[1] Symptoms of inflammatory arthritis include stiffness, pain, and swelling of the joints, restricted motions, and reduced physical strength.
[2] Inflammatory arthritis can be disabling to the point where people with the diseases can lose their jobs, which can cause psychological distress.
Because it is typically progressive, those who lose their jobs are unlikely to re-enter the workforce after leaving due to their diagnosis.
Programs now aim to retain those with inflammatory arthritis by preventing work-related injuries and by making necessary accommodations in the workplace.
A 2014 Cochrane review found low-quality evidence that work focused interventions, including counseling, education, advocacy, and occupational medicine consultations, were effective in retaining workers with inflammatory arthritis.