UK: Fatigue impacts arthritis patients

. LONDON, England / Press Association / March 31, 2009 Rheumatoid arthritis patients have their lives disrupted more by tiredness than stiffness and pain, research has shown. Yet fatigue is an unsung symptom that 40% of patients never discuss with their doctors, the findings suggest. A survey of 100 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in England found that for 71% tiredness was the symptom that most affected their daily lives. Only 2% of those questioned said they were not affected by tiredness or fatigue, and more than a third believed it could not be treated. The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), which carried out the survey, on Tuesday launched a booklet aimed at addressing the problem of fatigue. "Fatigue: Beyond Tiredness" helps sufferers recognise the symptoms of fatigue and take steps to manage it. Ailsa Bosworth, chief executive of the NRAS, said: "Chronic or ongoing fatigue in RA is not like tiredness. It can last for days and no amount of sleep will relieve it. The research revealed that the main reason people don't discuss fatigue with their healthcare professional is because they feel it is a symptom of RA they just have to put up with. "This is simply not the case. We hope that this booklet will encourage patients to discuss fatigue during consultations and make small changes to their lives to help manage it." The booklet offers advice on diary planning, sleep, diet, exercise, relaxation techniques, talking to specialists and complementary therapies. According to the survey, 31% of RA sufferers feel there is no treatment for fatigue and 40% never discuss the problem with health professionals. Professor Peter Taylor, consultant rheumatologist at Charing Cross Hospital in London, said: "Fatigue is a devastating symptom of rheumatoid arthritis which is often prominent when inflammation of the joints is at its worst and which can also be made worse by some painkillers." Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease that affects around 487,000 people in the UK. Copyright © 2009 The Press Association