heya i'm new & coming to terms with diagnosis

eleanorgrb

hey, I started with my symptoms a year ago and finally last friday got diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis and put on medication. I'm struggling because whenever I research about inflammatory arthritis it always brings up rheumatoid arthritis however my understanding is that they are different? I kind of feel like sometimes it makes my arthritis feel less significant.

I am really happy to have access to this page, I am only 20 and have felt loneliness through all of this to an extent I didn't know was possible so thank you for having me here :)

noddingtonpete

Hello @eleanorgrb and welcome to the Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that will be your experience as well.

I understand that you have inflammatory arthritis and still only 20. You also say that you are feeling loneliness. Well you are among new friends now so I hope that you get chatting with others soon. We do have a Young Persons part of the Community so I would suggest having a look there. I have also put a link in below which I hope will help.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/young-people/living-with-arthritis/

and below is the link to our Young Peoples and Families Service

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/young-people/help-for-young-people-and-families/

Have a look at our website - it contains useful info on arthritis, treatments and so on, e.g. https://www.versusarthritis.org/research/research-achievements/anti-tnf-the-inflammatory-arthritis-treatment-revolution/

Please keep posting and I am sure that others will connect with you soon to share their support and experiences.

With best wishes

Peter (moderator)