Paddy McGuinness details 'stressful' Friday morning

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In a social media post the Take Me Out presenter used the hashtag “knackered” to describe his health after he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. At the age of 44, Paddy was on the younger side when he received his diagnosis. But the outpouring of support and messages by fans and other arthritis suffers proves that the condition can affect everyone.

The Instagram post included a picture of Paddy with a plaster on his shoulder.

The caption read: “Nursing a poorly shoulder today. I had an ultrasound steroid injection in it yesterday. The reason, arthritis? I’m 44!”

Now 48 years old, Paddy uses steroid injections to reduce inflammation in joints and in turn reduce pain.

A spokesperson for the charity Venus Arthritis told Express.co.uk: “Steroid injections are often recommended for people with rheumatoid arthritis.”

Although the benefits of these injections can last for several months, there is no permanent cure for the condition.

What exactly is rheumatoid arthritis?

One of the most common types of the condition, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body’s immune system targets affected joints.

This affects the outer covering of the joint first of all, and then spreads leading to severe swelling and a change in the joints shape.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the inflammation of joints can lead to damage to other parts of the body as well.

Symptoms including tiredness, a high temperature, sweating, poor appetite, weight loss, dry eyes and chest pain are all connected to the bone eroding condition.

Smaller joints in the body tend to be affected first.

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A post shared by Paddy McGuinness (@mcguinness.paddy)

This includes in the hands, fingers and toes.

As the disease progresses symptoms then spread to the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips and as in Paddy’s case the shoulder.

In addition to steroid injections, alternative treatments for rheumatoid arthritis include regular exercise and therapy.

Therapy can involve physiotherapy with exercises to help improve an individual’s fitness and muscle strength as well as hydrotherapy.

Hydrotherapy involves exercising in different temperature pools.

Ranging from 33-36C, the exercises done in the pool help develop your range of movements.

The other most common type of arthritis is known as osteoarthritis.

Instead of the body attacking the immune system as with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis occurs when joint cartilage wears away and eventually bones start to rub together.

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