Adam Thomas has shared an update on his struggle with arthritis in a recent social media post. The 36 year old actor, known for his roles in Waterloo Road and Emmerdale, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2023 and later revealed he has psoriatic arthritis, a long-term condition causing joint pain, swelling and stiffness as described by the NHS. In a heartfelt Instagram story on Monday 24 February, Adam penned: “This disease really does f**k with your head, especially when your trying to shift some weight and get into a routine of exercise! Constant battle, constant set backs! Just take my pain away please!” He went on to say: “I’ve suffered enough now! I’m really trying to hold myself together but it’s not easy!” Adam then added a note of encouragement: “Just one of those days – keep fighting people on the days where we can’t train – we have to take care of ourselves, self-care and recovery.”
Adam updated his fans via social media
(Image: adamthomas21/Instagram)
Earlier this month, Adam opened up about his arthritis battle to Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain. “I’ve been struggling with this autoimmune disease now for about two and a half years,” he confessed. “It’s been tough. I’m not overexaggerating when I say this but literally within two and a half years, every day I’ve been in pain. It’s difficult but now I feel like I’ve found – because I’ve been on so many different meds and trying so many different things, back and forth from doctor’s and hospitals.” Adam, a former contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023, has been open about his debilitating arthritis condition. In October 2024 he shared: “The pain is pretty unbearable at the moment, it’s as if my whole body is seizing up!! The pain was bad before, but it’s a lot worse now… how why??? Now I wish I never came off the methotrexate because I would take that pain to this every day of the week!” He also expressed frustration with the slow onset of his new medication, saying, “I’ve just started my new medication today which takes 12 weeks to take effect and even then it might not work so am not too sure what I can do to ease the pain until then?? I’ve had my steroid injections and it literally lasted a week … Going to check in at the hospital tomorrow to see what pain relief I can get, because I can’t carry on like this!” reports the Mirror.
Adam is best known for his roles on Emmerdale and Waterloo Road
(Image: BBC/Wall To Wall/Rope Ladder Fiction/Helen Williams)
He went on to add: “I couldn’t even get dressed this morning on my own, couldn’t drive to work. I mean I can barely walk and my wrists and fingers feel like they’re broken – that’s no exaggeration! I wouldn’t have got out of bed today if it wasn’t for work. It got better throughout the day with a s**tload of painkillers! But wow… these last few days have been scary, had a little cry to myself today it can just really get on top of you!” Adam also shared: “Am not saying this for a sob story or for sympathy just trying to bring awareness to this disease and what so many others are going through – the good, the bad [and] the ugly… I’m lucky I have a great support system and not many do so to anyone who is going through the same thing and is alone; I see you, I feel you! ! It’s going to get better. Don’t give up. If you know anyone who’s suffering just give them a call and check in.”
