Why our Online Community matters: Get tips and advice from people living with arthritis
02 May 2024
No one should have to face arthritis alone.
That’s why, we created our Online Community, a space where people living with arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions can connect and share helpful advice.
What is our Online Community?
Our online community is a safe space where you can get tips, advice, and support from people like you living with arthritis.
Whether you’ve just been diagnosed or have lived with your condition for a while, anyone is welcome to join our online community. You just have to be over the age of 18.
Packed with powerful stories and friendly advice from people living with arthritis, it’s the perfect place to answer any burning questions you may have.
Plus, with over 27,000 incredible members, you’re sure to connect with someone who understands what you’re going through.
Join our Online Community today
How our Online Community has supported Brenda
63-year-old Brenda lives with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. She says she was feeling isolated when waiting for a hip replacement. But then she found our Online Community.
“I was having a really bad day – I had lots of bad days waiting for the hip replacement," she explains.
“I was sat in dire pain thinking there must be someone who can help me. I was googling on my laptop and Versus Arthritis came up.”
As she scrolled through our Online Community, Brenda says she “got comfort from knowing there were all these other people out there having the same day I was having.”
"I quite quickly felt a big part of a community of people that understood the pain, the isolation, what the different drugs do to you, how tired they make you feel. I felt so supported, even though it was all virtual. It was such a happy feeling.”
“When you think the whole world is against you and no one understands you... Versus Arthritis is there."
Brenda found the support she needed and today, she still is a keen member of the Online Community.
“I got so much comfort from it myself that I now want to give other people hints and tips from my experiences. If I can do that, I will.”
Become part of our Online Community today
Creating a safe and inclusive space for people living with arthritis
So, what is our online community all about?
Peter, our Online Community Officer, describes it as “a place where people living with arthritis and related conditions can get peer-to-peer support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
“It can range from people asking for information about operations or treatment to general chit chat about hobbies and day-to-day life,” he adds. “Recently, we had a conversation where people offered their ‘life hacks’ like the different ways you can pull up a zip.”
We know that being diagnosed with a long-term condition like arthritis can stir up a lot of emotions.
So, for Peter, one of the best parts of our Online Community is that it gives people the chance to feel heard, seen and less alone.
“Sometimes you see people who’ve just been diagnosed, and they can feel like they’re the only person in the world who's got this condition,” he says. “Then they go on to the online community and suddenly find that they’re not alone.
“It’s a safe place where people can talk to each other, get information and support, and in some cases make friends. Because at times, arthritis can be a very lonely thing to have.
"Sometimes when people join, they say, ‘I’m looking to connect with people’ or ‘I feel lonely’. I say to them: ‘You’re among friends now. You just haven’t connected them yet.'"
Our online community is a welcoming space. For that reason, Peter says “we have a team of volunteer moderators who read every post and make sure it’s safe and inclusive.”
“All of our moderators have some form of arthritis themselves, so they can bring their own experiences too.”
Join our Online Community today
Volunteering as an Online Community Moderator: Jane’s story
People like Jane, our Online Community Moderator Volunteer, make sure our online community is a safe and inclusive place to be.
She says: “I first volunteered to help with the Online Community because, as a vulnerable person, I was less inclined to mix with large numbers of people.
“I knew I had some skills to offer and thought that I could continue to give back to my community, which is something that I have tried to do all my life.”
By volunteering her time, Jane has helped countless people, but she's also grown personally too. “I’ve learned so much about arthritis and improved my computer skills immeasurably,” she says.
In her eyes, “the online community is really important to people living with arthritis because it provides not only valuable information... but also support and friendship.”
"Often newly diagnosed people turn to the community because they need someone who has experience of the situation, they find themselves in. They have so many mixed emotions and so many questions it can feel overwhelming. I know because I was there once."
“The online community is a gateway to a whole range of much needed support. It's a safe place for anyone to express their ups and downs.
"We try to provide support in a non-judgmental way, to think beyond the condition to the person themselves, to share with them a sense of belonging to a wider group of people who care for each one of us.”
Become an Online Community Moderator Volunteer today