Ahead of his appearance on this year's Strictly Come Dancing, actor Adam Thomas has announced that he’s been diagnosed with arthritis.
Despite suffering from the painful condition, he isn’t putting away his dancing shoes and said the competition couldn’t have come at a better time.
In a lengthy Instagram post, the former soap star celebrated his 35th birthday and made the candid admission about his condition, revealing that he’d been diagnosed six months ago after noticing pain that initially started in his knees before spreading to his wrists.
After a barrage of blood tests, the Emmerdale actor was told he had rheumatoid arthritis - a condition which causes stiffness and swelling of the joints.
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It’s often associated with elderly people, with the actor commenting on this fact in his Instagram post.
He told fans: “I thought that was something people, later on in there life get… but that’s not the case, clearly!”
Rather than side-stepping his appearance on Strictly though, the 35-year-old has already begun preparing for the competition – although he acknowledged it’s been ‘hard’.
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“But some days are better than others and am not going to lie, it’s been hard not being able to train properly, it’s has had a huge knock on effect for me personally, but not only that for my family too…” he wrote, sharing a photo of his wife Caroline and two kids.
Sweetly, he then admitted that he couldn’t wait to be on the dancefloor despite the challenge he faces.
Remaining positive, he revealed he had a medical plan and that he believed the show had come at the ‘right time’
He wrote: “It really couldn’t have come at a better time I’m a firm believer of everything happening for a reason, and I know the journey I’ve been on was meant to happen, to never take small things in life for granted!”
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Fans and loved ones have also been cheering him on in the comments, including his twin brother and fellow actor, Scott.
He told his sibling: “Love you big twin! We’ve got this!”
TV personality and sister-in-law Lucy Mecklenburgh also shared her well-wishes, writing: “Love you Adam! U got this x”
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Others emphasised with the soap star, sharing experiences with a similar diagnosis.
“Awww I was diagnosed with the same at 37,” wrote one fan, saying: “some days really are a struggle and other days are much better.”
They added: “Glad you’re on a plan now, the pain can be so intense – all the best for it!”
After all his hard, we can’t wait for Adam to give us the ol’ razzle dazzle later this year.
Topics: Celebrity, TV And Film, Strictly Come Dancing
Katherine Sidnell