Adam Thomas shares 'life-changing' health update revealing he's pain-free for the first time in two years after diagnosis

Daily Mail​

8 hours ago

Adam Thomas has issued an update on his struggle with arthritis, telling his followers 'my life has completely changed'.
The former Emmerdale star, 36, was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis - a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in joints and is incurable - before his time on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023.
Adam has kept his followers updated on his struggles since, heartbreakingly admitting in late 2024 that he was left 'barely able to walk' due to the severity of the pain.
The actor had previously revealed that he had been in pain every single day for two years after also being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
But in a life-changing update on Tuesday, the Waterloo Road star told his followers he is at last pain-free thanks to a miraculous biologic injection.
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
Looking in great spirits, Adam captioned a selfie of himself: 'These last few weeks… my life completely changed!
'As some of you know, I've been battling psoriatic arthritis for the past 3 years and it's been tough, Constant pain, constant struggle. But today I can say something I honestly never thought I would… I'm pain free!!
'Not a bit better, not improving but ZERO pain! None. For the first time in YEARS.
'A few weeks ago I had my first biologic injection and it changed my life literally overnight. I know that for most people it can take weeks to work, but for me... it was instant. And I'm still in shock.
'I mean I know that this is not a cure and I'm still doing all I can to support my body naturally through food, movement,and rest. But this has given me something I haven't felt in a long time!
'Now it's time to rebuild, mentally, physically, emotionally. This next chapter is all about prioritising my wellbeing, becoming the happiest, healthiest version of me… and finally enjoying life again.
'Let's goo!!!'
Biological injections are types of medication that use proteins to target specific parts of the immune systems suffering with inflammation.
WHAT IS PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS?
Psoriatic arthritis is a long-term condition that causes joint pain, swelling and stiffness.
The condition causes the immune system to attack its own body, primarily the joints and skin, but also organs.
Scientists believe genes and an environmental trigger, like a trauma or virus, might play a role in developing psoriatic arthritis.
About a third of people with the skin condition psoriasis will get psoriatic arthritis as they get older.
Symptoms include: pain, swelling and stiffness joints, swollen fingers or toes, nails can form tiny dents, crumble or separate from the nail beds, lower back pain, feeling drained of energy, eye inflammation and foot pain.
Symptoms can be worse first thing in the morning and may improve with exercise.
Some people may also get symptoms of psoriasis, such as dry scaly skin, at the same time.
There's no cure for psoriatic arthritis. Treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms and preventing joint damage.
The medicines used to treat psoriatic arthritis include: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroid injections, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biological treatments
Source: The NHS and Arthritis Foundation
Just a month or so before discovering the injection, Adam shared an emotional plea to 'take my pain away' as his suffering became almost unbearable.
In a caption accompanying a photo of him laying on a massage bed, the 36-year-old wrote: 'This disease really does f**k with your head, especially when you're trying to shift Some weight and get Into a routine of exercise!
'Constant battle constant set backs! Just take my pain away please!! I've suffered enough now!
'Am really trying to hold myself together but it's not easy!
'Just one of those days ... keep fighting people... on the days where we can't train ... we have to take care of ourselves x self care and recovery.'
And months before that the soap star admitted he could 'barely walk' due to the debilitating nature of the disease.
'The pain is pretty unbearable at the moment,' he posted in October.
'It's as if my whole body is seizing up! The pain was bad before, but it's a lot worse now… how why.'
Addressing his treatment, he said: 'Now I wish I never came off the methotrexate because I would take that pain to this every day of the week!!
'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.
'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 through out the day with a s**t load 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!!
'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 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 you I feel you!!
'It's going to get better don't give up x if you know anyone who's suffering just give them a call and check in.'
Adam - the brother of Love Island star Scott and fellow soap star Ryan - landed his breakthrough role as Donte Charles on BBC One's Waterloo Road in 2002, acting on the show for a further thee years.
He later appeared in Emmerdale as Adam Barton, featuring on the show from 2009 to 2018 and becoming a fan-favourite.
In 2016, he appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, finishing in third place behind Joel Dommett and Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt.