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• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 16-20 years >> Melissa - Interview 50 >> She went to her local college but found the teacher unsupportive and felt the teacher discriminated against her. She wrote a letter of complaint to th

Melissa was first diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and later with rheumatoid arthritis. She was on Methotrexate for about eight years. She has been on two Anti-TNF treatments: etanercepts (Enbrel) and adalimumab (Humira) and expects to be started on influximab soon.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 11-15 years >> Michelle - Interview 51 >> Talks about going to live in France, her concerns regarding medical care and the information she was given at a Social Security office and by a French

Michelle is currently on anti-TNF treatment: Humira. She has taken Methotrexate for a number of years but has had breaks in between following a biopsy that revealed liver scarring. Michelle was diagnosed with osteopenia (a milder form of osteoporosis) in her spine and needs to take calcium tablets regularly.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 6-10 years >> Tara - Interview 53 >> Tara says that young adults with RA have different information needs to those of older people with the condition.

Following her diagnosis Tara was put on Methotrexate and this controlled her illness very well. She came off Methotrexate after deciding to have a second child. She describes her antenatal care as 'excellent' and felt safe and reassured. She is currently on anti-TNF treatment: Humira.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 11-15 years >> Sarah - Interview 54 >> In her experience boyfriends and friends do understand but up to a point. She would like to think that she will meet someone who will accept her limit

Until two years ago Sarah had very bad arthritis and was in severe pain. Her consultant applied and was granted funding to put her on anti-TNF treatment: Enbrel. Sarah describes Enbrel as 'completely and totally changing her life'.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 11-15 years >> Sarah - Interview 54 >> Says that she has a more positive outlook on life since starting on Enbrel because she knows her RA is under control and talks about what she is able

Until two years ago Sarah had very bad arthritis and was in severe pain. Her consultant applied and was granted funding to put her on anti-TNF treatment: Enbrel. Sarah describes Enbrel as 'completely and totally changing her life'.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 11-15 years >> Sarah - Interview 54 >> She thinks that despite all the difficulties and initial denial RA has made her a stronger person.

Until two years ago Sarah had very bad arthritis and was in severe pain. Her consultant applied and was granted funding to put her on anti-TNF treatment: Enbrel. Sarah describes Enbrel as 'completely and totally changing her life'.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Charlotte - Interview 55 >> She was shocked when recently (2007) was diagnosed with RA. Says that she was down and later angry but now she is determined not to be 'rule by it'.

Charlotte was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in July 2007. The first time she saw her consultant was as a private patient because on the NHS there was a waiting period of three months. She is on Methotrexate. She feels more tired than before her diagnosis.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 11-15 years >> Interview 33 >> She felt depressed for much of secondary school but has now learnt to focus on a series of goals and feels much more positive.

Juvenile chronic arthritis diagnosed 1990. Initially NSAIDs, then methotrexate but nausea & then oral steroids from age 15. Finger tendon repair & hip replacement (01) Currently Anti-TNF Humira injected 2/month, indometacin, co-codamol & Lansoprazole.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Emma - Interview 61 >> Emma finds the internet useful and accessible but the most important thing was to know that she wasn’t the only young person having to cope with RA. S

In 2008, aged 21 Emma was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Currently, she is on a combination therapy that includes Sulfasalazine, Methotrexate and Naproxen as a painkiller and a new biological drug called Cimzia (certolizumab pegol). The plan is to eventually reduce her RA medication to Methotraxate and Cimzia only.