Don’t let arthritis get in the way of dreams and aspirations, whatever field they are in, says James Lowe

Signed by the hugely successful Irish rugby team, Leinster, James Lowe is originally from New Zealand. There are many accolades to his name, but perhaps the most impressive is the fact that he succeeded in what he set out to, despite being deeply affected by juvenile arthritis as a teenager.

“Active and sporty” is a phrase that does not really do justice to the amount of sport James enjoyed as an adolescent. “Aged 14 years old, I was playing many sports at club level, from cricket and volleyball to athletics and football,” he remembers.

“Every evening after school I would have two difference practices to attend, usually in different parts of town. Looking back, my growing body must have been exhausted and on top of the sports I was under more pressure with school work.”

A rash on his thighs was soon followed by lethargy. The onset of pain slow but severe and it wasn’t long before James struggled to get out of bed.

“I was confused by what was happening to me. One day my hands were so painful that I couldn’t use cutlery… and the next my hands were completely fine but my knees so swollen that I couldn’t walk, let alone kick a ball. I’d feel terrible for a few months, then be completely fine for a couple of months and then the cycle repeated.”

Diagnosis

It was 18 months before James was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and longer still until a treatment was found to help.

“At first I simply didn’t believe I could have arthritis,” he says. “Like many, I thought arthritis was something only older people experienced. There were so many question marks: Why had this happened to me? When would we find a treatment that worked? I struggled to understand.

“I didn’t know anyone in the same situation as me. It definitely would have helped to have people of my age around who understand arthritis and what was going on.” James was lucky to have access to specialists in his hometown, so only had to travel 15 minutes to appointments. Eventually he was admitted to hospital for a week, where an arduous week of tests finally resulted in a positive conclusion.

“The magic bullet was a biologic drug called etanercept,” James explains. “The health system is different in New Zealand and I had to apply for a grant to cover the expensive yet essential treatment, but I was successful, and it changed my life.”

Career

James was lucky to have no lasting joint damage, and for the next six years he continued the regime of twice weekly etanercept injections while focusing on rugby as a career. It wasn’t long before he was playing at a professional level.

“In my early twenties I realised I had such a deep understanding of my body that I knew when my joint pain was due to an imminent arthritis flare, or if it was a reaction to a hard training session or game injury,” he says. “I began only using etanercept when my pain was arthritis-related. And eventually I tapered the treatment entirely.”

Now in remission, it has been years since James has had to take any arthritis-related medication.

Making a difference

Around 12,000 children and young people have juvenile arthritis in the UK and another 1,200 in Ireland are affected. Having been through the ordeal of illness, diagnosis and recovery, James uses his platform as a well-known rugby player to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“I previously worked with Arthritis New Zealand and now help out the Irish Children’s Arthritis Network,” he says. “It’s a great charity that runs camps around Ireland for young people with arthritis and their families so they can meet others in the same situation.

“I try to help where I can. I recently did a podcast with a local student who had arthritis. An hour of my day could change the way he thinks, and help him realise that you don’t need to let arthritis get in the way of dreams and aspirations, whatever field they are in.”

For more information about the Irish Children’s Arthritis Network visit www.icanireland.ie or tel +353 0868 289817.

Photo credits: Ramsey Cardy / Sportsfile

First published 2020

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