Living with Osteoarthritis - Ruth Mann's story

For three decades, viola player Ruth Mann entertained audiences in Ireland and around the world as a member of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the BBC Northern Ireland Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra. Being a professional musician was a career, but it was a lot more than that; playing music was her great love.

However, during the last 10 years of her playing life, Ruth experienced the devastating effects of osteoarthritis (OA) in her neck and hips. Her neck would seize up, she would ‘feel sick with the pain’, until finally she just couldn’t move her neck at all. The arthritis in her hips eventually got so bad that she had to use a wheelchair to get round. After numerous x-rays, tests and visits to doctors and surgeons, Ruth had to retire. ‘A career you really love – and a life – just gone. That wasn’t in the script,’ she says. She was 53.

After retiring, Ruth had both hips replaced and slowly started to build a new life. The Living Well with Arthritis self-management course was a game-changer. She took up new hobbies and had more time for old passions: yoga, painting, birdwatching, walking and gardening.

Looking back, Ruth says, ‘Life started anew. I learned I could do other things. There’s still a lot to learn though.’

To read more about Ruth’s story visit the Arthritis Ireland website, https://www.arthritisireland.ie. Further information about OA and support is available on the website and via the helpline, 0818 252 846.

This video was developed as part of the #BePrOActive campaign, which is supported by Pfizer, Grünenthal, FlexiSeq and the Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin.

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