A woman has been left with the body of someone in their old age after developing arthritis as a pre-teen – sharing the heartbreaking news that she can't even pick a spoon without help.

Danielle McLachlan, 26, from North Ayrshire, Scotland, was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which usually affects people in their 60s and upwards, when she was just 12 years old.

Over the years, the young woman has become so frail that she has to rely on her mum for lifting her in and out of bed and the bath and is so weak she can't even open a jar of jam – though this is mostly during bad flare up days.

Danielle is also restricted to a diet of soft food, as the autoimmune disease means her jaw is not strong enough to chew on solids – and is set to have reconstructive jaw surgery.

"Getting up in the morning is very difficult as my joints are seized up and it’s painful to get out of my bed," Danielle told NeedToKnow.online.

"My knees and hips in particular are the worst in the morning.

"I can’t get in and out of the bath still, as it’s too over bearing on my knees and hips.

"I can’t go from standing to kneeling to sitting as it’s too painful for my knees, hips and wrist and I need help to sometimes get up from chairs if I’m having a bad flare day.

"Being in your 20s with arthritis can be so overbearing as I’m often comparing myself to other people my age, as I’m not as productive as able-bodied people my age.

"It’s a mental battle more often than a physical battle, it can make me feel like a failure.

"But it has made me more stronger as a person and more open-minded and I thank my illness for giving me a strong sense of ability to connect with other people on a deep and emotional level."

Having an invisible illness, Danielle who often needs handrails to grab onto when going to the loo, says she has been shamed for using disabled toilets.

Symptoms of her condition first began to show up when she was 12, when Danielle saw her right knee swell up – but she claims doctors first dismissed this as "growing pains", before giving her the right diagnosis.

A few months later, the swelling became so bad she was put on steroid drips and medication to stop the inflammation.

She said: "The pain was so severe I was weak and fatigued and I couldn’t move from my bed.

"The weight dropped off me so quickly and I was so frail.

"I was relieved with being diagnosed and to eventually be put on medication for my arthritis but I was so ashamed and confused, especially with being so young and thinking that only older people get arthritis, which is, of course, a myth.

"My medication controls my arthritis to some extent and it has made me live a better quality of life to the point people would not believe me that I suffer!

"Or maybe I’m just good at masking the pain through years of experience."

Unfortunately, the steroids caused the young girl to gain weight, with cruel school mates bullying the young girl.

Over the years, Danielle has battled anxiety and depression.

She said: "The steroids had made me walk better but the weight piled on and I had 'moon face'.

"The swelling in my joints had also went to my face and I didn’t recognise myself.

"I was bullied for the way I looked and called awful names and groups of boys would walk by and blow out their cheeks."

Despite being on medication for 15 years, Danielle still struggles with day-to-day tasks.

She also had a cancer scare in September 2020, as doctors did a biopsy – which thankfully came back negative.

However, Danielle is currently waiting for reconstructive jaw surgery so she can finally chew her food.

She said: "I find it a bit daunting to be on the waiting list but exciting as I know it will give me a new lease of life and being able to open my jaw and free from facial pain would feel like a miracle.

"It will also prevent further damage and my face being asymmetrical which affects my self esteem.

"However it’s such a scary surgery to undergo especially since jaw replacements is so rare compared to other joint replacement."

Danielle shares her journey with her followers on Instagram (@danielleandarthritis), where she explains how her condition affects her.

She added: "It really helps me mentally and emotionally to cope better with my arthritis.

"It’s boosted up my confidence and I’m able to connect with other people age who suffer from chronic illnesses.

"I’m wanting to be more of a voice for people struggling with rheumatoid arthritis, and am trying to advocate and educate people that arthritis can affect all ages, with me being a prime example."

ENDS

EDITOR'S NOTE: Video Usage Licence:(EXCLUSIVE) We have obtained an exclusive licence from the copyright holder. A copy of the licence is available on request.

Video Restrictions: None.