Adam Thomas has revealed his gruelling battle with arthritis as he prepares to take to the ballroom floor on Strictly Come Dancing.
The former Emmerdale star, 35, is among the latest crop of stars taking part in the BBC show which has been made more difficult by his rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.
Speaking to The Mirror, Adam told how, since January, he has been left in agony with severe pain in his knees which then travelled to his ankles, toes, wrists and fingers.
After several hospital visits and blood tests, Adam was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis which came as a surprise as he is only 35.
He said: ‘I’ve not talked about this before but no-one really knows the pain I’ve been going through. I put on a brave face but it’s been difficult to keep that persona up. Emotionally and physically, it’s had a huge impact on my life this year.’
Adam said the pain he was in was sometimes so severe he was left barely able to walk or unable to get out of bed.
He added: ‘I just never saw this coming and I didn’t know what was happening to me. I was like: “Can someone just give me an answer as to what is going on.” The pain was such that I couldn’t even walk down stairs and I could just stay in bed all day.’
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term illness in which the immune system causes the body to attack itself, causing painful, swollen and stiff joints.
RA, the second most common form of arthritis that often begins between the ages of 40 and 50, tends to strike the hands, wrists and knees.
Scientists are currently unsure as to the exact cause of RA, but smoking, eating lots of red meat and coffee drinkers are at higher risk.
A cure has yet to be found, but treatments are available and proven to help slow down the progressive condition.
Adam told how the phone cal from the Strictly producers came at exactly the right time as it’s given him the chance to ‘move again’.
He said: ‘I am slowly getting my arthritis under control, and it’s a chance for me to get out there again and to get fit and move again, and I’m just very thankful for it. It’s about trying to climb out of that hole and just trying to stay positive.’
