• Home
• About us
• Articles
  • Health
  • Travel
    • Down Under
    • Tallinn
    • Lake District
  • Leisure
  • Life Changes
    • Improve memory
    • Choose care home
  • Relationships
  • Property
    • Equity release
    • Solar heating
  • Transport
    • Jaguar XJ 2.7
    • Ford Mondeo
• Advertise
• Careers
• Register
• Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Contact us

Arthritis is a common condition that affects an estimated 8 million people in the UK. There are about 200 forms of arthritis and the symptoms can affect many parts of the body. Most people with arthritis find that being armed with information helps them make positive changes to their lives. Osteoarthritis One of the two most common types of arthritis along with rheumatoid - a type of inflammatory arthritis. What causes it? One million people in the UK visit their doctor about osteoarthritis every year. There is no single cause, but several factors seem to increase the likelihood of getting the disease: age - osteoarthritis is uncommon before the age of 40 sex - osteoarthritis is more common in women weight - being overweight increases the risk of osteoarthritis, particularly of the knee injury - an injury, operation, earlier disease or repeated strain at a joint may lead to osteoarthritis later in life What happens? In osteoarthritis, the smooth cartilage that takes the strain in a normal joint becomes rough, brittle and weak. To compensate, the bone beneath thickens and spreads out, forming knobbly outgrowths (osteophytes). The synovial membrane surrounding the joint thickens and the fluid-filled space within it becomes smaller. There is often inflammation. As osteoarthritis gets worse, bits of cartilage may break away from the bone, causing the bone ends to rub together and the ligaments to become strained. This causes a lot of pain and changes the shape of the joint. Osteoarthritis is most common in the hands, knees, hips and feet. Some people also develop it in the back and neck. Rheumatoid Arthritis This is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis, affecting about one in 100 people. What causes it? Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body’s defence mechanisms go into action when there’s no threat and start attacking the joints and sometimes other parts of the body. It’s not yet known why the immune system acts in this way in some people. Who gets it? It most commonly starts between the ages of 30 and 50. Three times as many women are affected as men. What happens? The joints become inflamed, particularly: the synovial membrane the tendon sheaths the bags of fluid that allow muscles and tendons to move smoothly over one another (bursae) Inflammation sometimes becomes far worse - known as a ‘flare-up’ - when the joints become warm and red as blood flow to the area increases. The synovial membrane produces extra fluid, causing swelling and a stretching of the ligaments around the joint, resulting in a stiff, swollen and painful joint. In one in five cases, rheumatoid arthritis develops very rapidly but more often the symptoms develop over several months. For about one in 20 people with the disease the cycles of inflammation cause severe damage in many joints, but others have little or no damage. Treating inflammation as quickly as possible is vital because once joint damage has occurred it can’t be reversed. What does it feel like? Most people get fluctuating pain and stiffness that gets worse during flare-ups. Whereas in osteoarthritis morning stiffness wears off quickly, in rheumatoid and other forms of inflammatory arthritis it usually lasts more than 45 minutes. Many people find that the condition gives them flu-like symptoms and makes them tired, irritable or depressed. Does it run in families? There is no single gene to blame for rheumatoid arthritis, and when one family member develops the disease the risk to others in the family is small. However, although about 0.5-1.0 per cent of people in most populations will develop rheumatoid arthritis, it is much more common among the Pima Indians (5.3 per cent) and the Chippewa Indians (6.8 per cent) and far less common in China and Japan. This shows that genetics do play some part in predisposing to rheumatoid arthritis. The main risk comes from a group of genes known as the HLA DRB1 alleles, but several genes appear to be involved, each of which exerts only small effects to different degrees in different people. Other types of Arthritis There are around 200 different forms of arthritis affecting young and old alike - and the symptoms can affect many parts of the body. Gout is a form of arthritis and caused by uric acid crystals forming in the joints - particularly the big toe, ankles, hands and wrists. It can be very painful, but is easily controlled by medication and a change in diet. The weather doesn’t cause rheumatic disease and won’t affect how it develops. However, many people with arthritis feel their condition becomes more painful in cold and damp weather. Research has shown no definite link, but there are indications that pressure changes in the atmosphere may affect our joints. We also know that warmth can release muscle tension and ease pain. So people may feel the effect when it turns colder. Adapting to your Condition Adjusting to the barriers that arthritis isn’t always easy. But there are many people, services, products and benefits that can help. People with arthritis can feel disheartened, angry, frustrated, lonely and depressed. You may have worries about whether you’ll become disabled and dependent, or about the pressures you’re causing for families and friends. Concerns about whether people view you differently because of your arthritis are also very common - especially for young people. It can be demoralising to be told to be positive. It isn’t that simple. But people do come to terms with their condition, and find things to be very positive about. Try and work out why you feel as you do. Your feelings may not be entirely due to arthritis. Talking about feelings and fears can help relieve anxiety. But you need to talk to someone who can understand the way you feel. That might be: a friend or member of your family one of the professionals you see, such as your family doctor someone in the church, if you belong to one someone else with arthritis People with arthritis are often stressed. Relaxing, either by finding a distracting and absorbing activity or by learning relaxation techniques, can make things feel better. A physiotherapist may be able to give advice. Get Professional Support If you don’t want to talk to anyone close to you, or you’ve been depressed for a long time, you may find it useful to talk to someone whose job it is to listen. Your family doctor, social worker or Citizens Advice Bureau (in your phone book) may be able to tell you about local counselling services. It’s worth talking to your family doctor about how you feel - they may have other options to help you. The main treatments for arthritis are key parts of any strategy to fight pain. Here are a few examples of other commonly used approaches: Learning pain management - ask your GP and hospital doctors whether they know of a pain management course. Arthritis Care runs a Challenging Arthritis course that includes pain management. Using a Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation device, which transmits a low-level electrical impulse. Some people find this helps reduce pain. You should consult your doctor or physiotherapist. Hypnosis - if you think this might be useful, talk to your doctor, to be referred to someone who’s professionally trained. Joining self-help groups run by people with arthritis. Arthritis Care and other organisations will help you find local groups. Looking after your joints and conserving energy. Going to a pain clinic - doctors may refer you to a pain management clinic. These sometimes have teams of health professionals, who run programmes that help people cope with long-term pain and live active lives. Helping a Relative with Arthritis Those who live with or look after someone with arthritis have to get the right balance between being supportive and over-protective. It’s easier to judge what to do if you try and learn as much as possible about the condition, and communicate well with the person who has arthritis. All carers need to make sure that they look after themselves, and if you spend a lot of time looking after someone with arthritis, you may be entitled to support from your local Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland, Health and Social Services Trust (or Board) in Northern Ireland). The Carers National Association and other arthritis organisations can also provide advice and support. For more information, visit: www.arthritiscare.org.uk or www.arthritis-research.com.