Craig, 54, was a professional dancer and choreographer who has endured many years of health issues due to an injury. The judge had previously revealed his health issue back in 2013 and revealed how during a production of Snow White an injury caused life-long damage to his joints. In an interview with Daily Express last year, Craig said: “I assumed I’d ripped a ligament.” With a busy schedule on his hands, Craig decided to treat the pain himself with “off-the-shelf painkillers”.
Craig has revealed how he felt an enormously sharp pain in his right hip which spread down to his knee and up to his back.
“I spent the rest of the panto run on extremely strong painkillers, a lot of massage and physiology and changed my high heels to lower ones. But it didn’t get any better.
“I couldn’t understand it. Normally ligament damage fixes itself, every dancer knows that, but this was a mystery.
“I was doing all the right things resting and stretching but it was getting progressively worse.”
Eventually Craig decided to speak with a professional about his ongoing pain from the injury and was told the tragic news that he was suffering from severe osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and affects millions of people around the world.
The condition occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time.
This disorder most commonly affects joints in the hands, knees, hips and spine. The NHS said: “Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes joints to become painful and stiff.
It’s the most common type of arthritis in the UK. The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are joint pain and stiffness, and problems moving the joint.
Some people also have symptoms such as swelling, tenderness, grating or crackling sound when moving the affected joints.”
Learning to better manage his condition, Craig is now on the mend and back entertaining UK audiences. He is also now a patron of the National Osteoporosis Society.
The severity of osteoarthritis symptoms can vary greatly from person to person
NHS
The NHS added: “The severity of osteoarthritis symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, and between different affected joints.
For some people, the symptoms can be mild and may come and go.
Other people can experience more continuous and severe problems which make it difficult to carry out everyday activities.
Almost any joint can be affected by osteoarthritis, but the condition most often causes problems in the knees, hips and small joints of the hands.
You should see your GP if you have persistent symptoms of osteoarthritis so they can confirm the diagnosis and prescribe any necessary treatment.”
Source: Read Full Article
