CASE STUDY
CATHERINE Manning has been living with severe pain and fatigue caused by arthritis for more than 20 years.
She said: “I was first diagnosed with early onset osteoarthritis in my knees when I was 12 years old.
“It caused excruciating pain, instability of the joint and I could feel the bones grinding on each other.
“It made taking part in any sports painful.
“I needed bilateral knee replacements by the time I was in my late 20s but was told I was too young and needed to wait and had them both replaced when I was 32.”
Catherine, now 33, lives in Essex with her husband of 13 years, Paul.
Although the couple support one another and communicate well, she said her condition makes intimacy difficult.
On dates, Paul sometimes has to cut up Catherine’s food, which can leave her feeling self-conscious.
And her selfesteem has been knocked because the medication and steroids she takes have affected her weight.
Catherine said: “Osteoarthritis has made me feel old before my time and written off, because arthritis is stealing the things I want to do and replacing them with pain, stiffness and disability.
“Arthritis can certainly affect the relationship with your partner.
Dampener
“I have found it difficult to be spontaneous because of the pain and cancelling date nights can be disappointing for both myself and Paul.
“When someone goes from being your lover to your carer, it can put a dampener on things and makes you feel self-conscious.” Talking openly about her condition has helped Catherine and Paul support one another.
She said: “Paul is so understanding and it helps that I can tell him when I’m having a bad day and don’t want to be touched.
“Without communication, the other person can feel rejected.
“That’s why we make time to talk about how we’re both feeling and what adjustments we need to make when it comes to being intimate.”
Versus Arthritis is campaigning to raise awareness of the impact arthritis can have on relationships and everyday life.