Rick Wakeman hid his crippling 'arthritis' for 30 years fearing it would ruin his rock career. In fact, he didn't have it at all...

Three decades ago, music performer Ron Wakeman was identified with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in the hands.

But while he's never been afraid to discuss his other health issues - including alcohol poisoning and 2 cardiac arrest - he stored this other condition secret, frantically worried it might finish his career (a lengthy-time person in this guitar rock band Yes in addition to a solo music performer, he's referred to as 'keyboard wizard' for his speed of playing).

Then, recently, he discovered he'd been wrongly diagnosed all along, because he informs RACHEL KAUFMAN.

Ron Wakeman was identified with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in the hands 3 decades ago and think it is the finish of his rock career

The very first time I observed an issue was during the cold months of 1980. At that time I had been residing in Montreux in Europe and that i travelled to London to complete some keyboard concerts in a London nightclub known as The Venue.

Midway with the first display on the 2nd evening, my hands started to feel like someone had pumped them filled with air.

I looked lower and it was stunned to determine my right hands was body fat and inflamed. I could not see my knuckles anymore.

For that second show, I introduced a bucket of ice up with me and between pieces would plunge my hands in it to numb the discomfort. Fortunately, the crowd did not notice.

In some way, I handled to cope with the show, after which my tour manager drove me to Charing Mix Hospital at 2am.

Once the physician examined my blown-up hands he explained I'd rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

I gasped, nearly falling the advantage from the mattress in horror. I had been only 31.

I'd didn't have anything wrong with my hands before which seemed serious. My mother had a kind of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in her own shoulders, arms and legs.

She'd really experienced by using it, and that i could only imagine what this indicates in my career.

The very next day, a professional confirmed diagnosing and stated: 'You can enjoy, but stop whenever your hands increase the size of.A

I panicked - like a professional keyboard player, my hands are my livelihood.

I told him that since age five, after i began piano training, I'd most likely averaged four or five hrs each day involving or carrying out. My concert events involved using from three to 36 keyboards.

All of the deterioration, the specialist stated, meant my hands were substantially over the age of the relaxation of my body system.

'You possess the hands of the 80-year-old,' he introduced. Clearly, I'd taken them as a given.

I'd had them insured for ?a million each in 1973, but I'd stopped 3 years later once the rates rose an excessive amount of.

But anyway, the insurance coverage was for injuries - for example lack of fingers - not degenerative ailments.

All I possibly could do was try to keep playing. I could not contemplate existence without music.

But each time Used to do, after just half an hour of playing, the swelling would take hold. After I stopped, it went lower following a couple of hrs - until I began playing again.

It started to beginning on me exactly what a nightmare it was.

I cancelled a five-week European tour because of start the year after using the band. They understood I'd an issue with my hands but thought I had been setting it up taken care of.

I made light from it. I did not let them know it had been rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

In your own home, I almost stopped playing completely. I had been afraid my career was visiting an finish.

I confided in Lawrie McMenemy, then your assistant manager from the England football team along with a close friend.

He advised me to consider marine seafood oil - all of the football players tried on the extender for healthy joints. In those days, seafood oils were virtually uncommon, but Lawrie sent me a minimum of three months' worth.

In the beginning, I required eight capsules each day - the greater the greater, I figured. Progressively though, I exercised the best level for me personally: four during the cold months and 2 in summer time. The discomfort disappeared and that i was normal again.

It had been quite phenomenal the result the capsules had on me - no swelling whatsoever. It had been this kind of incredible relief. Within three several weeks, I had been doing shows again.

I required the capsules religiously for a long time. I did not want the joint disease to consider hold - I'd already had my fill of illness.

I'd were built with a pretty unhealthy lifestyle after i was more youthful coupled with gained the effects. I'd two cardiac arrest in 1974.

I had been touring constantly, consuming huge amounts of alcohol and living off Indian takeaways.

My band - the British Rock Ensemble - was legendary because of its consuming exploits and when even drunk an airplane dry on the flight to Tokyo, japan!

On the typical day I'd cope with a few wine bottles, a container of brandy along with a bottle of port.

I did previously drink port and brandy in pint glasses in order to save the bother of flowing out little glasses.

Although I attempted to wash up my lifestyle following the cardiac arrest, I did not quit consuming correctly until 1985 after i experienced my first hangover - incredibly, I'd didn't have one before.

It switched to be alcoholic hepatitis. Given six several weeks to reside unless of course I transformed my habits, I threw in the towel alcohol permanently.

I stored using the seafood oil pills, but there is always this worrying fear: would my career all of a sudden arrived at a halt due to my hands?

Through the years, it affected my attitude because I most likely labored more because there is this pressing sense of standing on lent time.

Then, a couple of days ago, I had been in Japan on the short solo tour.

I had been reaching the finish of Merlin, The Magician, a part of my King Arthur album. The ending is extremely fast. I must throw my entire energy and beyond in it.

Out of the blue, this intense discomfort - much like I'd been on 1980 - held my hands.

It had been agonising however i could not just stop mid-performance. Following the show, I went towards the dressing room and stepped my hands in cold water to numb them.

It had been as soon as I'd dreaded. Was the problem establishing itself again?

Although I possibly could still play, and my speed and skill remained as there, I had been in great discomfort on stage and my hands hurt after each show in Japan.

The swelling am bad you could not begin to see the bones being worn by my hands.

After I returned home, my hands remained as puffy and uncomfortable there is a monotonous pain within my finger joints. I figured it was it.

I truly did not need to see a physician - I have been afraid of these and also the realization they always appeared to provide terrible news.

But i recently finally pulled myself to determine an advisor rheumatologist, Dr Peter Merry, in the Spire Hospital, Norwich.

Then came the miracle words: 'I don't believe you've rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, but something's amiss due to there being certainly swelling there.'

Tests confirmed his doubts concerning the diagnosis I used to be succumbed 1980.

Actually, my hands in those days were probably struggling with inflammation because of playing the keyboards so quick, combined with cold winter months.

Relief flooded through me after nearly 30 years using the shadow of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms hanging over me and also the fear it might worsen as we grow older.

Dr Merry described in my experience that since i had reduced my daily hrs of playing lately, after which exposed my hands to intense playing, it had been leading to joint and tendon inflammation.

The example he used was when I went ten miles each day after which all of a sudden reduced that to 2 miles each day, but six several weeks later made the decision to operate ten miles again, my body system would unquestionably suffer. This is exactly what was happening with my hands.

With rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, your defense mechanisms attacks the liner of the joints, leading to inflammation.

Over time, they might become permanently broken and prevent working correctly. In comparison, things i had was essentially overstressed hands.

It has been another lucky break for me personally, health-smart. Frankly, given my health history, I am lucky to be alive.

And I am so happy I'm able to now keep on playing music without needing to be worried about my hands. It proves: it's worth obtaining a second opinion, even 30 years later.

• Irritated Old Superstar Along With Other Marvelous Tales by Ron Wakeman (Preface, ?17.99). To buy a duplicate at ?15.30 (p&p free), call 0845 155 0720. world wide web.spirehealthcare.com.