Don’t look back at what you can’t do but look forward and enjoy what you still can do, says Chris Smith from Lincolnshire

I was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis in 2007. I had to take medical retirement from work as a nurse and initially was able to do very little at home.

My GP had quickly referred me to rheumatology and treatment started with hydroxychloroquine (a DMARD) and then progressed to methotrexate. Although the dose was slowly increased, it wasn’t effective so I started etanercept (a biologic) in 2009. After three years, etanercept stopped working very well and I changed to adalimumab (another biologic), which I have been on since, along with methotrexate.

I almost immediately felt a great benefit from the biologics and am mostly well and live fairly normally. I swim regularly and am learning ballroom dancing. Fatigue is a constant companion, however, and I do still need regular painkillers. I am unfortunately prone to chest infections.

My advice for anyone newly diagnosed would be, don’t look back at what you can’t do but look forward and enjoy what you still can do and keep pushing the boundaries (within reason) even if you pay for it a few days afterwards.

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