The Unseen Joint Jolts, 2024

The Unseen Joint Jolts, 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis

Artist statement:

For my piece, The Unseen Joint Jolts, I wanted to highlight how with rheumatoid arthritis it makes it hard to do the most basic tasks. Like brushing your hair as shown in my piece. When I think of Unseen, I think of black lights that highlight stuff we don’t notice. Like stains or brighter colors. I did this by making a neon effect, making the hand lower in opacity while making the neon spikes brighter to resemble joints flaring up.

Medical description:

In a more pathological perspective, Rheumatoid Arthritis is characterized by immune-mediated inflammatory activation of the body. It works by mistakenly attacking its own synovial lining of the joint, by the thickening of the synovium, and by its cartilage and bone involvement. Rheumatoid Arthritis signs and symptoms include bilateral aching pain, stiffness, tenderness, and swelling at multiple joints, weight loss, nodule formation on fingers, fatigue, and weakness. Overall motility of a patient is compromised as they might have difficulty walking up and down stairs, brushing their teeth/hair, turning a doorknob, etc. Most everyday activities and tasks become much more difficult. Aging Rheumatoid Arthritis patients should engage in gentle activities, like low-impact exercises, and may benefit from physical therapy to boost joint flexibility and strength while easing pain. Older adults must be educated to visit a rheumatologist to receive medications (DMRADs) and to comply with their medications to prevent flare ups. 

Pry, Emily

2024

Lockett, Alexander; Raza, Maleeka; Ochoa, Keren; Nguyen, Baotram; Manthena, Radhika

In Copyright- This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights.

Digital illustration ; 21.3 x 24.4 in.