Living with arthritis

Getting around

If arthritis means you have increasing difficulty using public transport, or driving a car, there are many ways of maintaining your mobility.

Some local authorities run transport schemes to help disabled people get around. Contact your local authority or local DIAL (DIAL UK helpline: 01302 310123) for details. Similar schemes are sometimes run by voluntary or commercial organisations. Contact your Citizens Advice Bureau or DIAL for details

Some driving instructors are trained to teach people with disabilities to drive. The organisation Motability may be able to help with some of the costs of driving lessons and obtaining a properly adapted car if you're eligible. You must advise both the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and your insurance company if your arthritis affects your ability to drive in any way.

Coping at home

Arthritis can mean that previously simple tasks become difficult. But there's help and equipment available. You can contact the home care organiser at your local Social Services Department (in the phone book under the name of your local authority) to find out what's available.

Social services departments can also provide occupational therapists to assess your needs at home and help you decide how best to meet them. A wide range of devices are available to help you to turn taps on and off, open tins, bottles and jars, cut vegetables, pour tea, pick things up off the floor, write, bathe, dress, garden, brush your hair - and much more. Here are some of the people who can help you find what you need for your tasks:

• Disabled Living Centres - for details of the centre closest to you, contact the Disabled Living Centres Council.
• DIAL UK's helpline (01302 310123) may be able to tell you about local organisations that loan or sell equipment.
• Some equipment might be available free or for a small charge from your local hospital or social services department. Contact the occupational therapy department.
• You'll find plenty of local commercial suppliers listed in your local Yellow Pages listed under 'Disabled'.
• Many of the organisations listed in Useful contacts can provide information and advice on equipment.

Stress and depression

People with arthritis can feel disheartened, angry, frustrated, lonely and depressed. You may have worries about whether you'll become disabled and dependent, or about the pressures you're causing for families and friends.

It can be demoralising to be told to be positive. It isn't that simple. But people do come to terms with their condition, and find things to be very positive about.

Talking about feelings and fears can help relieve anxiety. But you need to talk to someone who can understand the way you feel. That might be a friend or family member, your GP or physiotherapist, or someone else with arthritis.

If you don't want to talk to anyone close to you, or you've been depressed for a long time, you may find it useful to talk to someone whose job it is to listen. Your family doctor, social worker or Citizens Advice Bureau (in your phone book) may be able to tell you about local counselling services.

Arthritis can present special problems for young people. Worries about future job prospects, family, relationships and disability can be especially intense. It's not unusual to react angrily to being different and even to refuse to follow the treatment doctors prescribe. Young Arthritis Care runs support groups where young people and their families can discuss feelings and problems.

It's worth talking to your family doctor about how you feel - they may have other options to help you.

Work and arthritis

If your arthritis causes difficulties at work, you may be able to overcome them by adjusting your working patterns or using special equipment. Your employer should be happy to discuss such changes with you, to help you continue working.

If you're dismissed because of your health after two years of continuous service, you can challenge the dismissal at an industrial tribunal.

The Government's Employment Service has an Access to Work scheme that can help you get a support worker, equipment or alterations to your place of work. It can also help with work-related expenses, such as car adaptations or taxi fares. You can find out more from the Disability Employment Advisors who are part of the Employment Services' Disability Service Teams. You'll find these listed under Employment Service in your local phone book.

Sex and arthritis

Like everyone else, people with arthritis can encounter problems in their sex lives. These can often be connected with the physical and psychological symptoms of arthritis. Talking to your partner is a vital first step. But if the problems continue, your family doctor may be able to help, or refer you to other people who can, such as a trained sex therapist.

Alternatively, you could contact your local Family Planning Association or a marriage guidance counsellor (in the phone book under Marriage Guidance).

Coping as a carer

Those who live with or look after someone with arthritis have to get the right balance between being supportive and over-protective. It's easier to judge what to do if you try and learn as much as possible about the condition, and communicate well with the person who has arthritis. Having a child with arthritis poses special problems and can put enormous pressures on parents.

All carers need to make sure that they look after themselves, and if you spend a lot of time looking after someone with arthritis, you may be entitled to support from your local Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland, Health and Social Services Trust (or Board) in Northern Ireland). The Carers National Association and other arthritis organisations can also provide advice and support.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in July 2008.
First published in October 1999.