Write in Get in touch! Send your letters to: Inspire magazine, 1 Cambridge Technopark, Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8PB or email inspire@ arthritiscare.org.uk Letters Youve been busy writing to us, tweeting and having your say on our Online Community Tap turners levered by cankered wrists bring the gush and plunge of warm water, A pure moment of relief. Poetic licence I am sending you a poem I have written based on my own experiences of having rheumatoid arthritis. I was first diagnosed when my youngest child was three months old. There were difficult times, as anyone will know who has experienced a chronic illness while trying to bring up a young family. However, it was all worth it. My youngest daughter flourished and isabeautiful, clever young woman now, with a young daughter of her own. Iremember her asking when she was two years old: Mummy, did I give you Arthur Itis? Nobody really knows what caused my arthritis, but I do know that I would never be without the wonderful joy she has given me. As the pictures show, I am a very proud mum and nanny! Footsteps Pain pierces her dreams, Seeps into this anaemic morning. Sucking breath to unhinge each joint stuck fast through the cramp of night. The bathroom is an agony away, Tender feet must scrape each step while Wincing fingers trace the rails along her jagged journey. Her baby wakes in a scream of urgency unanswered by her stumbling mother who struggles to dress herself, to start another day. Soon her child will grow to patience, Learn wisdom beyond her years, Wait, while snaps and buttons are fastened with fragile hands. And desperate cuddles given, cringed with wrinkling pain. Jacqueline Pemberton, via email Not flushed with success Five years ago, I had a successful full knee replacement, everything being much the same as you describe in your article (All about knee osteroarthritis, Inspire, Summer 2018). However, I was given a prescription for two framed toilet seats that we collected free from a local pharmacy. Once no longer needed, we tried to return them to the pharmacy, but they did not want them. My husband then hawked them round various charity shops, which, likewise, did not want them. He was told to take them to the dump! Not feeling able to throw away perfectly useful items, he then tried care homes in our area. The third one took them. What a waste by the NHS. Heather Gorton, via email Roll with it I have found this neck pillow, the Coolmax contour memory foam pillow, 29.99 (from memoryfoamwarehouse.co.uk) very helpful for arthritis in the neck. It alsoseems to be available on Amazon. I find it very firm and comfortable. Before, I used a rolled up towel, which never worked well. Now I am free of neck pain, but I put a second pillow underneath this one. Wendy Sturgess, via email What youre tweeting Its so good to know youre never alone even on your bad days @ArthritisCareUK I want to thank all of the great people on here who live in pain and still take the time to tweet every day. On my worst days it gets me through knowing Im far from alone and I really appreciate you all Mike You are definitely far from being alone, although if I am completely honest I wish I could empathise as a person without severe pain, but those are not the cards I was dealt. I know what it is like to live a life of undertreated pain. So I truly empathise. Joe Newman Youre never alone here. Hope its a great day for you. Thank you for telling your story. It is the best when people tweet you on a bad day. Help keep us going. Love and hugs to you. Fibro Sloth