Arthritis
Over 9 million people in the UK have some form of arthritis. Although most common in older people, it can affect individuals of all ages – including children. Arthritis sufferers experience a range of symptoms including stiffness, pain and mobility problems, but given the right support can lead a good quality of life.
Your GP or other health professionals, like physiotherapists and occupational therapists, can advise you the best course of treatment, however if you'd like more information you'll find it here.
Information and advice on the phone
Arthritis Care 0808 800 4050
free, 10am–4pm
Arthritis Care also run The Source for people under 26: 0808 808 2000
Email: TheSource@Arthritiscare.org.uk
Arthritis Care is the largest voluntary organisation dealing with arthritis in the UK with branches across Scotland. The site is packed with information including working and parenting when you have arthritis. It also has information for carers.
Address: Helplines team, Arthritis Care, 18 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD
Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC) 0870 850 5000
Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm
ARC can help you with your arthritis questions. The website that accompanies the helpline contains over 90 regularly updated booklets including: Drug information; Other treatments (including surgery and complimentary therapies); Living with arthritis (diet, exercise, home life, sex) and information for children and teenagers; If you sign up to ARC you can also order printed versions free of charge. You’ll also find resources in other languages on the same page.
Elsewhere on My Health:
Online information and advice
Below you'll find links to some of the best advice available locally, on the Internet or at the end of the phone. Click on each heading to be taken straight to that section.
- General Information about arthritis
- Information on particular types of arthritis
- Arthritis in children and young people
General arthritis information
These sites offer excellent all-round information on arthritis, from its different forms, to treatment, pain management and living your life.
The Arthritic Association
Promotes the relief from arthritis by natural methods. In the home treatment section you’ll find books and articles you’re able to read online. Take a look at the tasty food ideas in the recipes for arthritis section.
Arthritis Foundation
This charitable US organisation produces the Arthritis Today magazine which has articles on ways to improve your everday life, from motivating yourself to exercise to making the grocery shopping less of a pain. There’s also an indepth guide to medication.
Arthritis Society
This site is packed with information on a variety of arthritis topics. The “ask an expert” feature, lets you e-mail your questions to a qualified doctor. It also has some good information on exercising, including some exercises you can do while you’re at work.
BBC Health: Arthritis
Takes you step by step through your treatment, at the end you’ll know what expect, the different types of specialist you may meet along the way.
Health Talk online
This site lets you to read, watch or listen to other people’s personal experiences of health and illness. They have a sections on both Chronic Pain and Rheumatoid Arthritis
NHS24
Looks at symptoms; diagnosis; treatment; complications and prevention
Information on particular types of arthritis
The British Sjögren's Syndrome Association (BSSA)
A registered charity that aims to educate people about Sjogren's Syndrome; Raise awareness surrounding its existence and symptoms; Support research into its cause and treatment.
National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS)
Includes a guidebook for patients on ASS, which can you request free of charge or download from the site.
Psoriatic Athropathy Alliance
Psoriatic arthritis is a form of joint inflammation affecting individuals with the skin disorder psoriasis.
Rheumatoid
A national charity focussing specifically on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), offering useful information and encourgaing those with RA to come together to raise awareness and improve access to better services.
Arthritis in children and young people
About Kids Health
This site has an interactive section aimed at helping children aged 8 years and over cope with pain
Arthritis Care
Includes a section specifically for young people with arthritis There you’ll find information on relationships, body image and sport as well as links to The Source – a confidental phone line and No limits – AC’s magazine for young people.
The Cincinnati Childrens Hospital
A good overview of the types of arthritis affecting children
Childrens Chronic Arthritis Association
An organisation devoted to helping children and their parents deal with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Choices for families of kids with arthritis
An independent registered charity that aims to equip families of kids with arthritis with research based information about how to live with arthritis. They offer an excellent range of online factsheets.
Contact a Family
For families with disabled children. The “making contact” area of the site allows you to contact people in a similar situation to you. A small joining fee is asked (at last check this was £5 per year).
