An Arthritis sufferer whose life was transformed after trying three different medical treatments spoke of his anger last night at new guidelines which could deny other Northern Ireland patients the same choice in future.

Shane McCaffrey, a world martial arts champion, has suffered from crippling rheumatoid arthritis since the age of nine and was once so ravaged by the condition he had to have six toes amputated.

The father-of-one said he was left like an “old man”, unable to play with his young son, until his doctor suggested treatment with Remicade, one of a trio of highly effective drugs called anti-TNF drugs.

The drug transformed Shane’s severe symptoms until it suddenly lost effect five years later. The 36-year-old was then put on another of the anti-TNF drugs, Enbrel, followed by the third, Humira, last year when Enbrel did not work as well as hoped.

Mr McCaffrey spoke of his disgust over new draft guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) which ruled that patients will not able able to try a second anti-TNF if their first attempt fails. The medicines body, which rules whether treatments are cost effective, does not have power over Northern Ireland but it does have a formal link with our Department of Health which largely accepts its guidance.

Mr McCaffrey said he was a “prime example” of the need for patients to see which treatment suits best.

“Remicade completely transformed my life, I was living with relatively no pain. When it began to lose effect, I was absolutely devastated. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

“I felt unbelievable pain that I hadn’t experienced in a very long time. I was literally a broken man,” he said.

The kung fu champion ended up in hospital, after which doctors changed his treatment to Enbrel.

“Enbrel worked to some extent but wasn’t as good as the Remicade had been. In April last year, the treatment was changed to Humira which has been been absolutely phenomenal.”

The Antrim man said he would have been “extremely angry” if he’d been denied the drug.

“I simply can’t believe a decision like this would be made,” he said.

Steve McBride of Arthritis Care NI said he was concerned by the ruling. “No-one knows why one anti-TNF drug might work for one patient and not another. The important thing, however, is that they are given the option to find the best one for them.”

Nice is to issue final guidance on the drug in September.