Write in Letters Youve been busy writing to us, tweeting and having your say on our Online Community ISTOCK.COM / LJUPCO Get in touch! Send your letters to: Inspire magazine, 1 Cambridge Technopark, Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8PB or email inspire@ versusarthritis.org Family first Im married, with three grown boys and a new grandson. My life is full of family, football and laughter, but it doesnt stop my psoriatic arthritis affecting my day-to-day routine. Isuffer from extreme exhaustion, and the physical pain really tires me out. I have been on injections to help with the pain relief for nearly a year and, after I was told the condition wasnt curable, I felt like giving up. After reading 5 ways to help with fatigue (Inspire, spring 2019), I wanted to pinpoint the things that were wearing me down. I realised that coaching my local junior football team was a big part of this, so Ive stopped planning anything else on the days I am coaching. This means Im not committed to any other plans and I can spend the rest of the day recovering, if I need to. Game-changer. I am determined to stay positive for my grandson, Harry. I want to be able to teach him how to kick a football in the garden and lift him over my head at football games. I refuse to be the old man sat in the corner with dodgy joints! Richard Kirby, Birmingham Regaining control I have osteoarthritis in my knees, hips and hands. Im fairly young, and some mornings it takes tears and sweat just to get myself out of bed. The intense pain isnt every day, but I suffer from constant discomfort, which can be really frustrating. You cant always tell Im in pain; its what some people might call an invisible illness. Ive been verbally abused in public for using a disabled parking bay, even though I have a Blue Badge. People say I dont look disabled enough. Its at times like these I give up defending myself and I resent this awful, disabling condition. Reading Inspire reminds me that Ineed to stop and take care of myself. The article about soothing arthritis pain in the summer 2019 issue (page10) prompted me to book weekly massages. Now, I really look forward to that time every week. I focus my attention on my massage until the pain slowly subsides and becomes tolerable. Afterwards, Ill lay in bed and rest. Thank you for allowing me to regain the control I thought Id lost. Rachel Ryan, Bedford What youre tweeting How much do you know about psoriatic arthritis? Four people talk to us about how it affects their lives and how they manage the everyday. Learn more about it here: bit.ly/2Q5OeWO #TalkPsA @VersusArthritis Never heard of it until my diagnosis, which took 4 years. Uveitic, iritis, bursitis, bone spurs, pain, fatigue, psoriasis then a rheumatologist looked at my nails (pitting, ridged) diagnosed/confirmed with scans & tests. Now on biological injections. Deb I was diagnosed aged 18 months. Its massively impacted on not only my life, but my parents and brothers lives, too. Living with PsA can be very tough, but keep fighting. Jackie Pluck Its very tiring. I was diagnosed 18 months ago, but being strong, knowing when you need rest and, of course, humour really help! Georgia Morris People confuse it with ageing & I feel like Im always having to explain the science rather than focus on asking for what I need. Seeing otheryounger people with it is kind of a relief. Nikki Burgess