I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis when I was 22. I’d been to the doctors (including physios, chiropractors, and osteopaths) complaining of back pain since I was 15, so it took a long while to get a diagnosis. At the time, I was going through a very stressful period, studying for both a Master’s degree and a law conversion course. I was swamped with work, sitting at my desk a lot, and not getting much exercise. Stress seems to trigger my arthritis, and I think that’s why it became bad enough to show up on the MRI scan.
Initially, I felt relieved that I finally had a diagnosis after years of back pain and no explanation. It was a comfort to finally know what to attribute my symptoms to.
But I also found it quite isolating, and I experienced bad anxiety. I was diagnosed with arthritis in the middle of lockdown, so I wasn’t allowed to have anyone come with me to my appointments. Having never had any major health issues before my diagnosis, undergoing MRIs and seeing different doctors was all quite intimidating. I also didn’t understand any of the lingo and felt out of my depth when seeing the different specialists.
“Something I found very challenging at the beginning was the idea that exercise is the best medicine. When you’re having a flare-up, the last thing you want to do is exercise or move the painful joint around! But I learnt through experience that keeping moving makes such a difference over time. It’s honestly such a game changer.”
In hindsight, it was good to go to my appointments alone. It forced me to take control of my own research and become as knowledgeable as possible to understand what the doctors were saying.
After being diagnosed by my rheumatologist, I was referred to a dietician who helped me begin an anti-inflammatory diet and a rheumatological physiotherapist who recommended a strict exercise regime. My symptoms quickly started to improve after this. I also finished my law degree which helped to reduce my stress levels. I felt like I’d taken ownership of my condition and had my symptoms under control, so I didn’t need to start any new medication.
I now try to manage my symptoms without medication by living a healthy lifestyle – lots of exercise, healthy eating, avoiding triggers, taking supplements, getting lots of sunshine, and keeping warm. Although, I do still take over-the-counter painkillers when necessary. I find anti-inflammatory gels like Volterol and Ibuleve really helpful.
Something I found very challenging at the beginning was the idea that exercise is the best medicine. When you’re having a flare-up, the last thing you want to do is exercise or move the painful joint around! Especially because the fatigue can be a killer on bad days. But I learnt through experience that keeping moving makes such a difference over time. It’s honestly such a game changer.
The whole experience has made me very resilient. Of course, I still have days when I don’t feel so good, but self-management techniques have helped me to understand my body and taught me positive lifestyle changes such as exercising, eating better and managing stress.
I now have a much better understanding of what can trigger my arthritis, such as smoking, drinking too much, cold weather, stress, or not exercising enough. I control my arthritis rather than it controlling me.
My advice to anyone newly diagnosed with arthritis would be two things. Firstly, find a support group to talk to people who have had similar experiences. Finding people you can relate to will make the process far less isolating and challenging.
Secondly, I would highly recommend doing your research and looking into how to self-manage your symptoms. No one size fits all, and different things work for different people. You’ll soon find what works for you. Arthritis Action is a great place to start. The charity has helped me by connecting me with other people of my age through their Young Adult online meetings, and I’ve found their advice and support on diet, exercise and pain management really useful.