The 'Have you got the S Factor' campaign is aimed at raising awareness of inflammatory arthritis  and, in particular, the symptoms by distributing S Factor posters as far and wide as possible to reach the widest possible audiences including the general public and health professionals who may have little or no knowledge of inflammatory arthritis.

Please download the posters (below) by clicking on the appropriate image or get in touch with us on 020 8948 9117 for hard copies and ask your GP surgery, your library, local pharmacy or any other public place if they will display them to help raise awareness.

Have you got the ‘S' factor?

Spinal pain & stiffness lasting more than 3 months in a young adult could be inflammatory if you tick 4 out of 5 bullets:

  • It started before the age of 40
  • It started slowly: it did not come on suddenly
  • You have noticed improvement with exercise
  • There is no improvement with rest
  • You experience pain at night (with improvement on getting up)

Click the images above or below to download the appropriate poster

Have you got the 'S' factor?

  • Stiffness - early morning joint stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes
  • Swelling - persistent swelling of one joint or more, especially hand joints
  • Squeezing - squeezing the joints is painful in inflammatory arthritis

If you have any of the symptoms highlighted in the posters above they may possibly relate to ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis, which are the three most common forms of inflammatory arthritis. Seek help from your GP. Don't delay!

The campaign will be officially launched on 10 November 2011 by Dr Hilary Jones through a series of broadcast interviews. The campaign was originally developed by the Rheumatology Futures Project Group (RFPG) and is endorsed and supported by Arthritis Research UK, the Royal College of GPs and The Primary Care Rheumatology Society. (For more information about the Rheumatology Futures Group scroll down).

The Inflammatory Arthritis Patient Information Pathway

Alongside the launch of the S-Factor campaign, work continued by the Rheumatology Futures Group to publish an Inflammatory Arthritis Patient Pathway. Inflammatory Arthritis (IA) is the term used to describe a range of conditions - including the 3 most common forms of inflammatory arthritis; ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which affect the immune system. Described as ‘autoimmune diseases', they each have their own characteristics and can strike at any age.

However, what these diseases have in common is that the body's immune system is wrongly triggered to attack your own body, causing pain, stiffness, damage to joint s and, if left untreated, possibly disability. They are systemic diseases which means that they can affect the whole body and even internal organs such as the lungs, heart and eyes, although this is certainly not the case for everyone.

There is no cure of these diseases, but managed well, people diagnosed today can expect to lead relatively normal lives. There are six steps on the pathway, as shown below, which is followed by a list of the organisations  that can help with information about any of the steps on the pathway.

Step 1 Recognising symptoms before seeking help
Step 2 Visiting the GP for the first time
Step 3 Seeing the specialist for the first time following referral
Step 4 Tests, treatments and information
Step 5 On-going care
Step 6 Long term disease and complications

Organisations who can help

Arthritis Care

Arthritis Care exists to support people with all forms of arthritis. They are the UK's largest charity working with and for all people who have arthritis. Arthritis Care campaigns for change and offers practical support and information so that people can learn to take control of their arthritis and make positive changes to their lives.
Helpline: 0808 800 4050
T: 020 7380 6500
W: www.arthritiscare.org.uk

Arthritis Research UK

Arthritis Research UK is the charity leading the fight against arthritis by funding high class research, providing information and campaigning.
T: 01246 558033
W: www.arthritisresearchuk.org

Birmingham Arthritis Resource Centre

BARC promote ‘self care' and ‘self-management', supporting people with chronic and painful arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions to cope with their problems through information provided in a variety of forms and aimed at the multi-cultural society that makes up Birmingham. 
T: 0121 464 2708
W: www.barc.org.uk

National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS)

NASS is the only registered charity in the UK working exclusively for people with AS and their families.
T: 020 8948 9117 
W: www.nass.co.uk

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS)

NRAS is the only charity which focuses specifically on providing support, help and information for people with rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, their families, friends and carers.
Helpline: 0800 298 7650 
T: 0845 458 3969 / 01628 823524
W: www.nras.org.uk

The Psoriasis Association

The Psoriasis Association is the leading national membership organisation for people affected by psoriasis - patients, families, carers and health professionals.
T: 08456 760 076 
W: www.psoriasis-association.org.uk

The Rheumatology Futures Project Group (RFPG)

The RFPG was a coalition of patient and professional organisations representing the entire rheumatology community (primary care, hospital care, consultants, GPs, nurses and allied health professionals, patient organisations) and the pharmaceutical industry. The RFPG was specifically formed in 2007 to develop and execute a collaborative and clearly‐defined programme of work to identify barriers to providing high‐quality rheumatology services for people with inflammatory arthritis (IA) across England, and to explore what high quality care should look like and how it could be delivered and was limited to a three year, time limited project which ended summer 2010. NASS was a member of the RFPG.