Chloe Fair

Why I'm walking to World Arthritis Day

This charity is a really important charity to me. I used to run half marathons and loved running. In 2019 I started getting pain in my big toe. By the start of the 2020 the pain got worse and I was referred to a specialist on the NHS. In April 2020 I was wiped off the NHS waiting list, because of COVID, and eventually the pain prevented me from walking without being in a lot of pain. 

I found Versus Arthritis during this time and the charity was really helpful - supporting me with what I needed to say to the NHS to get referred back to a specialist, and I found a lot of helpful resources via the charity. 

Unfortunately, when I eventually saw a consultant the arthritis had gotten worse and I now needed surgery, which the NHS weren’t providing for someone at my age at the time. 

I ended up having a cheilectomy surgery privately in September 2020, at the age of only 26. By December 2020 I was able to walk 2-3 km comfortably without a lot of pain.

I have battled with the pain over the past 3+ years and have found ways to manage it which means I can now walk 5km fairly comfortably. 

I am doing this challenge to really put my toe to the test!!! Getting closer to winter means that my pain has started to get a little worse and I can get less motivated to move my body. I battle with toe pain everyday but want to challenge myself to be pushed out of my comfort zone and walk!! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻