Arthritis sufferers need not suffer in pain alone

As president of Arthritis Care, may I draw your readers attention to our awareness week (20-26th April)? I m extremely proud of the work that we do in supporting some of the 9 million people in the UK who have this complex and often devastating disease,

As president of Arthritis Care, may I draw your readers' attention to our awareness week (20-26th April)?

I'm extremely proud of the work that we do in supporting some of the 9 million people in the UK who have this complex and often devastating disease, which all too often is ignored as just 'one of those things' or an inevitable part of growing old.

In fact the suffering it causes affects people of all ages, and can be very distressing indeed, which is why our message this week is a simple but vital one: if you have arthritis you don't need to struggle alone with the pain. There's plenty of support out there to help you take control of your pain and your life - more than ever before.

For example, your GP or pharmacist might be able to help with new medications and treatments or a referral to a physiotherapist or pain specialist. There are also training courses run by charities such as Arthritis Care that can help you understand your condition and put together easy step-by-step plans to take control of it, plus plenty of information.

Getting a free 'Pain Pack' from Arthritis Care is a good starting point. Just go to www.arthritiscare.org.uk or call the Arthritis Care Helpline on 0808 800 4050 to find out more.

Arthritis affects every family - as I know from personal experience - so if your readers or one of their loved-ones has arthritis, I'd urge them to explore the information and support available. Please don't suffer on your own!

Jane Asher

Arthritis Care President

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