What happens when early symptoms are dismissed and what changes when they’re heard.
In Canada, arthritis disproportionately affects women; one in four women lives with the disease compared to one in six men. Researchers continue to explore why. Hormonal influences, immune system differences and the role of the X chromosome are all under investigation, particularly in inflammatory forms such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While science works to untangle those biological factors, what’s already clear is how easily early symptoms can be dismissed.
Morning stiffness gets blamed on a poor night’s sleep. Swollen fingers are chalked up to overuse. Exhaustion that rest doesn’t fix becomes part of a busy life. When symptoms build gradually, they rarely feel urgent — and that normalization can quietly delay diagnosis.
Even after concerns are raised, the path forward is rarely quick. In many parts of Canada, wait times to see a rheumatologist can stretch from six months to over a year. For many, that waiting period means worsening symptoms, growing uncertainty, and a life that slowly becomes harder to live fully.
When symptoms are dismissed
Paralympian Roberta Sheffield was 15 when pain began in her hands and wrists. A rheumatologist told her, “It can’t be that bad. You’re making a fuss. Young people don’t get arthritis.”
For the next five years, her disease went untreated. The pain intensified. Fatigue became constant. By the time she was properly diagnosed with RA at 20, she had already sustained permanent joint damage.
It took time to find the right medication, but when she did, everything shifted.
“It’s been a game-changer,” Roberta says. “I had a lot of permanent damage from those five years where my disease went unchecked, but I’ve had far less flaring. The drugs haven’t totally stopped the progression of the disease, but the disease is much easier to live with.”
Her experience reflects how much those early years can matter.
Here are symptoms to watch for:
- Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes
- Swelling in smaller joints such as the hands, wrists or feet
- Joint pain that persists for weeks rather than resolving within days
- Exhaustion that feels disproportionate to activity levels
Tracking patterns — when symptoms start, how long they last, what makes them better or worse — can sharpen conversations with your healthcare provider, especially when specialist access takes time.
How you can prepare for your specialist appointment
While you wait, here’s what you can do:
- Keep a symptom journal and note duration, severity, and triggers
- Ask your doctor to run initial bloodwork or imaging before your rheumatology appointment
- Specifically ask: “Could this be inflammatory arthritis?”
- Visit arthritis.ca for trusted guidance and questions to bring to your care team
The difference early diagnosis makes
Roberta’s story is not the only possible outcome. For 15-year-old Ella, a father who recognized the warning signs — having lived with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as a child — changed everything.
Early signs of JIA in children and teens can include joint swelling, limping, stiffness after rest and fatigue that teachers or coaches may mistake for disinterest or exaggeration.
At its most severe, arthritis forced Ella to the sidelines of childhood. “I couldn’t walk to school; I had to get driven,” she remembers. “I had to sit out of classes. I couldn’t play sports with my friends. My parents had to type for me.”
Within a year of the onset of her symptoms, Ella was diagnosed with JIA and began receiving treatment, opening her life up again. She may feel mild pain on long days, but it doesn’t slow her pace. “Research advancements today are stellar. I’m so grateful for what I have,” she says. Because of those breakthroughs, Ella isn’t just managing arthritis — she’s steering toward a future once out of reach.
Arthritis is projected to affect nine million people in Canada by 2045, and women will continue to represent a significant share of that number.
Roberta’s story shows what can happen when arthritis isn’t recognized early. Ella’s shows what can happen when it is.
Sometimes the difference begins with being heard and acting before the damage is done.
We acknowledge that not everyone assigned female at birth identifies as a woman – and vice versa – and certain aspects of women’s experiences with arthritis discussed in this article may be shared by individuals who do not identify within a sex or gender binary. Research on arthritis in trans, intersex, and gender-diverse people is currently very limited. Understanding distinctions in arthritis across all sexes and genders and advocating for inclusive and respectful practices in research and care are vital.
