Arthritis Ireland has launched a new video in an effort to change the misconception that arthritis is a condition only affecting older people.

Arthritis is in fact suffered by people of all ages, from the elderly and middle-aged to young people, children, and even babies.

Below are extracts of just a few of the people speaking in the video 'The Different Faces of Arthritis' about their experiences of living with arthritis:

Secondary school student Danny DeVaal, aged 13 from north Dublin, said the lack of awareness around arthritis made coming to terms with the disease very difficult.

"When I was seven I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and I was quite scared actually because I didn't know what was coming. Most people don't really realise that arthritis can be in children. They think it's only with old people and I thought I was all on my own before I was made aware of other children with arthritis."

Danny said the had affected school work. "Before arthritis I used to be able to write big, long essays and now I kind of find it a lot harder to write in school."

Garda Philip Gleeson, in his 30s, said being diagnosed with arthritis almost brought an end to his career and had a severe effect on his everyday life.

"I was three months in bed. I couldn't pick up my children, I couldn't play sport, I couldn't go to work. I went into bereavement, I went into shock. I was at loss for the life that I perceived I had lost. I was angry, I wanted information and I wanted help."

Philip, originally from The Liberties in Dublin but living in Galway, said that after contacting Arthritis Ireland he got the support that he needed. "I started a six-week course non-medical self-management course and it completely turned my life around." 

Philip is now back working as a full-time garda, as well as a full-time dad, after he took control of his arthritis through medication and lifestyle changes.

He feels one of his biggest frustrations is the lack of awareness about the condition. "There's a perception that only old people have arthritis and this is a perception that needs to be changed."

The arthritis video is available here

Visit our Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinic here