Rosie Buckley

Navigating the Relationship with a Chronic Illness, this World Arthritis Day

If you know someone who’s living with arthritis, it’s easy to forget or be unaware of the wide range of daily challenges they have to face. For World Arthritis Day this year, it’s important to raise awareness and ensure people with arthritis know there’s support out there available for them.

What is Chronic Illness and Arthritis?

Chronic illnesses are long-term physical health conditions and generally cannot be cured. Chronic illnesses are usually managed and controlled through the use of medications, treatments and lifestyle changes. Some examples of chronic illnesses include heart disease, stroke, asthma, type 2 diabetes, and arthritis.

Approximately 10 million people in the UK are living with arthritis. Arthritis affects individuals of all ages, causing inflammation and pain in one or more joints. October 12th is World Arthritis Day, which aims to raise global awareness about arthritis and other rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (also known as RMDs). This year’s theme is centred around the power of dreams, which encourages people living with arthritis and RMDs to share their goals and dreams. Sharing stories and hopes for the future is inspiring and can help others who have similar conditions.

What Unique Challenges Do People With Arthritis Experience?

Many people with arthritis experience chronic pain (pain that persists for longer than three months). This, along with muscle stiffness, can make it difficult to carry out daily tasks, such as household chores, work, and personal care, like getting dressed and showering. People with arthritis also face a number of other physical challenges, such as fatigue, inflammation and flares. In some cases, arthritis can have a negative effect on people’s mental health, causing them to experience uncomfortable feelings like hopelessness, anxiety, or depression. Dealing with misconceptions can also be frustrating, and poor mental well-being can sometimes lead to social isolation. Raising awareness is key to challenging misconceptions and ensuring people with arthritis feel supported.

Important Things to Remember

• Celebrate small wins: Living with arthritis can be very challenging and significantly impact everyday life, but celebrating the small victories can help maintain a positive mindset. Getting out of bed on a difficult day, taking a short walk, or making progress toward a goal are examples of small wins that make a big difference.

• Stay connected and meet others: There are many groups available where you can connect with others who share your experience of living with arthritis. Meeting someone in a similar situation to you can provide validation and reduce feelings of loneliness.

Final Thoughts

This World Arthritis Day, look out for events, share your story, raise awareness on social media, and consider donating money to charity.

Our national charity, Inflammatory Arthritis UK, is run by volunteers living with inflammatory arthritis. We aim to inspire resilience and empower lives for anyone of any age living with inflammatory arthritis. We provide a supportive community, resources, and guidance to help people take control of their lives and navigate uncertain times with resilience and confidence. Check out our website to find out more about what we do.