Former Emmerdale star Adam Thomas has shared a health update from hospital in relation to his arthritis condition.

The star, who played Adam Barton on the ITV soap for nine years before departing in 2018, shared before his stint on Strictly Come Dancing last year that he was previously diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which causes pain and swelling in joints on the body.

The actor, who currently plays Donte Charles on BBC soap Waterloo Road, took to Instagram on Monday (October 7) to share that his condition had worsened after opting to come off his previous medication.

“I’ve been taking a lot of painkillers to get me through and they have helped ease the pain where [I] am able to train but the next day my body is just in bits,” he said, with the actor describing the post as his “arthritis journey”.

“So back to the hospital today to try something else,” he continued, explaining that he would soon switch to new medication on his journey, adding that he would aim to “stay positive” on the “long process”.

Thomas, who has also appeared on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! further explained that he is very rarely “pain-free” due to the condition, sharing that a rare moment of respite came during his stint on Strictly.

instagram
View full post on Instagram
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Related: Emmerdale fan favourite could return in Tom and Belle storyline

“Even though I was in pain and physically I was suffering, in my mind I wanted to keep going,” he recalled. “The team at strictly mentioned steroid injections to help ease the pain a little and it worked massively !!! I was still shit at dancing but the pain had eased off.”

Thomas ended the post by saying that he needed “some breathing space” to recover, adding that he wanted to share the post for all the people who were “suffering” with similar conditions and that he refused to “give in”.

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.

Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage

October 2024 gift ideas and deals
Glen Powell Twisters T-shirt
Glen Powell Twisters T-shirt
Shop Now
Credit: Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment
Richard Osman: We Solve Murders
Richard Osman: We Solve Murders
Shop Now
Shop at WHSmith
Shop at Waterstones
Credit: Viking
3 months of free Apple Music
3 months of free Apple Music
Find Out More
Credit: Apple
Best SellerPS5 Slim Consoles
PS5 Slim Consoles
Best deals
Credit: Playstation/Getty Images
Deadpool & Wolverine’s ‘best friends’ necklace
Deadpool & Wolverine’s ‘best friends’ necklace
Shop Now
Audible free trial
Audible free trial
Find out more
Credit: Audible / Penguin
Apple TV+ 7-day free trial
Apple TV+ 7-day free trial
Shop at Apple
Credit: Apple TV+
Sign up for Disney+
Sign up for Disney+
Shop at Disney+
Credit: Disney+/Lucasfilm
Buy Alison Hammond’s outfits
Buy Alison Hammond’s outfits
Shop Now
Credit: mark bourdillon
The Street of Lies: An Official Coronation Street Interactive Novel
The Street of Lies: An Official Coronation Street Interactive Novel
Shop at Amazon
Credit: Octopus Books
Best SellerBuy Cat Deeley’s This Morning outfits
Buy Cat Deeley’s This Morning outfits
Shop Now
Best SellerShop Sky TV, broadband and mobile
Shop Sky TV, broadband and mobile
Shop at Sky TV