Jeanine McGuire was diagnosed at 14 with rheumatoid arthritis, something she considered to be an old person’s disease.
An athlete at North Catholic High School at the time, McGuire assumed her dreams of a collegiate soccer career were dashed.
“I never thought I’d get better,” said McGuire, now 37, of Franklin Park. “There’s no cure for arthritis.”
Fast-forward more than two decades and McGuire has defied her prognosis. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford as a two-sport athlete and continues to push her limits by competing in endurance running and triathlons.
“I push myself further than I thought possible,” she said. “I like to tell people they have a big life to live. They can do more than they think.”
More than 1.3 million people in the U.S. suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The autoimmune disease is marked by chronic pain and swelling of the joints. It happens when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and is caused by a mix of genetics, environmental and other factors. Risks include smoking, oral health, gut health, viruses and excess weight.
Women are three times as likely to be affected, according to Yale Medicine.
Around the globe, cases of rheumatoid arthritis are expected to climb 80% over the next three decades, according to the NIH.
The agency estimates nearly 32 million people will be living with the disease by 2050, up from 17.6 million in 2020.
Dr. Tarun Sharma, director of the RA Center of Excellence at Allegheny Health Network, said patients can live their best life with strict self-care, in addition to medical expertise.
“Being in tune with your body is important to controlling arthritis aggressively and early,” he said.
Patients need to pay close attention to mental health and general wellness with diet and exercise.
“When your hand grip is weak because your joints are swollen, exercise is the last thing you’re thinking about,” Sharma said. “Once you are out of an inflammatory flare, that’s the perfect time to get in an exercise routine as tolerated. It’s very important to keep the musculoskeletal system intact and healthy. Muscle strength offloads the joints.”
While there is no cure, Sharma said remission is the ultimate goal. That means zero to little joint-related pain and swelling, which he said is achievable with medication, injections and, sometimes, advanced treatments.
McGuire, who split her time growing up in the North Hills and the city’s Brighton Heights section, said she began weekly injections the first semester of college. The shots were meant to reduce swelling in her knees, then eventually in her hands, ankles, feet and fingers.
“It was an isolating experience,” she said. “I didn’t know anyone going through it. I went from managing my social and athletic calendars to managing doctor appointments.”
It took about two years to get the disease under control.
Sharma said unattended rheumatoid arthritis can lead to complications with lungs, cardiovascular systems and skin, among other issues.
“People tend to focus on arthritis leading to deformities around the joints,” he said. “That inflammation just wears the rest of your body down. There’s a lot that comes with an immune system being revved up 24/7.”
McGuire, an account manager for Linq Services, keeps that in mind, staying active every day.
She has been training at North Park since high school, most recently running laps in advance of the Pittsburgh half-marathon on May 4.
“I don’t know how many loops I’ve run around there,” she said. “I consider it my home field advantage.”
McGuire finished the 13.1-mile course in Pittsburgh crossing the finish line at 1:39:24 — among the top 1% of women racers, according to official results.
Over the years, she has volunteered with the Western PA Arthritis Foundation as a counselor at Camp JRA and as a participant in the annual Jingle Bell Run.
She also put in work on the administrative side, serving on the planning committee, as an event co-chair, board member and now as president.
With National Arthritis Awareness Month in May, McGuire will co-host the group’s annual Walk to Cure Arthritis at Southshore Riverfront Park. The event is May 17 and participants can choose between a 1-mile or a 5K trek.
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Money raised will support the foundation’s ability to fund scientific research, provide resources and raise awareness.
“It’s not just about my journey but about building a stronger support system for all of us facing similar challenges,” McGuire said.
“This is the No. 1 cause of disability in our country. How amazing would it be to have less people on disability and to have people living fuller lives?”