Arthritis is a very common illness but it’s one that isn’t very well understood by many people.

Arthritis isn’t a single disease and the term generally refers to joint pain or a form of joint disease. There are actually over 100 types of arthritis and related conditions out there which can affect people of all ages, races and genders. It’s also one of the leading causes of disability around the world today.

Living with arthritis can be challenging and, in some cases, it can be hard to carry out everyday tasks. However, there are plenty of ways in which people can find support and many things that can be done to help sufferers to have an active and fulfilling life.

But what actually is arthritis? And what can we do to make our lives or the lives of loved ones better whilst living with arthritis? Let’s take a deeper look into a common condition that can affect many of us over the course of our lives:

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis causes pain and inflammation in the joints. The condition is so common that, in the UK, over 10 million people have a form of arthritis or similar conditions that impact their joints. 

Although arthritis is largely associated as an illness that affects older people, the condition can impact individuals of all ages - including children. 

(Image: Drugwatch)

The two most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. As the image above shows, both adversely affect our joints in different ways, so let’s take a closer look at the differences between the two: 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is by far the most common form of arthritis in the UK, impacting almost 9 million people. It tends to develop later in life, typically in people aged around 45 or older. However, it’s often more common in both women and people with a family history of the condition. 

Significantly, osteoarthritis can occur at any age as a result of injury. It can also be associated with other joint-related conditions like gout or rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis begins by affecting the cartilage lining of a joint - making movement more difficult and causing pain and stiffness. 

As the cartilage lining begins to thin out and becomes rougher, it causes tendons and ligaments to work harder as you move. This can lead to swelling and the creation of bony spurs called osteophytes. 

If a sufferer loses a significant amount of cartilage, it can lead to bones rubbing against one another, changing the shape of a joint and pushing bones out of their usual positions. 

Osteoarthritis typically affects joints in the: 

• Hands
• Spine
• Knees
• Hips

Rheumatoid arthiritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a less common form of arthritis but still affects over 400,000 people in the UK. 

Women are as much as three-times more likely to be affected by rheumatoid arthritis than men, with symptoms typically starting when the individual is between 40 and 50 years old. 

In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system targets the affected joints, leading to more pain and swelling as a result. 

The outer covering of the joint, known as synovium, is the first area that’s affected before spreading across the joint, causing more swelling and a fundamental alteration in the shape of the joint. Depending on the severity of the arthritis, this can cause the bone and cartilage to break down. 

Those affected by rheumatoid arthritis may also experience further problems with other tissues and organs in their body. 

Symptoms

There can be many reasons behind why your joint is painful. While certain aches and pains can seem severe, only a professional will be able to tell with the certainty that the cause is arthritis. .

Knowing when to go to see a GP is important though, and it’s worth keeping on the lookout for four key warning signs that should prompt you to take action:

1. Joint pain: The pain you feel from arthritis can come in many forms. It may be constant or it could come and go over time. You may feel discomfort whilst you’re moving or when you’re resting. You may also feel isolated pain or pain across many different parts of your body. 

2. Long-term swelling: Some forms of arthritis can cause the skin over joints to become red and swollen whilst feeling warm to touch. If this occurs more than three times a month, you should pay the doctor a visit to get it checked out. 

3. Persistent stiffness: One of the most common symptoms of arthritis is joint stiffness - particularly when you wake up or after you’ve spent a long time without moving like after long journeys. As a rule of thumb, if your stiffness in joints lasts for more than an hour after you wake up, it may be evidence of arthritis. 

4. Difficulty of movement: If you notice that it’s becoming harder to stand up after spending time sitting down, there’s a chance that it could be arthritis getting in the way of moving freely. 

Diagnosis

Fortunately, we live in an age where technology has become adept at not only highlighting whether you have arthritis, but also the type of arthritis that you’re living with. 

If your doctor believes that you may have arthritis, they will likely conduct a physical exam where they’ll check your joints for swelling, redness and warmth. They will also look for indicators as to how freely you can move your joints. 

Following a physical examination, your doctor may suggest further testing. Laboratory tests have been excellent at analysing bodily fluids as a means of pinpointing the exact type of arthritis that you have. 

To help determine your arthritis, your blood, urine or joint fluid could be analysed. Obtaining a sample of joint fluid will involve your doctor cleansing the area of the joint affected before withdrawing the fluid with a needle. 

Imaging technology like X-rays, computerised tomography (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scans) and ultrasounds can also be used to gain a more comprehensive insight into your joint to explore your symptoms and come out with a more complete diagnosis. 

Helping a loved one with Arthritis

The best place to start if you’re caring for a loved one with arthritis is to understand their condition. Learn about the form of arthritis they have, how it affects their joints and how you can work to make things comfortable for them depending on the severity of their condition. 

Try to avoid the temptation of giving your loved one around the clock attention if they show any indication that they want to retain their independence. Arthritis doesn’t impact the sharpness of the mind, and many individuals living with the condition would prefer to remain as independent as possible. While you may want to help a friend or family member to walk or move whilst out in public, learn to interpret when they do and don’t want your help. 

Depending on the condition, arthritis may mean managing many different types of medication, or relying on assistive devices like walking sticks or walkers to move around. Sometimes someone living with arthritis may struggle to manage their medication or find new assistive devices difficult to figure out. Helping them to set up a new walker, or helping them to devise a plan for medication could be exactly what they need the most. 

Exercise is also great for people suffering with arthritis, and sometimes helping a loved one to live with the condition could mean participating in an exercise class with them. 

How to deal with it yourself

Living with arthritis can be challenging for individuals even if their condition is mild, but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to live a happy and active life. 

Different people can choose to live with their arthritis in different ways. Many choose to continue working due to the better levels of financial security and the greater self-esteem you can generate for yourself while keeping active. 

Modern arthritic treatments mean that many more of those suffering from the condition will be capable of returning to work - especially if their arthritis is diagnosed early on. Although work could be challenging for some, employers are obliged to help with the necessary training and support to ensure that workers with arthritis remain comfortable at all times. 

However, if you’re too unwell to work, there’s also financial help available via the Personal Independence Payment scheme (formerly labelled the Disability Living Allowance)

Exercising can help to reduce and prevent joint pain, even though your arthritis may cause you to dislike the thought of activities. Be sure to consult with your GP about the best type of activity that you can take to help relieve your pain. 

It’s also worth looking to adapt your day-to-day life to relieve the strain on your smaller joints by getting your larger ones to pick up the slack. For instance, when opening a heavy door, look to use your shoulder as opposed to your hand to do much of the hard work. 

It’s important to take your medication as directed by your GP or specialist, whilst being mindful of potential side effects to look out for and which other drugs you should avoid. For example, if you take any NSAIDs, including ibuprofen or naproxen, you should avoid taking any diuretics (used for treating high blood pressure) and be aware that a (very rare) side effect can be internal bleeding. 

To make sure your medications are known about in an emergency, so paramedics know which drugs not to administer or to check you are not experiencing a severe side effect, make sure you wear a medical ID at all times. Engraved with your most vital medical details and medications, medical IDs allow those treating you to provide the care you need without delay. 

Tips to help

Many people's experiences of arthritis can be different, but some tips generally help to relieve pain and frustration on a larger general scale: 

1. Try to avoid staying in the same position for too long. Although this can’t be helped when asleep, remember to stand up and stretch at regular intervals when sitting down at work or at home. 

2. Work to consciously avoid putting stress on your joints. We all like to slouch from time to time, but make sure that you’re not straining. It’s also worth avoiding the temptation of putting stress on your hands when opening tight jars - try to remember to use a cloth, or buy a wall-mounted jar opener. Also consider sitting down any time you may otherwise need to be on one leg, for example, putting on trousers or socks in the morning. 

3. Gadgets can be your friend. Using electric can openers and blenders are perfect tools for those living with arthritis. 

4. Adapt your home. Adding a grab bar to your bath helps to ensure against falls, while a bathing stool can be great for helping those with arthritis in their legs. 

How MedicAlert can help

Although arthritis can be a debilitating condition, it shouldn’t cause you to fear doing the things you love. MedicAlert offers peace of mind to sufferers and their loved ones as the only UK charity that provides medical ID services for members. 

Our members wear medical jewellery, such as necklaces and bracelets, that are engraved with the most vital medical information, our 24/7 emergency line, and a unique membership number. This allows paramedics to access your details  if you’re unable to communicate your needs during an emergency.  

All MedicAlert members also receive a free Wallet Card, holding more information than your engraved medical ID - it details your emergency contacts and more conditions, allergies, medications or other medical details from your full MedicAlert record. This provides an easy tool for use at routine doctor appointments, ensuring you can share your medical overview without the need to memorise it all! 

MedicAlert’s aim is to help ensure that people continue enjoying the things they love regardless of  any curve balls that life might throw our way and, with our medical ID jewellery, you can feel emboldened to live the life that you want without worrying about what may happen.