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• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 6-10 years >> Interview 26 >> Can ring the Rheumatology clinic and request injections if joints are particularly painful.

Diagnosed '94 after flu like symptoms & joint problems for 6 weeks. Gold injections 50mg/week, slow release Voltarol 75mg/day, pain killers, Prozac 20mg/day (depression). Steroid injections when required. 3 bone removal operations from toes and ankle.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 26 years plus >> Interview 17 >> Sees the specialist nurse before the consultant each time she visits the rheumatology clinic.

Diagnosed 1970. After early years, had 15 yrs when relatively well on NSAIDs. Flared up 99/00. Methotrexate 25mg/wk, daily Rofecoxib 25mg, Tramadol 200mg, anti-depressants & HRT. Awaiting 1 hip & 2 elbow replacements, wrist & finger straightening surgery.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 16-20 years >> Pat - Interview 59 >> Contrast the care she got from the clinical trials’ team and her regular rheumatology team. She feels disappointed with the latter for what she percei

Pat was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis aged 25 but it took almost three years and a progressive deterioration of her symptoms for her to get an appropriate treatment. Her disease has remained active and to date she has had ten operations and four implants. Pat participated in a clinical trial for a newer drug called Golimumab (Simponi) but the therapy failed to improve or control her rheumatoid arthritis. She is due to start another biological therapy; Rituximab.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 21-25 years >> Interview 19 >> Describes her charity work to increase the number of nurse clinics so patients have quicker access to rheumatology specialists when required.

Diagnosed 1980. Early treatment NSAID, pain killer and steroids. 9 operations e.g. joint replacement, neck fusion. Various DMARDS. Currently on Anti-TNF Infliximab/7 weeks. Methotrexate weekly, Prednisolone, Rofecoxib, hydroxychloriquine daily.