People living on the NSW Central Coast suffering with pain from arthritis were given fresh hope this year thanks to the Arcare Family Foundation and Arthritis NSW (ANSW).
ANSW has developed a free Pain Pack that targets osteoarthritis pain using non-pharmacological options, and this year Arcare sponsored 500 packs to be given to residents who were willing to trial the contents.
The Pack contains strategies such as the Mediterranean diet to fight inflammation, exercise, weight management, mindfulness, assistive aids and thermotherapy.
It also contains a heat pack, topical heat cream samples, herb seeds, resistance bands and a squeeze ball.
A Central Coast resident Linda welcomed the Pain Pack trial as she is allergic to pain medication.
“I have osteoarthritis in my knees and ankles and the information in the Pack encouraged me to increase my exercise classes from one to three times a week,” she said.
“I can do my own grocery shopping again.’
Arthritis NSW CEO Alex Green said that many residents had adopted the items and strategies, with 77 per cent using them at least three times a week, according to user surveys.
‘We talk to people in pain every day,” he said.
“Many take medication because they aren’t aware of the non-pharmacological options or haven’t considered them.
“The Packs motivate people to try something besides medication to relieve their pain and encourage them to believe that their pain could be changed.
“Most users tell us the Pack has inspired them to take more interest in their health, ask more questions and seek solutions such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy.”
The Pain Pack was designed by pain specialists in collaboration with people living with arthritis to provide services that directly impacted on pain management.
“Thanks to Arcare, ANSW was able to trial the Pain Packs on the Central Coast,” Green said.
“The feedback from users was invaluable and we are very grateful for Arcare’s support.”
Arcare Executive Officer Julia Edwards said the Foundation was happy to support ANSW.
“We are pleased to support Arthritis NSW’s efforts to help people living on the central coast self-manage their condition and ease the burden on the public health system,” she said.
ANSW aims to put 10,000 packs a year into the NSW community to share their potentially life-changing impact with NSW residents and enhance their ability to live well with arthritis.
I suffer from arthritis badly