I thought I would be restricted, but not as restricted as this. It’s really quite claustrophobic feeling this way. Wearing the gloves is immediately uncomfortable and painful, but I’m still determined that the suit is not going to slow me down or stop me from doing my daily chores.

I’m already feeling slightly limited in my movement and everything is taking twice as long. Really simple things like reaching for a plate on the top shelf, or bending down to fill the dishwasher is painful, not only in my knee joints which are hurting, but the muscles in my back and around my joints too.

As I’m cutting up my fruit I feel like I’m fumbling and I have to go very slowly, as the spikes in my gloves are digging into my skin….it’s hurting and I really don’t feel like carrying on. The spikey painful feeling simulates the pressure on finger joints if you have arthritis. Dealing with this every day would be exhausting and really quite upsetting too.

I’m told by GP Rosemary Leonard that it’s really important to eat the right foods when you have arthritis, this prevents aggravating the condition but also helps manage pain. I made a fruit salad including berries, which contain certain antioxidants that ‘may help to reduce inflammation’ and apples, which contain magnesium which ‘may help to decrease the pain and stiffness in joints and muscles.’

This is something I take for granted everyday as it’s a big part of my job. I’m used to putting my own make-up on and often have to get ready quickly. I have never thought putting on make-up as a fiddly job, but with the gloves and the pain in my hands it’s so frustrating. I am so surprised about how I’m reacting to this experience and I feel guilty getting frustrated, knowing that so many people in the UK live with arthritis every day. While doing my make-up, I’m finding myself subconsciously moving into different positions, like resting my arm on the table to put my mascara on, just to ease the pain. Applying my make-up took much longer to do than normal and I definitely needed a lot of patience with the eyeliner in particular as it was so difficult to get right. I feel completely drained and all I have done so far is make breakfast and put on my make-up.

Driving is something I love doing which is lucky as I have to travel a lot up and down the country. I normally use my time in the car to switch off and listen to my favourite tunes but there is absolutely nothing relaxing about the journey today. Holding the steering wheel is extremely painful on the hands and fingers and I literally feel like crying. I also feel restricted all the way down my back and just really awkward. Not the normal relaxing journey I normally appreciate so much, I just want to get there quickly so I can get out of the car.

I have danced in high heels since I was 12 and I’m used to putting them on in a hurry in between dances. But not today. I’m struggling to bend down to fasten them up and have to ask for help, which makes me feel really dependent and helpless. It’s really starting to hit home how having arthritis can affect your everyday routine and how frustrating it must be.

Dancing for me is like riding a bicycle and using the arms and legs to their full extension is normal in my every day exercise regime. I put on the Jive thinking that surely I will be able to dance in time to the music. I was wrong, I don’t feel as stable as normal and I am much slower as everything pulls in opposite directions. I actually give up doing the moves to music in the end in order to try to do the moves properly. Normally, I would easily carry on dancing for hours but today is just too painful. I have heard of dance students who carry on dancing even with arthritis as apparently keeping the joints moving is good for them, I commend them, that’s very courageous.

Sammy Margo, my Physiotherapist came in to my studio to take me through the recommended exercises for people with osteoarthritis. Apparently strengthening exercises can help to reduce joint stiffness, improve pain levels and also improve energy levels as well as helping you feel more confident and positive.

By now I’m feeling very weary, in fact, make that exhausted. I have the same problems as I had making breakfast but by now my fingers are so stiff and sore it’s really awkward and painful putting together my salad. Dr Rosemary said that she would normally recommend people with arthritis to eat oily fish such as salmon and green leafy salad including avocados, any bright vegetables and walnuts. Oily fish contains essential fatty acids such as omega 3 and there is growing evidence that omega 3s can help people with inflammatory arthritis. If you don’t like oily fish or don’t eat it that often it’s a good idea to take a high quality joint care supplement from a trusted brand to make sure you’re getting a regulated amount. When I take supplements I also tend to look for one that has been through a gold standard purification process and combines the benefits of omega 3s as well as glucosamine. Glucosamine helps your body regenerate tissue, something that your body doesn’t do so well as you get older. To find out about supplements that may help you stay supple and flexible.

After a long day of dancing I love to relax and soak my muscles in a bath so I attempt to get into the bath with my suit on. It is so uncomfortable and painful and once I get into the bath I find it difficult to find comfort in any position. All I can think about is how I am going to get out in a less painful way! There is no water in my bath as I am wearing the suit, so I don’t have the hazard of slipping to think about which of course someone with arthritis would have to be so careful about. Getting out I am relying on my arm muscles to push myself up and I find myself reaching for a handle to steady myself. If I was on my own I would feel really scared doing this and actually, I don’t think I’d feel comfortable bathing on my own. What a really distressing thought.

Again this should be relaxing, but even just sitting down on the couch is uncomfortable and it is really difficult to find a position to relax in. Changing the channels is really clumsy and painful on the fingers too and I find it difficult to get up from the sofa. I am emotionally and physically exhausted.