New Redditch support group for people with rheumatoid arthritis (From Redditch Advertiser)

New Redditch support group for people with rheumatoid arthritis

8:40am Friday 22nd February 2013 in News

A NEW support group for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is being set up in Redditch, with the first meeting being held on Thursday, March 21.

More than 800 Redditch people are estimated to have RA, and many more are affected by it. This new support group, hosted by the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), will provide an opportunity for all these people to discuss care and support available.

The meeting will be held in Committee Room 3 at Redditch Town Hall, from 6.45pm.

In a recent survey by NRAS, 94 per cent of people with RA said they felt frustrated by their disease, 80 per cent felt anxious and 51 per cent reported feelings of loneliness.

NRAS support groups help change that by bringing people together, letting them know they’re not alone, and allowing them to learn more about what can be done to manage their disease more effectively.

Ailsa Bosworth, NRAS chief executive and an RA patient, said: “These group meetings provide valuable information on how to make effective use of local care services. They also offer an opportunity for people with rheumatoid arthritis to meet others with the same condition and share experiences.”

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the joint tissue causing inflammation, stiffness, pain and extreme fatigue.

If left untreated, the joint can lose its shape and alignment and lead to permanent disability with a devastating impact on individuals and their families. It primarily affects females who are three times more likely to get it than males and can occur at any age, although onset is most common after the age of 40.

To register for the event, call NRAS on 0845 458 3969 or email volunteers@nras.org.uk. The NRAS network is made up of support groups across the UK, members of which all have rheumatoid arthritis themselves.