Health issues

John Wood opens up on life with rheumatoid arthritis

Dec 23, 2018

Aussie actor John Wood previously spoke to Starts at 60 about his life with rheumatoid arthritis. Source: Getty

John Wood is one of Australia’s favourite actors, appearing in a string of popular shows over the years including Blue Heelers, Underbelly and Rafferty’s Rules.

While many know him for his popular on-screen characters, most fans are unaware that he’s one of many Australians living with rheumatoid arthritis.

In simple terms, rheumatoid arthritis is a condition where the body’s immune system targets the lining of the body’s joints. For many patients, this results in severe pain, swelling and stiffness.

Speaking to Starts at 60 earlier this year, the 72-year-old opened up about how the condition has impacted his life.

“I have the occasional really bad pain in the hands, and I wake up some days with a bad ankle or a bad knee, or a bad hip. The next day it’s something else,” John explained. “It has slowed me down, I can’t bend and do the things I could do a few years ago, but apart from that it’s not really affected my life.”

There is currently no cure for rheumatoid arthritis and treatment varies depending on individual circumstances. Some patients are prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, while corticosteroid medicines and injections work better for others. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs can also be prescribed.

For the Gold Logie winner, he has to take daily medication to help manage the pain that comes with his disease and manage the related disfiguration in his hands.

While rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms mirror other conditions, early diagnosis is key to ensure people are able to manage their condition and continue living an active life. Seeking help from a GP or a health professional is typically the best starting point as blood tests and x-rays can often detect rheumatoid arthritis.

John says he originally thought his arthritis was gout and was only diagnosed otherwise when he visited a doctor. He said rheumatoid arthritis hadn’t negatively impacted his life to date, but wasn’t sure what the next few years had in store for him.

“I’ve no idea if I’m honest. I was quite distressed to hear that Glenn Frey, one of the guitarists of the Eagles, died in part from complications of rheumatoid arthritis,” the TV star said. “I thought ‘My gosh, what does that mean?’ I have no idea what the implications are, I just hope whatever I’m taking kills off those cells and keeps it at bay.”

Following Frey’s death, Eagles band manager Irving Azoff said the guitarist’s death was partly caused by side effects of the medication he was taking for his rheumatoid arthritis, although this has never been confirmed by Frey’s doctors.

Because the condition impacts people differently, it can be hard to determine how rheumatoid arthritis will affect certain people. According to Arthritis Australia, many people experience flares, where the joints can become more painful and inflamed for certain periods of time.

In some people, it can cause life-changing disfigurements and permanent damage of the joints, but early detection can usually prevent this from happening. As for John, he now has regular check-ups for all health concerns, including regular blood tests and colonoscopies to ensure he’s still healthy.

“I’m a heavy drinker but I’ve had checks for liver function, kidney function, cholesterol, all that and they all seem to be under control.”

It’s always important to talk to a GP or health professional as soon as any symptoms arise. It doesn’t always mean it will be arthritis, but a doctor will be about to identify the cause of any pain or discomfort.