MY HEALTH EXPERIENCE: NIKKI SYMMONS: Osteoarthritis has not stopped hockey player Nikki Symmons becoming Ireland's most capped female hockey player
A DIAGNOSIS of arthritis at the age of 26 put my international hockey playing career in doubt just as I was reaching my peak. Despite having had two operations on my hips since then, I have been able to not only manage my condition through regular exercise, but to prolong my hockey career and become Ireland’s most capped player.
People with arthritis tend to avoid exercise because they are in pain or for fear of worsening their arthritis, but as I learnt, regular physical activity is really important as it helps to relieve pain and inflammation and reduce stiffness.
At first when my hips started to get really stiff and sore, I assumed it was caused by playing hockey at such a high level for so long. Over time, the pain was worsening so I decided to get it checked out. My granny, who has arthritis, had both hips replaced and I went to see her doctor who gave me steroid injections on two occasions.
That worked well and kept me going for a while but when the pain came back again, I was referred to Mr Tom McCarthy, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry.
He did an MRI of my hips and operated to remove a big lump of floating cartilage from my left hip. After the operation, he came to see me and told me the scan had shown the onset of arthritis. I was shocked by this diagnosis at such a young age, even though I knew there was something wrong with my hips and I was aware that osteoarthritis was hereditary.
I recovered very well from that surgery and went back playing. Last August, I played a European tournament in Germany but in October, I was warming up for another tournament when I fell to the ground with pain. My hips were totally locked and I could not move my legs for about 15 minutes. Eventually, the physiotherapist got me back on my feet and I had to take a couple of days’ rest.
I had to have a second operation in November, an arthroscopy to scrape out the hips which was done through keyhole surgery. My doctor said this was the last time I could have this operation done. I was back walking and training again fairly soon after the surgery as I had to try to get fit for the Olympic qualifiers in April of this year.
My doctor advised me not to go back playing after the Olympics but I did not qualify. He has warned me that if I keep going with such a high-impact sport, I will probably need a new hip in the next 10 years. I’m almost 30 now and really don’t want a hip replacement before the age of 40 but even though I know I will have to cut back on playing hockey down the road, I haven’t made any decision yet.
I would be very upset if I had to stop playing. I’ve been playing on the Irish team for 11 years and played underage before that. I’ve had a long career, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The downside has been missing out on so many family occasions over the years, including my niece’s recent christening because of games. It can be stressful trying to juggle hockey and work to pay the bills as well as we don’t get paid to play.
Coming back from the two operations on my hips, I have definitely found that low-impact exercise, such as cycling, swimming and aqua jogging in the pool, has played a major part in my recovery and has certainly helped to prolong my hockey career. It’s much easier on my hips than hockey training.
So many people with arthritis think they can’t do any exercise, but, in fact, there are lots of things they can do to keep fit and well.
I am supporting Arthritis Ireland’s Moving is The Best Medicine campaign because I am aware of the many benefits that exercise has for people with the condition. It’s so important that people look after their joints properly and staying active is a vital part of this, as well as maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle and also ensuring that injuries are treated properly if you are involved in sport.
In conversation with
MICHELLE McDONAGH
WHY MOVING REALLY IS THE BEST MEDICINE
Arthritis Ireland has teamed up with Ireland’s most capped female hockey player (178 appearances), Nikki Symmons, and Operation Transformation psychologist, Dr Eddie Murphy, to call on people living with arthritis to get active.
The Moving is the Best Medicine campaign, launched recently by Arthritis Ireland in partnership with Pfizer, will involve a series of motivating Exercise Made Easy seminars around the State as well as the publication of an information booklet on Physical Activity and Arthritis.
A recent survey, conducted by Arthritis Ireland, revealed a worrying level of misunderstanding around exercise with almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of people admitting that they avoided regular activity due to high levels of pain or for fear of worsening their arthritis.
The new campaign aims to raise awareness that even a little bit of physical activity, whether it’s walking to work instead of driving or taking the stairs instead of the lift, can make a big difference to the quality of life of people with arthritis. It is recommended that those with arthritis are active for at least 30 minutes five times a week and the new booklet includes detailed information on building and maintaining a regime.
For more information or to pre-order the Physical Activity and Arthritis information booklet, contact the Arthritis Ireland helpline on 1890 252846 or visit arthritisireland.ie.
Arthritis affects one in five people in Ireland or 915,000 nationwide. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, which can affect people of all ages from babies and toddlers right through to those in their adult years. About 60 per cent of those with arthritis are under 65 years old.
