When Afna Shanavas first complained of pain at 16, doctors suspected stress. It would take another 10 years for her to discover she had arthritis. Writing during school exams became increasingly painful, and she was constantly exhausted. But despite visits to specialists, her symptoms were repeatedly treated with painkillers and she was asked to rest. “I knew I was in pain, but people did not believe me,” Ms Shanavas, now 26, said.