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DR HILARY'S DIAGNOSIS

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, which causes progressive joint damage.

Typically, it starts in a woman’s 30s and causes swelling and discomfort in the small joints.

Anti-inflammatory and disease-modifying drugs should slow down the wear on joints, while yoga, swimming, massage and hot wax treatments will help agility.

Good nutrition can also make a difference.

I’d advise eating three to five servings of oily fish every week.

Turmeric and pineapple are anti-inflammatory, and cabbage and carrot juice may ease pain.

She can experiment – one at a time – with supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin and rose hip.

They’re less drastic than emigrating!

‘My stilettos brought on arthritis pain’

EVERY WEEK A CELEB ASKS OUR FABULOUS DOCTOR FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THIS WEEK IT’S ACTRESS CLAIRE KING, 45

I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, which gives me swelling and pain in my feet, knees and hands.

It’s so sore, especially when I wake up in the morning, that I can barely move my fingers until I’ve done stretches to get my joints warmed up.

The balls of my feet can also feel tender, so I buy shoes half a size too big then pad them out to soften the impact.

I have to go for comfort now, rather than the six-inch skyscraper stilettos I used to love wearing.

I’d just joined Emmerdale 15 years ago when the pain first started.

My mum has rheumatoid arthritis, so I recognised the symptoms.

Sadly there’s no cure, but strong anti-inflammatory drugs and MSM tablets, a natural sulphur-based supplement, seem to help me.

Changing my diet has also helped, and avoiding acidic fruit – which aggravates my joints – has eased the pain.

So has regular exercise, although I have to be careful not to do too much.

I overdid it when I was on Strictly Come Dancing and was in agony sometimes.

My arthritis is definitely worse in cold, damp weather and I can tell when it’s going to rain because my fingers start aching – I’m like a walking barometer!

However it gets better in the summer and when I’m on holiday abroad.

I think I’ll have to move to Spain!

My mum has had knee and hip replacements because of her arthritis.

Is there anything I can do so my arthritis doesn’t get so bad, or should I just emigrate?

words: katherine hassell Photography: scopefeatures.com

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AUG 10 SAIRA KHAN

AUG 3 JULIE GRAHAM

JULY NIKKI GRAHAME, KIM MEDCALF, SINITTA, LINDA ROBSON

JUNE SUZI WALKER, ZOE SALMON, POOJA SHAH, CAROLE SMILLIE, KIRSTY ALLSOPP

MAY FAYE TOZER, JENNIE BOND, JANE DANSON, TRACEY COX

APRIL ERIN BOAG, JULIA BRADBURY, CLAIRE SWEENEY, TRICIA PENROSE

MARCH SAMMY WINWARD, ROSIE MARCEL, GABY ROSLIN, NATASHA HAMILTON, ANDREA MCLEAN

FEB GEMMA BISSIX, CAROL MCGRIFFIN, ROXANNE PALLETT, TINA HOBLEY