Elizabeth Takyi is a podcast presenter, lecturer, neurodiversity storyteller, and Arthritis Action Trustee.
Many people’s lives changed over the pandemic, but I think mine did more than most.
I was a very active person, I walked everywhere, played volleyball and netball and was never sitting still. I could beat my kids on the race track, even though all of them are a good deal taller than me!
In 2019, I began to get some spasms and back pain, which my GP dismissed as nothing serious. Going into lockdown, I found myself suddenly stuck at home and that period of inactivity was really the start of things getting much worse. After many visits to my GP and explaining how debilitating the pain was now becoming, and a concern because my aunt had cancer, I persuaded them to send me for an MRI and X-ray.
Only then was the damage noted, and the term “wear and tear” was used. That made it sound like it was just an inevitable consequence and nothing I could do would change that. Yet, I needed to manage the pain, so continued with physiotherapy and regular injections. My consultant then told me I needed to consider a hip replacement. While I had heard some marvellous things about what it can do, it’s a serious and scary proposition, but one I would soon have to make.
Arthritis has impacted all parts of my life. I am lucky that the company I work for advises on Workplace Assessments for disability. Even then, I was still a bit apprehensive about telling them of my own disability. When I plucked up the courage, they were very comfortable with it and said I was just the person to be representing them! I also now have adaptive equipment at my home office to help me with my job.
My arthritis has affected my life outside work too. I started turning down invitations to go out for drinks as I couldn’t stand for long periods and my social life started to shrink. Not seeing friends and being that lively person I was before really played on my mental health too.
It’s very frustrating that things I didn’t think twice about a few years ago are now so bothersome, such as putting on socks, or picking up something I’ve dropped on the floor. Even my sleep is affected as moving around in bed can wake me up in pain and make it difficult to get back to sleep again.
I have also found it fascinating how different groups of friends and family treat me differently from others. My heritage is Ghanaian, and disability of any kind is viewed very negatively there, speaking about any kind of weakness is firmly discouraged – you don’t show these things to the world. This makes me feel very uncomfortable arriving at social events with my walking stick as everyone will notice and ask questions. A typical response would be “You can’t have arthritis you are too young”. My mum has arthritis but that is considered acceptable because she is 84! My caucasian friends are much more likely to be sympathetic and offer help.
Coming across Arthritis Action has really changed my outlook on the future. The self-management support has been great, like the advice to keep a food diary to see how I can improve my diet and manage my weight. I have become a Trustee as I want to give back to the community too. It is very important to me that arthritis isn’t just seen as affecting old people and it affects people of all ages, races and colours. I also want to ensure it is talked about within my own community and not hidden away like an unwanted secret. It’s given me a really purpose and what I am learning I want to share with others.
Elizabeth spoke to Marc Williams about cultural barriers and arthritis, in the Arthritis Action Podcast.
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