Health & Wellbeing Arthritis Factsheet April 2014

1. Projects, Renewables & Maintenance
Health & Wellbeing Arthritis Factsheet
April 14 A GDF SUEZ ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY
At Work Rest and Play – Do it the Healthy Way
At the beginning of the year we sent out a survey and asked our employees what health, safety and
wellbeing issues you would like to receive information on? Or did you have a subject you would like
information on? We had a very good response and surprisingly high on the list was arthritis.
Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation within a joint. In the UK, around 10
million people have arthritis. The condition affects people of all ages including children.
There are many different types of arthritis that cause a wide range of symptoms. Two of the most common
are osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. During April we will send out some factsheets on the subject,
what it is, how it’s caused, how it affects you, treatment and what you can do to help yourself.
We will start with the most common types “Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis”! for all you young fit
readers who think what’s the interest to me? Well Younger people can also be affected by arthritis, often
as a result of an injury or another joint condition you also have parents and grandparents who could be
affected so read on.
Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects the joints. It is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, and
around 1 million people see their GP about it every year. The symptoms of osteoarthritis vary greatly from
person to person, and between different affected joints.
For example, a joint may be severely damaged without causing symptoms, or symptoms may be severe
without affecting the movement of a joint.
Osteoarthritis mostly occurs in the knees, hips, spine and small joints of the hands and base of the big toe.
However, almost any joint can be affected and is commonly referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a more severe, but is a less common form of arthritis than osteoarthritis. It occurs
when the body's immune system attacks and destroys the affected joints, causing pain and swelling to
occur. This can lead to a reduction in movement and the breakdown of bone and cartilage.
In the UK, rheumatoid arthritis affects around 400,000 people, and often starts in people between the ages
of 40 and 50 years old. Women are three times more likely to be affected by the condition than men.

2. Projects, Renewables & Maintenance
Health & Wellbeing Arthritis Factsheet
April 14 A GDF SUEZ ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY
At Work Rest and Play – Do it the Healthy Way
Symptoms of arthritis
There are many different symptoms of arthritis and the symptoms you experience will vary depending on
the type of arthritis you have. However, common arthritic symptoms include:
joint pain, tenderness and stiffness
inflammation in and around the joints
restricted movement of the joints
warmth and redness of the skin over the affected joint
weakness and muscle wasting
Pain - People with arthritis can experience both acute and chronic pain.
With inflammatory types of arthritis such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, sudden ‘flare-ups’ which are felt as
sudden sharp pain in one or two joints. This can last a few days and be accompanied by redness and
swelling around the joint. Those with osteoarthritis tend to experience more chronic pain that can range
from slight stiffness in the morning to severe pain, particularly on movement.
Managing Pain - There’s no one way to manage arthritis pain. It may involve prescription or non-
prescription medicines and eventually surgery. Lifestyle will also be an important factor and physical and
other therapies can help. Here are some strategies that may be useful:
Take more exercise
Exercise releases chemicals, called endorphins, into the body. These are the ‘feel good factor’ chemicals
which will help lift your mood and give you more energy. Exercise can also be good for strengthening
muscles which help support joints and can increase mobility.
Relax and learn how to meditate
Arthritis can cause muscles to become tense and this will make them painful to move. The purpose of
relaxation is to release muscle tension throughout the body. Learning to relax properly is a skill that has to
be learned. There are many good books on relaxation and meditation techniques so check out your local
library or bookshop.
Control your breathing
Often when we are in pain we tend to tense up and breathe shallowly. This is not a good way to manage
pain. It may seem to help in the short term, but eventually it can lead to further pain. Learning to breathe
deeply and from your diaphragm will help you ‘go with the pain’ and be more in control, which lessens the
fear of pain. Pilates, Tai Chi or Alexander technique classes all show you how to regulate your breathing
and have the added benefit of mixing with others.

3. Projects, Renewables & Maintenance
Health & Wellbeing Arthritis Factsheet
April 14 A GDF SUEZ ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY
At Work Rest and Play – Do it the Healthy Way
Improve your sleep pattern
A poor sleep pattern is a common complaint from individuals with chronic pain. Lack of sleep can increase
stress levels and inflammatory hormones, which make pain worse. Strategies for improving a poor sleep
pattern include:
Practise meditation which can reduce stress levels
Try and avoid napping during the day
Develop a sleep ritual which relaxes you before bed
Avoid stimulating drinks in the evening and change your bedtime drink to a calming herbal infusion
or a warm milky drink.
Medication
It is important to discuss the options with your GP so that you fully understand what treatment they can
offer. If they prescribe a medication for you, you should not discontinue or change the dosage without
consultation with them. If you experience unacceptable side-effects then it is important that you tell your
GP immediately.
Keeping to a healthy weight
For every pound you are overweight you are adding roughly an extra 4 pounds of force though your weight
bearing joints. These are the hips, knees and ankles. Extra force can increase the damage to these joints
and cause more pain. It makes sense to keep to a healthy weight by focusing on diet and exercise.
Equally, if you are underweight your muscles may not have the strength to support your arthritic joints
adequately. It is important to maintain good muscle mass, which can be achieved through diet and
exercise.
Try to keep arthritic joints warm.
Warmth will increase the circulation which is beneficial and will help relax tight muscles decreasing the
tension held in the body.
Tips:- wear gloves in cold weather, try fingerless gloves for ease of movement try holding hands in warm
(not hot) water to ease stiff finger joints
Exceptions to this are when a joint is in ‘flare up’, in which case there is acute inflammation and cooling the
joint may ease the pain and swelling.
For much more information on arthritis go to;
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis http://www.arthritistoday.org
http://www.arthriticassociation.org.uk http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org