For Liz Thomas and tens of thousands of people like her, regular injections of the latest drugs are the only way to find some relief from the constant pain of rheumatoid arthritis.

The disease was diagnosed in the 48-year-old former actress and single mother in 2001, and she had to give up work.

“The first sign of any trouble was toothache, and a terrible pain in my right jaw,” she said. “It took almost a year of shuttling back and forth between my doctor and dentist before it was finally diagnosed. The disease was very aggressive and none of the drugs were working. I went from being an active mother . . . to someone who could not walk.”

Ms Thomas, from Victoria, Central London, had a hip replacement in 2003 and subsequently endured more than 15 operations as her condition deteriorated. That year she became one of the first patients in Britain to be given Rituximab, during trials of the drug at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

“I went into hospital for an infusion that lasted five hours, and I had to also take steroids. The combination left me feeling a lot better and more energetic for months afterwards.”

The side-effects of the drug, which weakens the immune system, and complications due to allergies mean that she is now taking an alternative treatment. But she says that the benefits outweigh the risks.

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