True stories
I assumed I was in so much pain because I needed another increase of drug dose; it never occurred to me that the pain medicines were not working, says Louise Trewern
Six years ago, I went into my local community hospital for a rapid taper of high dose prescription opioids, due to my deteriorating health. I had been on prescription opioids for over 12 years for pain due to fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. As well as severe pain, I was sensitive to absolutely everything. I couldn’t even bear the cat walking across my lap.
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Managing my condition is much easier thanks to biologics, highlights Natasha
I can’t tell you how I felt after my diagnosis. I can’t tell you if I felt sad, angry, or worried. All I can tell you from that time is that it started after I had hit my knee on a stone fireplace, because I was only one year old when I was diagnosed. Continue reading
There is no question that rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating illness, dismissed in society as “arthritis”
I was 70 years old when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. For years I had noticed that the middle joint of my index finger was very sore if I wrote for any length of time. I put this down to keeping the finger stiff when holding a pen or pencil.
I was delighted to take part in a study funded by Versus Arthritis explains Clive Nayler
My symptoms of dermatomyositis began in 2018, with painful, bloated hands and toes, with skin that hardened, peeled and split continuously.
I have myositis but hope I eventually get to the point of not needing any medication
I started to feel unwell in the autumn of 2019, with nausea, dizzy spells and weight loss, shortly before going on holiday for two months to Australia. My symptoms worsened while in Australia. I experienced aches and pains in my legs and my core muscles became weak.
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