Man, 22, whose arthritis is so agonising he hardly sleeps was getting help - until lockdown hit

A 22-year-old man has lived constant pain caused by arthritis since the start of lockdown because his hospital appointments have been cancelled.

The man, who asked to be referred to by his first name Adam, described the pain as 'murder' as he cannot lie down in bed due to the agony.

He said he gets just 12 hours of sleep a week - usually when he is sitting on a chair or leaning against a wall.

"It's murder. They said it's less severe in 85-year-olds. It feels like a gear gets stuck and you have to properly push it in," he said.

"It's like that all the time when I move my joints. It's like a donkey kicking you in the back again and again and again."

The pain is particularly acute in Adam's knees, elbows, shoulders and back.

The Tameside resident said he felt like his GP practice didn't take him seriously until recently.

"They would say 'come back in two days', then it would be months before the next appointment."

In January, his GP booked him in for an appointment at Tameside Hospital.

He had X-rays, and underwent tests.

"The knowledge that I was finally getting help made it more manageable", he said.

His first physiotherapy session was booked in for March 25 - two days after the UK went into lockdown.

He had an MRI scan booked in, too. But the appointments were cancelled.

"I have been in pain since. I have not been able to go out and exercise, certain exercises require equipment that I don't have", he explained.

"It's constant this pain, it can get a lot worse. It does keep me up. At night I stay up until I pass out in my chair.

"I'm used to the pain by now. I just deal with it.

"Some days I sleep in a chair, some days I lie against the wall."

Many appointments up and down the country were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic (MEN)

He said he has receive advice and support by email and phone from the hospital.

"The hospital have tried to advise me as best as they can, as soon as the hospital opens again they will try to get me back in.

"I don't go out anymore, I don't do anything because I can't. It's not the best thing in the world.

"I don't blame them, the circumstances are understandable with the lockdown. I have no idea when the physiotherapy will resume or when they can start making appointments", he said.

Tameside Hospital is run by Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.

A trust spokesperson said: “We are now preparing to gradually increase some important face-to-face services, but only where this can be done safely.

"The virus is still circulating and we do not want to put our patients, the public or our staff at greater risk.

“If you are waiting for an out-patient appointment or waiting for a test or a surgical procedure, we are currently prioritising the most clinically urgent patients, particularly cancer patients.

"It is therefore likely that some patients listed for treatment may have to wait a little longer before we are able to commence their treatment plans.”