The actress Kathleen Turner has received two Golden Globe nominations and two trophies for her distinctive voice. Turner was suffering rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune condition, behind the scenes. For the majority of her career, the diva suffered in quiet; it wasn’t until 2018 that she finally opened up about the severity of her health issues.
In addition to the unbearable agony from her rheumatoid arthritis, the actress’s medicine caused serious side effects, including making her cognition “fuzzy.” Turner, 67, acknowledged that it was “hard to understand the level of pain that [her] disease brings,” despite having accomplished incredible career highlights like co-starring with Michael Douglas in the Netflix drama The Kominsky Method and providing the voice of Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Turner, who was first given the diagnosis in her late 30s, disguised the cause of her illness due to Hollywood pressure and the lack of widespread knowledge of autoimmune disorders at the time.
She told Vulture magazine, “Rheumatoid arthritis struck in my late 30s – the end of my years in which Hollywood would consider me a sexually attractive leading lady.
My sickness was a source of terrible mystery at the time because there was so little information regarding autoimmune disorders in the general public.
“I was informed that I would need a wheelchair for the remainder of my life due to rheumatoid arthritis, and 20 years ago there were no treatments like there are now. About 18 years ago, they were made.
Turner continued, “My hands couldn’t hold a hug and it would slide and people would go ‘Oh’ as if I had been drinking or something,” to further illustrate how terrible her symptoms had grown over the years.
Rheumatoid arthritis, in contrast to other types of arthritis, arises when the immune system of the body, which normally fights infection, turns against itself and assaults the cells that line the joints.
The result is that these cells swell, stiffen, and hurt the joints. Along with these uncomfortable sensations, cartilage and surrounding bone can sustain permanent harm over a longer length of time.
The NHS explains that rheumatoid nodules can eventually form under the skin surrounding damaged joints, and that pain and stiffness are often worst in the mornings or after a period of inactivity.
Even while the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may resemble those of other types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, they can last much longer than 30 minutes.
Furthermore, rheumatoid arthritis might result in general symptoms like:
fatigue and a lack of enthusiasm
Sweating at a hot temperature
a lack of appetite
Loss of weight.
Other body parts that may be impacted by rheumatoid arthritis depend on where it develops, such as the chest and eyes.
The NHS states that although the condition is incurable, treatments for rheumatoid arthritis can help people stay as active as possible, reduce joint inflammation, relieve pain, prevent or slow down joint degeneration, and lessen disability.
When started as soon as feasible following diagnosis, these treatments are especially successful.
Biological therapies and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic medications (DMARDs) are the two primary categories of medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
When the immune system first targets the joints, substances are released that DMARDs limit the effects of. Once inhibited, these toxins are unable to further harm the adjacent cartilage, tendons, and bones.
Biological therapies, in contrast, are administered via injection and work by preventing specific blood molecules from stimulating the immune system to attack the joints. Although quite effective, this kind of therapy has a number of potential adverse effects, such as:
Skin repercussions at the injection sites
Infections
Having the flu A high body temperature
Headaches.
Painkillers can be used temporarily to reduce pain and inflammation in addition to specialized treatment, especially during flare-ups.
Physiotherapy can assist a person to become more physically fit and have stronger muscles when used in conjunction with medication. A physiotherapist may also be able to assist with pain management by utilizing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, heat, or ice packs (TENS).
If joint deterioration persists despite treatment, surgery may be utilized to replace the entire joint.
