well, Matt Iseman, I know you do quite a bit of traveling. You probably have some big trips coming up, right?

 

Matt Iseman:

Yeah, it's going to be, well, San Francisco, New York, South Carolina, Denver in the next four weeks.

 

Pete Scalia:

Wow. So now you're going to be prepared.

 

Matt Iseman:

But now I am really prepared. I am. And I am going to share this with my fiancée, too. Go, "See, I'm right. We need to be prepared." (laughs)

 

Pete Scalia:

I love it. Well, Matt Iseman, our travel expert, thanks so much. From one arthritis warrior to another, Matt, it's always great talking with you. Thanks so much.

 

Matt Iseman:

Likewise, Pete. Thanks, bud.

 

PROMO:

Donations from people like you make everything the Arthritis Foundation offers possible. Like arthritis research, trusted information, life-changing tools and connecting with others. Thanks to gifts like yours, we’re here all year long to help people with arthritis manage their condition. Be part of the solution at arthritis.org/donate.

 

Bailey Cook:

The last three of our top takeaways from our 2024 Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast episodes are next. And if you want to hear the full episode of any topic, find it at arthritis.org/podcast. Losing unwanted weight is always a common goal. What do our listeners say? What tips can you try? Let's listen in.

 

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[From Podcast Episode #107: Managing Weight for Arthritis | Released 7/2/24]

 

Stacy Courtnay:

I'm going to move on to some of our social media comments, when we asked people: “What are some things that you do to manage your weight?” And one person said, “Finding exercise and movement that I genuinely enjoy. Forcing yourself to do something you hate makes consistency difficult.”

 

Yes, I 100% agree with that. And this made me think about my two cousins, who are actually in their 60s, and they started an over-50 dance group called "Stayin' Alive." They're based here in Atlanta. But they will travel to festivals and fairs and basketball games, and they dance.

 

They are each others' accountability partners. And they have practice four and five times a week. And in fact, they were on “Good Morning America” a couple weeks ago, just talking about how it is so important to be physically active. And to keep their weight in check. You definitely have to find something that you enjoy doing, or you're not going to keep it up.

 

Michelle McLeod:

Absolutely.

 

Stacy Courtnay:

Another comment: “Eating whole foods and not processed foods.” 100% agree with that. Raquel, I'm sure you agree with that as well?

 

Raquel Masco:

Yes.

 

Stacy Courtnay:

This quote made me laugh. "Brushing my teeth numerous times a day, because I don't like to eat when I have a fresh mouth."

 

Raquel Masco:

That's good.

 

Stacy Courtnay:

That is great, I love that. I'm going to put a star next to that one and remember that. Another comment was: "Meal planning and movement. Seated exercise and walking is a great cardio option, even if it is super slow, and your range is limited, just keep moving." I love that quote: "Walking is to fitness, as flossing is to dental health."

 

And our last comment is: “Limiting all sugars, measuring and weighing protein and carbohydrates to a serving. The amount we should be eating can be deceiving when portions are so large. And low- to no-impact functional weight training at least three times a week.” Agree with all of that as well. Because portion sizes are so huge. It is crazy how much food we are served at restaurants.

 

Michelle McLeod:

It's almost shocking what an actual portion looks like compared to what we're served at a lot of places. Yeah, I agree, that can be challenging.

 

Raquel Masco:

100%.

 

Stacy Courtnay:

We will wrap up and we can go around, and let's start with Raquel. What are your top three takeaways from our conversation today?

 

Raquel Masco:

I think how important community really is when you are living with arthritis. Just how uplifting and informative this podcast has been. How important it is to have people who get you and what you're going through. I liked that, you know, that walking is to health and fitness as flossing is to dental hygiene. Amazing. And do what's right for you, what works for you, managing your weight along with your arthritis diagnosis.

 

Stacy Courtnay:

Yes, I agree with all those. What about you, Michelle?

 

Michelle McLeod:

Yeah, I think my takeaways really echo what Raquel has already said. Keeping it simple and sticking with something that you will enjoy and will continue to do, and that you can maintain for a long period of time throughout life.

 

Being able to take a step back and give yourself some grace. And to also remember that two steps forward and one step back is still forward progress. So, even on those bad days, remember that the next day is a new opportunity.

 

Stacy Courtnay:

Yes, progress is not always linear. And I would say my top three, I'll go back to one of those social media comments: "Brushing my teeth numerous times a day, because I don't want to eat when I'm fresh mouth." I love that.

 

I love what Michelle said about walking is to fitness as flossing is to dental health. And then also just having a support system, accountability: husband, partner, app, friend, group, whatever. This has been very, very helpful. I hope all of our listeners have learned a little bit from the three of us. And I appreciate the opportunity to host the podcast today. Thank you to Raquel and Michelle. Thank you so much.

 

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[From Podcast Episode #112: Easing Arthritis Hand Pain | Released 9/10/24]

 

Trina Wilcox:

Before each episode, we post a question on social media. And asked: What’s the biggest impact arthritis has had on your hands and how do you deal with it? And got some great responses. Gavin Moon said, "I swear at small objects that require a lot of finger dexterity." And sadly, I think we all can kind of relate to that. "It's really awkward when you're swearing at a button in a bathroom stall, and then you walk out and realize someone else is there." (laughs)

 

Dr. Jeanine Beasley:

Now, for that one, there is a button hook. I don't know, have you seen the button hook?

 

Trina Wilcox:

I've seen these, but I've not had one. I think I need one in my kit, because buttons have been a nemesis for sure.

 

Dr. Jeanine Beasley:

Actually, it has a history. Remember when there were buttoned shoes, you know? They would use this little… It's a tool that has just a little wire on it, and it actually grabs the button through the buttonhole, pulls it through. So, it's a tool that's very helpful, very inexpensive. You can make them out of a paperclip.

 

Trina Wilcox:

There you go. It's going on my Christmas list. We had another, first-time mom recently had a flare. “I was unable to pick up my baby from his crib. It was so heartbreaking to ask for help. I just wanted to cuddle him.” That is so heartbreaking, when you just want to care for someone else and you're having trouble yourself. I think we can all relate to that, too.

 

Dr. Jeanine Beasley:

Yes, I think with a new mom and a baby. And I'm hoping that she has less pain going forward. But, modifying how she picks up that baby, the level of the crib so she doesn't have to reach down so far low. But if the baby is standing, then you’ve got to go low. But if the baby is not, is much younger, you can have the crib a little bit higher; the baby can be safe. And then if you can get a crib where the railing goes down, so that you can slide the baby towards you comfortably, there's a way to lift the baby appropriately with your hands, and also using your legs.

 

Trina Wilcox:

Karen K. Peters said, “I can't even put on earrings, and I had to remove my wedding ring due to swollen misshapen joints. Any advice for wedding ring?”

 

Dr. Jeanine Beasley:

I saw that there are some wonderful little latches. They open up and close around and enlarge. This is called your PIP joint. They're kind of expensive, but you know, Christmas is coming. Hello. It's called kind of an arthritic hinge. And jewelers can put those on.

 

Earrings are hard because of the tiny backs to them. Now, do you remember the clip-on earrings that were a lot easier to put on? There are also magnetic earrings.

 

Trina Wilcox:

I have used them. It depends on what day it is and how my fingers are behaving. Thank you for this conversation. This has been wonderful. Do you have takeaways from the episode?

 

Dr. Jeanine Beasley:

Well, yeah. I hope that the people listening to this realize that, “Hey, I’ve got to really figure out my specific issue and not read about something that doesn't apply to me,” you know what I'm saying?

 

Trina Wilcox:

Right. I think a few of my takeaways would be definitely: preventative care. Try to take care and protect those joints. Have a good relationship with your doctor and your hand surgeon for sure. And cut yourself some slack. Sometimes, you just have to ask for some help.

 

Dr. Jeanine Beasley:

It's OK.

 

Trina Wilcox:

It's OK. Thank you so much.

 

MUSIC BUMPER

 

[From Podcast Episode #117: Medicare Changes & Marketplace Tips | Released 11/5/24]

 

Stacy Courtnay:

I was going to ask each of you what your top three takeaways are from today's conversation.

 

Alisa Casavant:

My top three takeaways for today… Number one, starting in January, there are big changes coming to Medicare, specifically Part D, the prescription drug benefit. Starting January 1st, you will not have to pay more than $2,000 out of pocket regardless of which Part D plan you choose. That means a $2,000 cap for all of your prescription medications combined.

 

The second is that you have the option to opt-in to a new program called the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan to spread out those out-of-pocket prescription costs over your plan year, but you have to sign up for it. So, if you know that you're going to reach that limit, go ahead and sign up. And my third takeaway is not only do you now get free vaccines, so you don't have to pay that copay. You can go get your vaccine. And since it is vaccine season right now for fall, go ahead and do it.

 

Stacy Courtnay:

Thank you. You're passionate about those free vaccines. (laughter) I love it. OK, Nick, what about you? Your top three takeaways?

 

Nick Turkas:

Top three tips: Read, review and reach out. So, go to medicare.gov. Go to healthcare.gov. Read the mail that comes in about your health care options. You’ll get lots of it. So read it, review it. Think about the options that best fit you, your health care needs and your budget. Lastly, reach out. There are many folks that want to help you. Reach out to your health care provider. Reach out to your pharmacist. Reach out to those navigators. And reach out to the Arthritis Foundation, and we'll help you make the best decision for your health care needs.

 

Alisa Casavant:

Oh, Nick, I love that.

 

Stacy Courtnay:

I know. I love it, too. Well, I will say I have just one major takeaway, and that is that, Alisa and Nick, you're a wealth of knowledge, and I love your passion for this. And I love all that you do for patients who have arthritis or any type of condition. So, like I said, you taught me so much today, and I really appreciate your time and your wisdom and your expertise. I'm sure our listeners enjoyed it as well.

 

PROMO:

Movement is the best medicine. But it can be hard when you hurt. Your Exercise Solution is a resource to help you create a customized physical activity routine based on your specific needs and abilities. Learn more at arthritis.org/yourexercisesolution.

 

Bailey Cook:

That was great, looking back at the past year and hearing some highlights of news you can use, fantastic tips and other great insights. If you want to hear about anything more in-depth, just search for the episode at arthritis.org/podcast.

 

To wrap up our end of 2024 podcast episode, we're introducing our mailbag. This is where we asked you, our listeners, through social media, to let us know any burning questions that you have, or whatever else is on your mind. We'll share a few of your questions along with our corresponding answers provided by a couple of our key arthritis experts.

 

To start, betsyh2021 asks: “I appreciate the drug companies having programs for those of us whose insurance won’t approve this medication, but why are medications so expensive?” Betsy, girl, I feel you there. So, for this one, we asked Dr. Eric Ruderman to reply. Dr. Ruderman is a rheumatologist and a professor of medicine, rheumatology, at Northwestern University, Feinburg School of Medicine.

 

Here’s what he had to say: “Part of the high cost of medication comes from the high cost of drug development. This includes the cost of research to develop the medication and the cost of the clinical trials to establish its safety and efficacy. In addition, many medications fail during the development process, and pharmaceutical companies look to the revenue from marketed medications to recoup some of the costs of development of those as well.”

 

“Unfortunately,” he says, “one of the reasons medications are so expensive is that the pharmaceutical industry is a for-profit industry. So, pharmaceutical companies, pharmacy benefit managers and specialty pharmacies all rely on the high cost of medication to make a profit for their shareholders.”

 

Next question… G-O-D-S-ForYou asks: “Why aren't there more medications for osteoarthritis?” Good question. Dr. Ruderman says, “This is not for lack of trying. There have been quite a few medications studied to try to reduce the progression of osteoarthritis. Unfortunately,” he says, “these studies have not been successful, so treatment of osteoarthritis remains focused on medications and non-medication approaches to try to reduce the pain of arthritis and the functional limitations it causes.”

 

One thing I think it's important to know is we at the Arthritis Foundation, along with experts in clinical practice and academia, have recently launched the PIKASO clinical trial. PIKASO stands for "Preventing Injured Knees From Osteoarthritis Severity Outcomes.” PIKASO is a prevention study. It tests whether metformin, a drug commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, can prevent or delay the onset of osteoarthritis in people who have had an ACL tear and are scheduled for surgery. You can learn more at arthritis.org/science.

 

Next question… ArthritisChrissy asks: “What are some strategies for comprehensively tracking your disease? Meds, PT, OT, fatigue, side effects, brain fog, diet, exercise, stress, mental health, relationships, other related medical issues, it’s so much to keep track of.” To answer this question, we asked Stephanie Rosado, who has a Ph.D. with a Master’s of Social Work, to weigh in. Dr. Rosado is a professor at the University of South Florida School of Social Work and a certified wellness and health coach.

 

She says, “My top recommendation is to start habit tracking. Research has shown that habit tracking can enhance wellness and productivity. For those dealing with arthritis, habit trackers can be incredibly useful for monitoring various bio-psycho-social aspects of the disease all in one place and can even help identify hidden flare triggers. You can also create a personalized Excel sheet with a tab for each month and list each symptom or wellness area for every day of the week. Pro-tip: Make sure to start online in a Google Drive or iCloud for easy access on the go.”

 

She says, “There are many options available, both free and paid, for habit-tracking mobile apps, too. Traditional pen-and-paper habit trackers are a great choice, but one downside to this method is the risk of forgetting to bring it with you or take a picture before your doctor’s appointment.” For this reason, she believes some form of electronic tracker is best.

 

“Like any type of tracking, it requires effort and commitment.” Before you begin, she recommends “taking a moment to determine the best time for you to reflect and track your habits. Will it be during your morning coffee, reflecting on the previous day? Are you willing to spend a few seconds checking off boxes on your tracker right before bed, while the day is still fresh in your mind? Or would mealtime serve as a better reminder, tracking right before breakfast, lunch and dinner? The beauty of it is that you get to decide what works best for you.”

 

Once you've identified the best time for you to track, she suggests “experimenting with different methods and variations until you find one that sticks. It should fit your schedule, lifestyle and personality without feeling burdensome.”

 

And for our last question, DessieLovejoy asks: “Menopause and rheumatoid arthritis. Does HRT, hormone replacement therapy, work, and is it safe?” Once again, Dr. Eric Ruderman gave us an answer to this one. He says, “HRT does have a role in managing the symptoms of menopause.” He says, “I don't feel qualified to comment on the efficacy of use of HRT. That would be a question women need to discuss with their gynecologist. HRT is safe in patients with RA, however.”

 

Thank you to our listeners for your questions and to the experts who shared their wisdom.

 

It’s kind of hard to believe, but the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast series launched five years ago in the fall of 2019. In 2024, we surpassed 100 episodes since our podcast started. Thanks to our sponsors, partners, experts, volunteers, donors, really anyone and everyone who’s been with us along this journey, especially you, our listeners, for keeping this podcast going strong. Thank you all so much. What a milestone! And thank you for joining us for this year-end episode of 2024. I’m Bailey Cook. Happy New Year!

 

 

PODCAST CLOSING:

The Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast is independently produced by the Arthritis Foundation. Gifts from people like you make our podcast and other life-changing resources possible. You can donate at arthritis.org/donate. This podcast aims to help people living with arthritis and chronic pain live their best life. For a transcript and show notes, go to arthritis.org/podcast. Subscribe, rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. If you subscribe through Spotify, leave a comment on their platform, letting us know what you think about this episode. And stay in touch!