Arthritis steals from someone you know every day. It can prevent you being able to work - to be yourself. It shouldn’t have to be like this. Watch the first of our new ads and declare yourself
#VersusArthritis
:
"You don't hear about arthritis - that's the problem." So often arthritis isn’t talked about but it’s now time to stop it being ignored. Join Jenny and
@leegogglebox
by speaking up and showing you are
#VersusArthritis
too:
Today, we tell the world that it’s not just aches and pains.
Today, we raise awareness.
Today, we
#sendstrength
to everyone affected by arthritis.
This
#WorldArthritisDay
leave a message of strength and support for others & retweet to remind our community that no one is alone ❤️.
Whether you’re waiting for surgery, feeling isolated or need support, this
#WorldArthritisDay
we're sharing a reminder that there's a whole community right here behind you. Share our video and leave your message to others. And if you’re having a tough day, we hope this helps. ❤️
"You don't perceive arthritis to be as bad as that." Arthritis is stealing from someone you know every day. It shouldn’t be like this.
@DaveandShirley
@C4gogglebox
are speaking up about arthritis. Will you join the conversation too?
#VersusArthritis
Did you know
@C4Gogglebox
’s Jenny is one of the 10 million people with arthritis in the UK? No one should stand alone and we're here to help you find the answers and support you may need. Ask us a question or head to our website to find out more:
It takes strength to live well with arthritis, and many of you know how it feels when it is dismissed as ‘just aches and pains’. What sentence would you add to this image?
#SendStrength
It was a privilege to honour some of our women in research at a reception hosted by our Patron, The Duchess of Cornwall
@ClarenceHouse
. Read more about this group of fantastic women whose work we’re funding. Their research is helping us to transform lives
Did you catch the reaction to our new ads on
@C4Gogglebox
just now? Check it out below and head over to to join them in declaring yourself
#VersusArthritis
🖐
Tomorrow (28/10) our teams will be taking a recuperation day. This will be a full shutdown of our offices to allow everyone an opportunity to rest, recuperate and recharge and to say thanks for their dedication and hard work over this difficult year. Thank you for your support.
#Arthritis
makes the simplest of movements exhausting & excruciating - yet society dismisses it. So today we launch
#PainNoFilter
over on Instagram. Share your reality so others realise what it’s like to live silently in
#pain
. Check it out & get involved:
Today marks the start of
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
. People with arthritis live with pain every day and this can have a huge effect on a person's mental health. Here, Anoushka discusses the emotional and mental stress that comes from living with pain
"Because arthritis is an invisible disease, on the outside I do not look like I’m suffering - I look like every other normal, healthy and fit 19 year old girl." Jasmine, 19. This time of year can be hard. Check in with each other and take care 🖤
We have great news!
@PHE_uk
has just announced that musculoskeletal conditions will be one of its new priorities. Find out why we believe this will help people with
#arthritis
Today, we made sure that people with
#arthritis
were heard at the heart of Westminster.
We handed our open letter to
@10DowningStreet
with our incredible supporters and campaigners.
We want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who made today possible.
#MyPainDemands
action.
All of us
#VersusArthritis
. It’s not ‘just a bit of arthritis’, it’s not hopeless and it can and does affect every one of us. We’ve done so much as Arthritis Research UK and Arthritis Care and this is our new chapter:
Lockdown has made living with arthritis harder. The pain of waiting for joint replacement surgery is impossible to ignore. We need a national plan to restart treatment and bring down waiting lists safely.
Please sign our petition today:
#MyPainDemands
Invisible illnesses come in many different forms and we shouldn’t be challenged to prove them. We love this
@guardian
opinion piece about the challenges of living with a hidden condition and why there needs to be more awareness. Have you experienced this?
Caroline Wozniaki has spoken about being diagnosed with arthritis, at 28. What’s commonly perceived as something you get in later life, actually affects 2.7m people under 35. We’re grateful to Caroline for showing people with arthritis they are not alone.
📢Today we launch COVA, the
#COVID19uk
virtual assistant, to give much needed extra support to people with arthritis & musculoskeletal conditions during this time. With such high demand on services, we're proud to offer a new way to get vital information:
Today is
#WorldArthritisDay
- did you know it affects 10 million people in the UK? We're here, not just today but every day, if you're looking for information and support to make living with your condition easier:
Arthritis steals 5 yrs of quality life from the average person living with it. Yet they don’t feel they can show pain or ask for help. That’s not ok.We're calling for urgent change to help people with arthritis live better.Declare yourself
#VersusArthritis
Today Versus Arthritis is taking a recuperation day in recognition of the challenging circumstances in which our teams have been working in while still delivering vital services for people with arthritis since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis.
People with arthritis often tell us they don't think society understands what it's like to live with the condition. We want to change that. That's why tomorrow we're re-launching our TV ad, highlighting how arthritis affects us all:
#NationsJointProblem
Arthritis can steal your independence & ability to be intimate with the one you love. Keep an eye out for our third TV advert which airs over the coming weeks and join the thousands of people mounting an opposition by declaring yourself
#VersusArthritis
:
Millions live in chronic pain, but it's still rarely represented on screen, leading many to feel misunderstood. That’s not ok.
We have developed the first-ever guide to representing chronic pain on screen. Read more:
#ThePainfulTruth
Watching tonight's
#BBCHorizon
about opioids? We need to transform the way we approach persistent pain in the UK. People need better access to non-drug therapies and professionals need greater levels of training and support. This is why we invest in pain research.
“They don’t understand why I don’t just drink a Red Bull and get on with it. It’s hard to explain to someone who doesn’t live with an autoimmune disease that your body feels like a bag of bricks that can’t move right now.”
Great piece from
@YahooNews
You may be hearing a lot about shielding in the news and we're expecting an announcement later today. We’ll be reviewing this information, and what it means for people with arthritis who are shielding across the UK, as soon as we can and will update you.
‘Arthritis isn’t just for old people’. Six young people shared their experiences of living with the condition here earlier this year. If you’re a young person living with arthritis, you’re not alone. We’re here to help if you’re looking for support.
Great to see Dr Chris talking about arthritis on
@thismorning
and debunking the myth that it is an older person’s disease. If you or a loved one is living with arthritis and would like advice and support, please visit
It's not yet known what triggers rheumatoid arthritis, but this autoimmune disease can affect both adults and children and produce crippling effects which require treatment long-term powerful drugs.
TV actress Claire Foy has spoken about the challenges of being diagnosed with arthritis aged 12. And how this led to her struggles with anxiety. If you’re struggling to cope with the pain of your arthritis, you can call our helpline on 0800 5200 520.
We urgently need to transform the way we approach pain. This means ensuring people have access to timely and effective treatments, including non-drug options. It’s time to stop overlooking people in pain and make pain a priority in research and healthcare - now.
This
#WorldArthritisDay
(Oct 12), we want to
#SendStrength
to everyone living with arthritis. We’d love for you to share a message of support & strength on social media that day. And if you're not having the best day, we hope you'll be reminded there is a community behind you ❤️.
#ThePainfulTruth
is that TV and films are failing to portray the experiences of people in chronic pain, meaning people with arthritis and related conditions are unseen, unheard. We want the industry to better represent chronic pain. Learn how you can help:
Today we're joining a group of charities to ask the government for clear, consistent advice and support for those who are
#shielding
and vulnerable as
#lockdown
measures ease. Millions could be at risk. Read our joint open letter:
Did you know 11.8m people in the UK under 65 have arthritis? Thanks to people like
@PaddyMcGuinness
sharing their stories, we can debunk the common myth that arthritis only affects people as they get older. If anyone is looking for support, we’re here.
Earlier this month, we launched our first campaign to challenge perceptions of arthritis and reveal the reality. We’ve been overwhelmed by the amazing conversations and personal stories you've shared. Together, we’ll make a difference:
#VersusArthritis
@TVpsychologist
@EamonnHolmes
Thank you all for sharing and speaking out about the impact of chronic pain. If anyone is reading this and needs any support or advice, please do get in touch: We're here.
It takes strength to live well with arthritis - especially when society dismisses it as 'just aches and pains'. It shouldn't be like this. Take action now as we
#SendStrength
this October with our latest campaign:
Did you know we joined forces with
@arthritis_care
last year? We’ve got some big news and some big plans coming soon and we can’t wait to share this with you. Together we can defy arthritis. Keep your eyes peeled for an announcement very soon 👀
Chloe was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in her 20s and felt she lost her freedom. Now 34, she says it’s taken her time to come to terms with her condition and feel positive about the future. Chloe shares her journey and offers some great advice for others 👇
Being in pain every day can have a huge effect, and can lead to feelings of anxiety and isolation
January can also be difficult. Short days, returning to work & cold weather can all make it easier to feel isolated.
Read our tips for avoiding isolation:
Great to see our Arthritis Champion Toby Perkins MP
@tobyperkinsmp
leading a debate in Parliament today on fibromyalgia, which may affect up to one in every 25 people. Find out more about the condition and how to manage your symptoms on our website:
Arthritis can steal your independence and the ability to be intimate with the one you love. It shouldn’t be like this. Watch the third in our series of adverts and join the thousands of people mounting an opposition by declaring yourself
#VersusArthritis
:
It can be hard to explain the impact pain, fatigue and stiffness have on your everyday life. If you want to talk to someone, or have questions about condition, ask us here or in a DM and our helpline will get back to you. You can also call them free on 0800 5200 520
#TimeToTalk
"It's hard to describe the level of pain that this disease brings." Hollywood star Kathleen Turner opens up about living with rheumatoid arthritis for nearly 30 years:
We've been overwhelmed by the response to our new campaign tonight. Thank you for sharing your stories and lending your support. This is just the beginning...
#VersusArthritis
We’re excited to announce three new ads airing from tonight that will change the conversation about arthritis. Most people don't see the reality of arthritis so let's all make it visible. Look out for them on TV tonight, get ready to share & declare yourself
#VersusArthritis
.
We will not be abandoned.
Thanks to you, we're handing our open letter to government today. We called for:
- waiting times for joint replacement surgery to be addressed.
- plans for support during the cost of living crisis.
People with
#arthritis
won't be left behind.
Arthritis can really impact on someone's worklife, even if you can't see it 👀 Some sick days could be avoided if people didn’t have to hide their health. Flexible working, time off for appointments & supportive management can truly help
#NationalSickieDay
"I get reactions like ‘isn’t that what old people have?’ or ‘you’re far too young to have that’." Thanks so much to Kaytie for sharing her powerful
#PainNoFilter
story with
@MetroUK
. Can you relate?
For the first time, we are able to study rheumatoid arthritis at its earliest stages, thanks to research we’re doing with
@CR_UK
to understand the roots of the autoimmune disease
On Friday, the government in England stated that they plan to tackle ‘sicknote culture’. Our response: the government need to tackle waiting times for treatment for people living with the devastating impact of chronic pain. Read more:
@bbchealth
We’re sorry to hear that tennis star Andy Murray will be retiring due to ongoing pain in his right hip. Has joint pain stopped you from working or doing the things you love? You can contact our helpline for advice and support on 0800 5200 520.
We're thrilled to be at the
@ThirdSector
Awards tonight 🎉🎉 We've been shortlisted for our 'Defy Arthritis' campaign in the Communications Campaign of the Year category. What an honour to be nominated with such a brilliant group of nominees!
#TSAwards
Its unacceptable that people like Martine are living in excruciating pain yet unable to get the support they need. Arthritis is one of the most common reasons people seek social care support. The system is in crisis. Government must act now & publish the Green Paper
#CrisisInCare
“You just keep going for the things you love really.”
Martine is a mum of triplets and is immobile.
She has juvenile idiopathic arthritis which means she needs round the clock care.
As well as holding down a job and looking after their children, her husband is also her carer.
Over 3000 people have now declared themselves
#VersusArthritis
– have you? Our opposition is getting louder and the conversation must continue. Keep an eye on
@Channel4
tonight and you'll see some familiar faces speaking up about arthritis and adding their voice too 🖐️
There is a real need for new effective painkillers with less side effects. Researchers
@OACentreOxford
have now got one step closer. They’ve created a vaccine, blocking a protein called NGF, that shows great promise as a way to stop persistent pain
Dear Prime Minister,
We are waiting for treatment. We are waiting for support.
The cost of living crisis means that we face an anxious, cold and painful winter.
We can’t wait anymore. We need action.
#WorldArthritisDay
We’re pleased the
#NHSLongTermPlan
acknowledges the growing number of people living with arthritis and how effective NHS services can help. There are 3 key areas in the plan which we hope will make a big difference. Read more here:
It is with great sadness that we mark the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II. We celebrate her dedication and work in support of good causes throughout her extraordinary life and send our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and all at Clarence House.
How are you feeling today?
You never know what someone is going through. Arthritis and related conditions can't always be seen; not every condition is visible.
We're here to help if you need support or advice:
Arthritis can take away the freedom to spend time together with your friends, your partner, your family. It can take away your independence. It shouldn't be like this. Watch the next in our series of new ads and declare yourself
#VersusArthritis
:
Love it or hate it but it looks like we might be in store for more snow next week. ❄️❄️❄️Have the recent cold spells been affecting your arthritis? If you have been struggling to stay warm, you might find these tips useful:
Many people with arthritis report that their symptoms get worse when the weather is cold and damp. Here are our top tips for staying warm this winter and reducing your symptoms:
This
#InternationalNursesDay
we want to thank nurses for the work they do to keep us safe. We also want to celebrate the work of rheumatology nurse specialists who look after the physical, emotional and social needs of those with arthritis. From us to you, thank you.
How much do you know about psoriatic arthritis? Five people talk to us about their condition, how it impacts their lives and how they manage the everyday. Learn more about it here:
#TalkPsA
Arthritis affects people of all ages. Here, six young people describe their experiences and offer advice:
If you've got a question, ask us here on social media or call our free helpline on 0800 5200 520. We're open from 9am - 8pm Monday to Friday.
Arthritis is stealing from someone you know or love every day, impacting every aspect of life. We need your help to make arthritis visible. Let’s show people with arthritis how many people stand with them. Declare yourself
#VersusArthritis
here:
"People are desperate. We can't underestimate the impact of the pain somebody has when they have arthritis." Zoe Chivers, Director of Services and Influencing, on
@BBCbreakfast
discussing the effect of the NHS backlog on people waiting for joint surgery:
Have you lived with pain for more than three months? We’re working with
@BBCNews
to highlight the impact of chronic pain. If you’re living with chronic pain please take a few minutes to complete this anonymous online survey to share your experiences:
We're pleased the
#NHSLongTermPlan
includes issues that affect people with arthritis such as mental health. Arthritis is a major public health issue affecting 1 in 6 of us as well as health services. Watch this space for our analysis of what it means for people with arthritis.
Good luck to all our runners taking on the
#LondonMarathon
today to push back against arthritis. Our cheer points are ready cheer you on! Stay tuned for marathon photos & updates throughout the day.
#ThanksaBillion
#VersusArthritis
"I'll say 'yes I'll come out with you', but sometimes I worry if I can do it. And that can cause quite a lot of anxiety." Debbie, who has lived with arthritis since she was 2, spoke to
@ITVWales
about how arthritis affects getting out and seeing friends:
We want to say thank you to all of our NHS staff and those on the frontline who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe during this time. So tonight we are going to
#ClapForOurCarers
- you're all amazing.
Did you know that we uncovered the importance of anti-TNF treatment, which has helped thousands living with RA? This week, a Nobel Prize was awarded to the scientists who created the technology that enabled this groundbreaking treatment.
Tomorrow, we take your voices to
@10DowningStreet
.
Over 28,000 of you signed our open letter, telling the Prime Minister not to abandon people with
#arthritis
. We heard you, and we want to make sure the government hears you. Stay tuned for more...
#MyPainDemands
to be heard.
We’re looking at the type of language that’s used to describe pain and arthritis. We’d be interested to hear:
🙂 The descriptions you find most helpful
🙁 What phrases you think should be avoided.
Feel free to comment below or send us a direct message with your thoughts.
Christmas is about spending time with family and friends. And we know that for many, the pain and fatigue they experience not only affects them, but their loved ones too