Ulrika Jonsson reveals ‘debilitating’ arthritis leaves her struggling to get out of chairs and impacts her love life: ‘It’s not the sexiest condition to have’

Ulrika Jonsson has opened up about her battle with arthritis and the agony it often leaves her in, as well as the impact it has had on her love life. 

The presenter, 54, revealed that she is open about having arthritis in her hips when she goes on dates, but admits it is not the ‘sexiest’ topic to broach with a potential lover, especially as it even affects her ability to get out of chairs.

She explained: ‘I make a joke about it because I think that’s the best way of introducing it but it’s certainly not something I would bring to the table on a first date – unless I turn it into something of a joke, it’s not really what you want to put on your profile.’

Ulrika added: ‘I’m on a bit of a mission to erase the image that we associate arthritis with older people – I am going to be 55 this year – but I’m not dead yet.

‘When you’re younger you associate arthritis with older people but you can get it at any age. There are plenty of young people with arthritis, probably not the sexiest condition to have.’

Explaining the effect it has on her, Ulrika, who is currently single, told that it can be hard to sleep next to a partner when you are awake or in pain. 

She explained: ‘It’s really painful for me,’ adding that she has to have a ‘pillow between my knees otherwise it would cause agony to my hips if I don’t.’

The TV star revealed she had ‘learned to accept’ the condition and work with it, not against it in her daily life. 

She says people think she is joking when she struggles to get out of a chair and says it is due to arthritis as she is younger than the age people commonly associate it with, adding: ‘It’s actually real and happening. It’s a huge part of what I am.’

Ulrika says she has had arthritis since childhood and has had to get used to living with the daily pain, which sometimes keeps her up at night. 

She revealed: ‘It’s really debilitating, I take great pride on being an energetic and lively person and the whole idea of broken sleep, the rest of the day you feel miserable.’

The mother-of-four takes pilates classes to try and counter the effects and to improve her posture and mobility but admits she worries she may have to have a hip replacement in the future due to the degenerative condition.