Inspiring case

[nily]

Three years after a battle with rheumatoid arthritis led to her retirement, Caroline Wozniacki is making a comeback on the WTA Tour.

twitter.com/TimesSport/stat...

[AgedCrone]

If only more were as lucky….just hope the very strenuous regime of international tennis isn’t too much for her.

[CallMeSunny]

She and her medics have achieved an amazing fight back, which will give much needed encouragement to those newly diagnosed youngsters who are feeling devastated. I wish her all the luck in the world.

[AgedCrone in reply to CallMeSunny]

I agree it’s a great outcome..however with lifetime prize winnings in excess of $30m prior to her diagnosis, CW was in the extremely fortunate position, like Venus Williams, to have fast regular access to her doctors.

Sadly in UK people struggle to even get an early referral from their GP, & when that is achieved - even Private rheumatology appointments have long waiting lists.

Let’s hope she succeeds in her come back.

[nily in reply to AgedCrone]

I agree but there are some good points in her come back story such as changing her diet and exercise regularly. Also she was lucky that she was young and had two babies after the diagnosis (pregnancy may help as far as I know). However it is certain that money is a very powerful key.

[AgedCrone in reply to nily]

I wasn’t denigrating her improvement at all…just a little wake up call to those who might think it could be easily achieved here….but on the whole we are all extremely fortunate in UK to have access to the most up to date drugs we are prescribed…but we do as you say, need to put in the effort.

In the 20+ years I have been diagnosed treatments have improved tremendously….it took me -& I’m sure many others - 16 years to arrive at my present Biologic - but these drugs are now available in the first few years of the disease.

Well……..Wimbledon starts on Monday….maybe we will see CW there in 2024?

[Hidden in reply to nily]

If people only knew how powerful diet and exercise are in controlling inflammation.

[KittyJ]

how are people who haven’t got Twitter reading this, I can’t access it

[nily in reply to KittyJ]

Here is a good article from 2021

magazine.medlineplus.gov/ar...

[Deeb1764]

some of the newspapers are now showing the story too so should be able to access online googling her name !

[helixhelix]

here is a piece by her about having RA

ucb.com/advantage-hers/en/M...

[cyberbarn]

I wonder if she was in her 50s and not a fit tennis star whether she would have had the same outcome. Too many older women are just being dismissed because they are unfit, overweight, depressed, or, as one dr said to me, I was just old.

It would be great to hear these stories from ordinary people too!

[Happy5 in reply to cyberbarn]

In my case I was very fit 57 year old that became bed ridden in months. So many of my medical personnel only saw me as this frail person. I often smile at the reaction to me now so different to the active person before.

Now as a pensioner gone through the grief of who I was & get on best I can.

[nily in reply to cyberbarn]

You are right but it is nice to hear that changing the diet, stress management and trying some regular (modest) exercise may help.

[Happy5]

Wish her all the best, was upset for her being diagnosed with RA, so glad she's getting some respite from the condition.

[stbernhard]

Well brilliant for her. I hope she'll talk about her way to recovery a lot to raise people's awareness and give hope to many.

[cwtch29]

I think its amazing that she is able to return to competitive high level tennis, so well done to her for overcoming the debilitating pain of rheumatoid arthritis.

I do think the fact she has plenty of money and has probably had the best treatment available has helped her return. She mentions an anti inflammatory diet and exercise but havent most of us tried to do that and are still suffering. The thought of picking up a tennis raquet just makes me squirm at the pain it would create. ( I used to play for fun at a local tennis club) It does make the rest of us look like we are "putting on" our debilitating illness. The fatigue, the unbearable pain, the sleepless nights, the life changing condition that simply wont just go away no matter what you eat or do. Be good to know what wonder drug has turned this disease around for her.

I wish her luck and will enjoy watching her play but I will wonder how!

[nily in reply to cwtch29]

Sorry to hear about your pains. Hope things would get better.

It is impossible to pick up a raquet for me too. If I could my feet would not agree to run. Also as I am seropositive with high levels of RF and antiCCP, there is not much room for me to expect miracles. But I would love to hear and try anything that would make life easier.

I wish she shares more details of the story. That can be useful for the doctors as well.

[Mmrr]

I'm genuinely pleased for her and her remarkable recovery to be able to play tennis at this level again.I do however have concerns that her story is peddled as one in which 'blame' of some sort is put upon those of us not so fortunate to have access to the medical, complementary and financial resources to enable us to function as we once did.