Specialist Rheumatology Occupational Therapy

Specialist Rheumatology Occupational Therapy Team Vision:

“We endeavour to enable people to live well with their long term rheumatology condition by collaboratively working with our patients (and the rest of the multidisciplinary team), to produce a shared understanding of how the condition impacts on their everyday living. We then provide evidence based interventions to help patients learn essential self-management techniques of the physical and psychological aspects of their condition to enable them to continue to fulfil meaningful activities and valued, independent life roles”

What is Specialist Rheumatology Occupational Therapy (OT)?

Occupational Therapists are members of the rheumatology multi-disciplinary team that have specialist knowledge of rheumatological conditions, and the impact that the symptoms of these conditions have on everyday life. We accept referrals from age 16 onwards.

The word occupation refers to any activity of daily living that is important to you. This can include physical, cognitive, emotional, psychological or sexual activities.

Occupational therapists provide physical and psychological interventions to empower you to live as well as you are able with your condition. We do this by working with you to develop different approaches, strategies and self- management techniques for everyday living.

The aim of the Specialist Rheumatology Occupational Therapist is to support you to fulfil your meaningful roles and responsibilities and to live well with your condition. This can enable you to experience a better quality of life, now and in the longer term.

Your occupational therapist can support you with;

Joint care– Advice about looking after your joints and adapting your activities to reduce the stress and strain put through the joints during daily activities. Provision of appropriate splints to support hand and wrist joints.

Activities of Daily Living-Including personal, domestic, leisure and social activities.

Hand function– If appropriate you may be offered a tailored stretching and strengthening hand exercise programme to improve your hand strength and function.

Fatigue management– providing individualised education and intervention to support you to live with the consequences of overwhelming fatigue and the impact on daily life.

Sleep- Providing advice on sleep hygiene, positioning, relaxation skills and meditation to aid sleep.

Driving- This may include a referral on to North East Drive Mobility located in Walkergate Park Hospital.

Work – assessment of your work role and the impact your inflammatory disease can have; such as keeping up with deadlines, concentrating on work tasks, finishing tasks in good time, expectations of yourself and others when in flare, knowing when to seek help and advice, how to remain well in work, balancing work and home life and liaising with your employers if required.

Sex and intimacy – Advice, education and information on the impact that your inflammatory condition can have on your ability to have a fulfilled sex life. Difficulties can be physical, emotional, psychological or a combination of all three.

Psychological adjustment to your diagnosis – this is an important aspect of being newly diagnosed with a long term condition. Having the time and space to reflect on and discuss with OT can be really valuable with regards to learning to adapt to the challenges your diagnosis may bring.

Stress management –persistent stressors in life can have a negative impact on the immune system and can contribute to a flare of inflammatory disease. It is therefore essential to learn techniques to manage stress effectively.

Flare Management – advice about managing your daily activities when in flare. If appropriate providing equipment to promote independence with daily activities.

Onward referrals to other health professionals such as podiatry, physiotherapy and health psychology.

Signposting to relevant services that can also offer support and guidance to you such as; Versus Arthritis, NRAS, NASS, Sjogren’s Society, The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance.

Tyneside Integrated Musculoskeletal Service (TIMS), Access to Work and Disability North.

Access to Specialist Occupational Therapy:

We accept referrals from the Consultant’s general caseload as well as the five main sub-speciality clinics which include:

The Early Arthritis Clinic (EAC).
Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Clinic.
Axial Spondylarthritis (AS) Clinic.
Sjogren’s Clinic.
Connective Tissue Disease (CTD) Clinic.

Referrals come directly from all members of the rheumatology multi-disciplinary team (MDT) which includes consultants, specialist nurses, podiatry, physiotherapy and health psychology.

Once you have been initially assessed by OT you have the option of periodic review via the MDT or self-referral throughout your life course.