Arthritis
Background
There are more than 200 types of arthritis and rheumatic disease. Arthritis is a
common condition that affects an estimated 8 million people in the UK. Arthritis is
thought to be one of the most common "musculoskeletal" causes of time off work in both
men and women.
'Arthritis' is a term used to cover a very wide range of conditions, which may involve
one joint, many joints, the spine or any combination of these. The most common symptoms of
arthritis are pain, stiffness and tiredness, all of which can vary either
throughout the day or over months. Only a small proportion of sufferers have such severe
disability that they are forced to stop work altogether but any form of arthritis can still
make managing home and work life a challenge and therefore deserves some very careful consideration.
Some Considerations
You and/or your employer may be anxious about your performance at work. The following
questions may therefore be important to consider:
- Do you find you have to allow yourself extra time to do some tasks?
- Are there aspects of your job that make your arthritis worse?
- Do you find you don't have the stamina to work like you used to?
- Are there some parts of your job you find more difficult or can't manage any longer?
If you have answered "yes" to some or all of these questions you may benefit from some advice or
extra support at work. It is often best to seek advice sooner rather than later as often a workplace
assessment will help you to carry out tasks more easily and more comfortably. A workplace assessment
can be arranged through your Health & Safety adviser, DSE Assessor, Ergonomist/Physiotherapist or
Occupational Health Specialist
Some Useful Links