Three years ago, just as she was starting a new job, Kelly was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. It started in her feet. It hurt to stand. Then it moved into her arms and hands. She couldn’t hold her purse or start her car and her fingers and arms would often lock into position. She didn’t tell her boss fearing she’d get fired.
“Not being able to do simple things, like open your car door or close your trunk. You feel so helpless,” says Kelly. “It’s a horrible feeling to have that taken away from you.”
Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the body’s joints causing pain and deterioration of bones, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. The first symptoms are usually pain and stiffness. As the disease progresses, pain increases and mobility declines. In advanced stages, arthritis can completely immobilize the body, cause excruciating pain and require complete joint replacement. People with arthritis often have difficulty doing simple things like walking, eating or even brushing their teeth.
Getting Kelly’s arthritis under control has been difficult. Doctors initially told her she had plantar fasciitis and advised her to ice her feet and not wear flip flops.
Today, Kelly treats her arthritis with medication, therapy and exercise. She and Dave created Run Through Hell hoping to raise awareness and support for people with arthritis.
“We want to help find better treatments and maybe even a cure,” says Dave. “The pain is terrible and the cost of the drugs is so expensive.”
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