A SUPPORT group aiming to help those suffering with arthritis has gone from 'strength to strength' over the past couple of years.

The Flintshire Versus Arthritis Chronic Pain Support Group has recently celebrated its second anniversary at the Quay Health Centre and aims to help those living with pain.

A spokesman for the group said: "Millions of people across the UK are limited by the pain, stiffness and fatigue caused by musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis or back pain.

"About 78 per cent of people with arthritis have pain most days.

"Each one of us experience chronic pain caused by a variety of medical conditions. Our meeting’s help relieve the burden on the NHS services such as GP surgeries, rheumatology, ‘Pain Management teams’ by supporting patients to self manage their chronic pain conditions."

The group was started by a group of people suffering with chronic pain to facilitate peer support and education so people can live more independently.

For the past two years, the group has met in Connah's Quay to help those living with the condition.

The support group spokesman added: "We try to raise awareness among the health care community, policy makers, and the public at large about issues of living with chronic pain.

"There is a real need out there for this kind of support as one in four people with arthritis also suffer with depression with 68 per cent of people with arthritis suffer mental health issues when their pain levels are at there worst.

"Our meetings have gone from strength to strength, we include workshops and alternative therapies benefitting from learning new tools to manage not only pain, but our emotions too. We are a means by which people to share what are their concerns to create better life styles.

"One in five of all people will be affected at some point by arthritis."

More information about the group can be found by emailing flintshireversusarthritis@gmail.com or contacting 0300 790 0400.