Married At First Sight UK's Jay Howard has opened up about her "nightmare" health issue, which left her unable to feed herself.
The star, who made history as the show's first disabled cast member, suffered with severe cramping in her right arm seven years ago. After fearing it was multiple sclerosis (MS), Jay had an MRI scan to determine the cause.
"It was a big thing, it went on for over 12 months. I was in and out of work… it was a horrible time for me," she recalled to the Mirror. "[The doctors] kept coming back saying 'this is fine and that's fine', and I was like, 'well, it isn't because I can't move it. I can't even lift a brew up without dropping the cup.'
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"It took ages, I kept having to go to A&E. My mum had to take me all the time. My mum was really upset, [it was a] really dark time for her because my doctor basically put it into her head that I might have MS, so I needed an MRI."
She continued: "That made me think, 'oh god, if it is, then what are we going to do?', because my mum was like 'I'm going to have to take care of you [24-hours-a-day]'. It was bad, but it came out that it wasn't. So, I'm alright."
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Jay was later informed that she was suffering from repetitive strain injury (RSI) which can be caused by repeating the same movements over and over again. As Jay was born without part of her left arm, the injury to her right arm made everyday tasks extremely difficult.
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"I had a right nightmare with it because I kept getting repetitive strain. And my hand went completely for like three months and my mum was having to dress me and everything, feed me and all that kind of stuff," she recalled.
After numerous hospital visits and procedures, the star found a surprising solution that helped ease her pain. She began using a one-handed keyboard, specifically designed for people with one hand, like herself.
"All turned out it was because I was straining my fingers by using normal keyboards," Jay said. "We got one, I've not had a problem since. It's been brilliant and it's actually changed my life, I've not had to go to any more hospital appointments, I've not had it ceasing up, it's not been cramping."
Married at First Sight UK airs on E4 in the UK. Married at First Sight Australia airs on Nine Network in Australia and E4 in the UK.
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Divya is a freelance writer with experience in entertainment and lifestyle news. Described as a "telly addict" since childhood, Divya was able to translate her interests into a BJTC-accredited, Honours degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a Freelance News Reporter. She has also written for various publications including Metro, Asian World News and TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her TV, film and showbiz knowledge, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soaps to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for tailored recommendations and up to date information.
