Christie's story: “You can be a young person with arthritis and live a life."

Sharing her story to inspire others

27-year-old Christie from Colchester, Essex, was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in 2023 and introduced to Arthritis UK (then Versus Arthritis) the same day. Christie works in retail and uses social media to share her experience of living with a chronic condition as a young person.

In 2022, Christie from Colchester, Essex found herself seeking answers. From a swollen finger to chest inflammation to foot pain, various ailments had begun to trouble her and healthcare professionals were puzzled. 

After a number of conditions were proposed – including costochondritis (chest inflammation) and plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot) – Christie requested a second opinion. 

“I went back to the doctors and asked for an ultrasound on my feet because I wanted to know that what I was going through was definitely plantar fasciitis,” she explains. Christie was referred to a rheumatologist, despite her doubts. “At first, I was thinking it’s just a waste of time. There's nothing wrong with my bones…[But] the consultant was really good.” 

Shock around diagnosis

After learning that Christie has a history of psoriasis, the specialist examined her joints and diagnosed psoriatic arthritis. Receiving this diagnosis at 24, Christie felt that her mental health was deeply affected by the news. 

“I just kind of broke down because I didn’t think I’d have something like that,” she says. “When you hear the words arthritis, you [only] hear about the stories of elderly people [struggling in pain] with it. And I just kind of thought well that's my life over, you know, it's gone. So, I got very upset. I burst into tears. My initial reaction was also shock more than anything because I'd been telling myself I haven't got arthritis, it's fine.”

She continues: “It sounds silly, but my other reaction was ‘Oh my god, I’m going to be on medication for life’. I think it was something very new to me because I have never really had any medical conditions, so it’s not something I’ve been used to.” 

But Christie also recognised the power that comes with a diagnosis: “It was a really hard appointment for me, but also, I was glad to get some sort of confirmation of what was going on… [That said], this diagnosis initially affected my life completely in the worst way. I had to leave jobs as I couldn’t stand without pain. It got to the point where I couldn’t walk and had to crawl around the house most of the day.”  

Managing psoriatic arthritis symptoms 

Once she was diagnosed and began treatment, her pain slowly eased. But fatigue continues to trouble her, at times confining Christie to home, causing her to feel intense isolation and stripping Christie of her identity as well as her energy. 

“I lost a lot of friends during this time because my life did become so much smaller and I was always at home,” Christie says. “I used to like going to nature reserves and bird watching, but then I couldn’t go anymore and life felt very restricted. That’s the hardest thing, apart from the pain. The restriction. I felt so isolated.” 

Thankfully, on the same day that she was diagnosed, Christie was introduced to Arthritis UK (then Versus Arthritis). And at a time when her world felt upended, this connection was a lifeline, allowing her to connect with others facing similar challenges. Through these conversations, Christie learned that living well with arthritis is possible and that for some, remission can be a realistic goal.  

Sharing experiences helps other young people

Today, driven by her own experiences, Christie passionately raises awareness of the impact that arthritis can have on young people and their careers; she also uses social media to highlight the reality of living with a chronic condition as a young person. 

“With my friends after I was diagnosed, I spent a lot of time thinking I’m too boring for them now,” Christie says. “I want to change that narrative, I don’t want other people to feel the way I did when I was diagnosed. It’s so important for people to know they are not alone and that you can be a young person with arthritis and live a life.” 

“Sharing my story and helping to raise awareness has been a gamechanger for me. I’m part of the Involvement Network and really keen to show young people who are diagnosed that it’s absolutely not the end of the world. Arthritis initially made my life and world so much smaller, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. And yes, it’s a different life I’m living now, but one I’m so hopeful for.” 

“Arthritis initially made my life and world so much smaller, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. And yes, it’s a different life I’m living now, but one I’m so hopeful for.”

Christie, living with psoriatic arthritis

The personal stories and experiences you share with us can help us to raise awareness of living with arthritis. They also help others affected by arthritis to know that they're not alone. 

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