Common Long Term Conditions Adult

Bones, joints and muscles

Some links on this page have been colour coded to make it easier to find the information you need:

Quick Read
In-depth
Clinical level

This page focuses on long term bones, joints and muscular conditions. For information on temporary conditions including self-referral to a local physiotherapist, see under

LOCAL SUPPORT FOR BONE AND JOINT CONDITIONS - SELF REFERRAL

PHARMACIST SUPPORT

As the NHS suggests
You can get advice and support with a new medication from a pharmacist for osteoporosis and gout.
New Medicine Service (NMS) – NHS

FURTHER SUPPORT

There is other local support provided below:

Support for work, healthy eating and exercise

As the NHS suggests

  • “Many people with arthritis want to continue working for many reasons, including better financial security and higher self-esteem.”
  • “It’s very important to eat a healthy, balanced diet if you have arthritis.”
  • “If your arthritis is painful, you may not feel like exercising. However, being active can help reduce and prevent pain. As long as you do the right type and level of exercise for your condition, your arthritis won’t get any worse. Combined with a healthy, balanced diet, regular exercise will help you lose weight and place less strain on your joints.”
    “Living with arthritis.” The NHS website. Retrieved 17th January 2024
    Arthritis – Living with arthritis – NHS 

There is advice on what exercise to do from Versus Arthritis
Exercising with arthritis Exercising with arthritis | Top tips, specific exercises

You can also discuss what exercise to do with your specialist (if relevant) or a GP.

There is good local support for

RHEUMATOLOGY SPECIALIST NURSE SUPPORT FROM WEXHAM PARK HOSPITAL

If you are already under the rheumatology team you can contact the rheumatology specialist nurse for advice, just put in “rheumatology” into the search box which is just to the right side and above the blue banner “specialist nurses” for Wexham or Heatherwood. If you contact switch board and ask for the named nurse you will at least be able to leave a message with the specialist nurse to ring you back. If you continue to have difficulties contacting the specialist nurse then you should contact the rheumatology department secretary, through switchboard, who can relay a message to the specialist nurse.
Specialist Nurse Directory Specialist Nurse Directory | NHS Frimley Health Foundation Trust

LOCAL SUPPORT FOR ALL LONG TERM CONDITIONS - SELF REFERRAL

As the Personalised Care Institute suggest
“Personalised care gives patients more control and choice when it comes to the way their care is planned and delivered, taking into account individual needs, preferences and circumstances.”
“What is personalised care?” The Personalised Care Institute. Retrieved 9th February 2024.

Support for a person with a long term condition needs to be broader than just focusing on medical needs but also involves considering what matters to them in supporting their overall wellbeing. This is delivered as personalised care which includes local support for physical, mental and social wellbeing. See under

Includes specific mental health support for patients with with a long term condition.

NATIONAL SUPPORT - SELF REFERRAL

FOR ARTHRITIS IN GENERAL

From Versus Arthritis
Call our helpline Get help | Helpline, online community, arthritis virtual assistant

Osteoporosis

From the Royal Osteoporosis Society
Free osteoporosis Helpline Information and support – free osteoporosis helpline ROS

FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

From the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
Call our Helpline Get support | NRAS | How NRAS can support you

FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS

INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS (INCLUDING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS)

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Rheumatoid arthritis

From the NHS and Patient info
Psoriatic arthritis

From the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS)

From NICE
DMARDs DMARDs | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE

There is more information on disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) and their monitoring with shared cared protocols under

REACTIVE ARTHRITIS

From the NHS and Patient info
Reactive arthritis

GOUT

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Gout

monitoring gout

From Lab tests online UK
Uric Acid Test Uric Acid

From NICE
Scenario: Preventing gout Scenario: Preventing gout | Management | Gout | CKS | NICE

OSTEOPOROSIS (BONE)

From the Royal Osteoporosis Society
Website packed with helpful and detailed information and support for patients

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Osteoporosis

From the Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases, University of Sheffield
This is a tool in which you can input your risk factors and bone mineral value (from a bone scan) and with a clinician understand if you may need treatment for osteoporosis. To get an accurate risk assessment you do need a bone mineral density value from a bone scan but you can get an approximate idea where your risk may lie by leaving the BMD field blank.

OVERVIEW ON ARTHRITIS

From the NHS and Patient info
Arthritis

From Versus Arthritis

From Arthritis Action
Online Self-Management Resource Online Self-Management Resource – Arthritis Action

Chronic pain

Though medication will often help control any pain from your condition there is also some helpful ideas to support you with any chronic pain, see under

Videos and podcasts

On the videos and podcasts page there are links to some relevant videos and podcasts covering the topic of bones, joints and muscles.

NHS 111

If you think you need medical help right now, 111 online can tell you what to do next.

Campaigns

"Pump it up" - know your blood pressure.

Your Pharmacy

Seven common infections now treated by your local pharmacist

CAMPAIGNS

Show your heart some love, women of Bucks!

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