Arthritis: America's No. 1 Disability

She said that in 2005, 680,000 adults in Connecticut had doctor-diagnosed arthritis. By 2030, that number may be 731,000, she said.

"Knee osteoarthritis is probably the one that's going to push those numbers higher, as far as the projections," Nesci said.

Aside from the pain and limited lifestyle that come with arthritis, there's a huge price. The CDC says it costs sufferers $81 billion for health care and $47 billion in lost earnings each year. And it's not that simple to fix an arthritic knee, much less stiff and aching fingers.

"Not a lot of orthopedic surgeons are going into joint replacements ... and there's a concern that in the future there won't be enough orthopedic surgeons," Nesci said.

And while women are more susceptible to the disease -- which can be inherited or caused by injury or repeated stress on the joints -- men are less likely to see a doctor and get treatment.

The way to avoid these problems is to exercise, lose weight and go to the doctor when your joints start to hurt, Nesci said. "If boomers now lose just as little as 10 pounds, it would reduce their risk for developing osteoarthritis in the future (by) half."

She pointed out that arthritis hinders sufferers from the most basic activities: the two that cause the most trouble for the disabled are walking three blocks and climbing a flight of stairs.

Barbato said she's learned several techniques from the foundation's classes to adapt to her limitations, such as the proper way to get out of a chair. Because she took care of herself, she was able to assist her late husband, who used a wheelchair. She was his sole caregiver in his last years.

The only medication she takes for her arthritis is Aleve, she said.

Barbato went to Washington to help persuade Congress to increase funds for the CDC's arthritis program from $13 million to $23 million in order to bring more programs to more people. Now, just 12 states have adequate money for arthritis prevention and management, the foundation said.

Dr. John H. Klippel, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation, said it would be money well spent.

"We know that workers diagnosed with arthritis leave their jobs earlier than those without arthritis," he said in Washington. "Given the recession, any viable health care reform platform must ensure that our valuable workers stay healthy and stay on the job."

For more information, call the foundation at (800) 541-8350, e-mail info.sne@arthritis.org or visit www.arthritis.org.