On this page we meet some more RA Warriors!
I want to hear from YOU, send me your stories, blogs, info and I'll include it in the page. Let's share our stories to the world, and make everyone aware of this invisible illness.
Hear their stories here...
Stevie
UK, London
23
'One morning during rehearsals, I woke up unable to walk! My entire body had seized up, I had extreme pain throughout my knees, wrist and most major joints..'
Emma
UK
21
'I was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in 2015 at the age of 15. It all started with an itchy, swollen knuckle which I assumed I had just injured...'
Suruthi
UK, London
21
'My name is Suruthi and my diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis came at the very early age of three years old...'
Jennifer
USA
31
'I was then diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Sjögren's Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Plantar Fasciitis...'
Izzie
UK
22
'I was too scared to tell my friends or even talk about it with my family. I felt
like I wasn’t supposed to complain and I didn’t want to be seen as ‘that kid with a disease...’
Eleanor
UK
25
'And yet somehow I kept pushing forward and now I absolutely love my life and everything about it! One word to take from this is HOPE. Because that's what'll drive you forward and that's what'll see you across the finish line.
Hold On Pain Ends.'
Gemma
UK
26
'I was diagnosed in June 2013 age 20 after years of chronic fatigue and random pains in my joints...'
Chloe
UK, Lancaster
20
'“She’s just slow” the GP told my Mum, who was concerned that her one year old daughter could barely stand on her two feet, let alone walk by herself despite excelling in all other areas of her learning. That’s where it all started.'
Sukhjeen
UK
21
'The page was initially created to share my experiences with arthritis and for me to meet others dealing with the same condition. However, as time went on I was getting more and more messages of people telling me how being part of the South Asian community with an invisible disability meant they were facing constant stigmas.'
Paula
Munich, Germany
23
'So from me to you … Accept yourself, your feelings. Know it is okay to ask for help. You are never alone. Try things out see how they make you feel, because things like nutrition or yoga could really have a very positive impact on you.'
Ali
USA
27
'I have been living with RA for the past 12 years, In that time I’ve had 2 arthroscopic knee surgeries, an appendectomy due to chronic appendicitis, 13 knee drainings, 16 cortisone shots, 2 colonoscopies, 2 endoscopies, multiple CT scans, X-rays / MRI’s, ER visits and a ton of other tests done all due to my condition.'