In this personal reflection, Will shares the realities of living with arthritis as a young adult, the importance of support networks, and how movement helped him rediscover confidence and independence. His story is a reminder that while arthritis can change your path, it doesn’t have to define it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share a little about your arthritis journey?
I’m Will, a 27-year-old who has been living with rheumatoid arthritis since being diagnosed in 2021. After my hands were knocked around by a few hungry Tasmanian dairy calves, I noticed things weren’t right. My fingers ached for weeks, eventually prompting me to seek medical advice. I was privileged to have a rapid diagnosis and a fantastic medical team around me, but of course things are rarely that simple. Medication side effects, failed drug trials, chronic pain and fatigue; adjusting to this new life was no walk in the park, more of a semi-controlled fall down a jagged cliff.
At the same time, I was completing three degrees and navigating work, relationships, friendships and young adulthood. One of the more surprising parts has been the connections you build with others facing similar battles. I’ve spoken with my housemate’s mum, my yoga instructor and my favourite barista, all living with similar conditions. It’s almost like speaking another language; there is enormous relief in learning that you are not the first or only person to feel this way. That sense of connection is a big part of why I’m so pleased to be involved with The Arthritis Movement.
What was the process of seeking a diagnosis like for you, and how did it impact you emotionally or mentally?
Two weeks of pain was enough for me to seek advice from my GP. My presentation was relatively classic for rheumatoid arthritis and, thanks to a wonderful, switched-on doctor, I was diagnosed not long after. Being told you have RA is one thing, accepting it is another, and navigating it is something almost impossible to put into words.
I immediately researched everything I could and went straight down the rabbit hole. There was relief in knowing my condition had a name, but that was short-lived when I was put on a six-month waitlist to see a rheumatologist. I was scared. Will things get better? Will they get worse? Will I finish my degree? Will I ever play sport again?
At my worst, I could barely walk down the driveway, couldn’t study at a desk for more than five minutes and dreaded another restless night. When the first specialist appointment finally arrived, having my expectations set was a game changer. Being told this would not be an overnight fix was difficult, but it made each day easier knowing this was part of a process.
What have been the biggest challenges of managing chronic pain and fatigue while balancing university, placements, study and everyday life?
The biggest question hanging over me was whether arthritis would stop me from becoming a vet. Veterinary training is physical: long days on your feet, surgery, farm work, restraining animals, writing notes and then somehow studying afterwards. There were days when my hands hurt too much to do things comfortably, or when fatigue made an ordinary day feel twice as long.
The other challenge was explaining a condition people cannot always see. Missing run club, sport or a night out because I had nothing left in the tank sometimes felt like arthritis was making decisions for me.
What strategies or supports have helped you manage university and your health together?
I had to completely rebuild the way I studied. Handwriting pages of notes was no longer realistic, so I moved towards recorded notes, dictation software, ANKI flashcards and group learning. In hindsight, being forced to adapt probably made me a more efficient student.
I also learnt to stay active without treating every day like a test of toughness. Knowing my limits, pacing myself and not comparing my capacity with somebody else’s became important. The university disability team was invaluable for assessment adjustments, while psychologists, physiotherapists, lecturers, friends and family all became part of the support network around me.
How has arthritis affected your relationships with family, friends or classmates, particularly when people may not fully understand what you’re experiencing?
I was fortunate to study in a veterinary cohort, where people were generally more curious than dismissive. Classmates wanted to understand, and lecturers would occasionally add arthritis-related examples into teaching because they knew I would find them interesting.
Family was harder in a different way. They cared so much that every conversation could become about how I was feeling. I could see how worried they were, and eventually I started underplaying things to protect them, which was not always fair on either side. Over time we became better at talking about it without letting arthritis become the only thing we talked about.
My friends and sports teams were incredibly supportive too. Even when I could not participate fully, I rarely felt forgotten.
What role does exercise or movement play in your life?
It is huge, probably one of the most important parts of my life. At first, shifting towards lower-impact exercise felt like giving something up, but it allowed me to stay fit and keep moving.
Running has been the clearest example. I essentially had to start again, building distance back up half a kilometre at a time, knowing a flare could wipe out weeks of progress. But I developed a completely different appreciation for it. It stopped being about pace or distance. When you have gone from struggling to walk ten metres to being able to run again, movement feels like a privilege rather than a chore.
What advice or encouragement would you give to another young adult living with arthritis?
Lean on your support network and ask for help earlier than you think you need it. Focus on what you can do rather than building your identity around what arthritis has taken away.
Stay active in whatever way your body allows and be willing to redefine what “active” looks like. Try new things, get creative, spend time outside and find things that give you something to look forward to when sport, work or study are difficult. Most importantly, be patient with yourself. Progress with arthritis is rarely a straight line.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with other young people who may relate to your experience?
Whatever you are going through, you are not the only person who has felt it. Arthritis can make your world feel very small, particularly when everyone around you seems to be moving forward without thinking twice about their body.
Finding people who understand can make that world feel much bigger again. Share your story when you are ready. You never know who might need to hear it.
Written by Will Scott, September 2026
