Write in Letters Youve been busy writing to us, tweeting and having your say on our Online Community ISTOCK.COM / ADVENTTR Get in touch! Send your letters to: Inspire magazine, 1 Cambridge Technopark, Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8PB or email inspire@ versusarthritis.org Loan moan I have just read the letter in the winter 2018 edition of Inspire, concerning the response to returning loaned equipment to distributors. When I tried to return the equipment lent to me to help after myknee replacement last year, I was informed that the company would notcollect it. I offered to take it back to the local address, but was told this wasnt possible. The companys website said it was committed to getting as much equipment returned as possible. Iasked what it suggested I do with the new toilet frame, and was just told to donate it to a local old peoples home. I was so angry, I wrote to my MP. Heanswered very promptly with a copy of the letter and an answer from the NHS but nothing from the company that supplied the equipment. It has made me wonder how large this problem is over the whole of the country. It must be costing the NHS afortune to replace all the non-returned equipment. There was an MP on the BBC a couple of weeks ago saying they were having an amnesty for people to return the walking sticks, frames and crutches they had borrowed. This made it sound as though it was the fault of the public but my experience is that it is impossible to return equipment. I have now stored the equipment I borrowed, hoping to use it when my other knee gets replaced. Elaine Bird, via email Best foot forward I was a state-registered chiropodist, with a part-time practice at home because of osteoarthritis. So I was interested in the article on page seven of the summer 2018 issue of Inspire, Best foot forward. There is no need to spend between 70 to 80 for suitable shoes; that style is made by most well-known companies now. I have two pairs of very pretty, allleather (inside and out) shoes that come in D-fitting and wider for which I paid 24 in the sale. Elizabeth Dickinson, Windsor What youre tweeting Ill say yes Ill come out with you, but sometimes I worry if I can do it. And that can cause quite a lot of anxiety. Debbie, who has lived with arthritis since she was two, spoke to @ITVWales about how arthritis affects getting out and seeing friends. @VersusArthritis I have restrictions on what I can do or if Im out I may need to stop and sit down for a while. Ailsa Franklin People with arthritis are champions of survival. They are brave but fighting pain all day every day leaves you with little energy in reserve. Linda Martin Really glad this campaign is raising awareness, people always say to me youre too young to have arthritis. Kate Evans Im glad this is being shared so openly. I tell people I have arthritis not for sympathy, but so they know at times If only folk knew how degrading arthritis is on so many levels. Peter Jeffries Completely agree with you there!! Need to break the stigma around it and keep on raising awareness. Amy