Hi,
Sorry you've not had any replies. I suspect it may be partly because UCTD is (I imagine) pretty rare and lots of people don't know much about it. I don't know either, but might have some useful experience.
So my DP and I haven't yet adopted, but we have been through approval panel and are currently family finding. I had long COVID last year and was very ill while going through part of stage 2. I am now mostly recovered, which was largely the case before panel. My DP also has a physical disability which doesn't affect day to day life, but does cause limitations. For example, my DP can't run or do extensive walking (as in for more than an hour without a rest), and would struggle to climb stairs carrying a screaming child. Also there is the remote possibility for my DP's disability to flare up for a few days so they would need a wheelchair (however this hasn't happened in 10+ years).
Also, something that may be relevant, I had acute COVID right at the end of stage 1, and was still not diagnosed with long COVID at the beginning of stage 2.
I would advise speaking to your social worker about it soon, because it will affect your assessment. So my partner and I both had to think about how our respective conditions would affect our ability to parent. So for example if my DP's condition flares up ultimately I may have to take a few days off work, which had never occured to me before. Or if I hadn't recovered having rest built in for me would have been necessary, especially in a busy day (doable with 2 of us, but likely not on my own). So thinking about worst case scenario.
So in your case I might be thinking about what causes the joint pain, is it worse after a busy day, for example? And if so, will that limit what you're able to do? The other thing is, is this condition likely to worsen in time? Obviously adoption is a very long term commitment, how will you be in 10 years?
Your social worker will help you explore all this as well, and think of solutions to things. So don't feel you need all the answers right away!
My long COVID caused some delays to being approved, for a couple of reasons. I had to come to terms emotionally with what was happening to me, so that delayed things somewhat. Also they needed me to have a second medical before panel. Both of these might be something that delays things for you too. But ultimately we have been approved.
I hope this helps. I've said a lot, but if you think I can help more feel free to ask anything.
Also I should have said I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis.