Overview
Arthritis is a term covering over 100 conditions that affect joints, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced movement. The two most common types are osteoarthritis, where cartilage gradually wears away, and rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system attacks the joints.
How common is it?
Arthritis affects around 10 million people in the UK. Osteoarthritis is the most common form, increasing sharply in frequency over the age of 50.
Causes and risk factors
Osteoarthritis results from years of mechanical wear and tear on cartilage that cushions joints. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the joint lining, causing inflammation that damages cartilage and bone.
Common risk factors
- Age (osteoarthritis worsens with age)
- Family history
- Being overweight (puts extra stress on knee and hip joints)
- Previous joint injury
- Repetitive movements from work or sport
- Female sex (rheumatoid arthritis is 3 times more common in women)
Symptoms
- Joint pain, worse with movement or at end of day (osteoarthritis)
- Morning stiffness lasting over 30 minutes (rheumatoid arthritis)
- Swollen, warm, or red joints
- Reduced range of movement
- Grating or clicking sensations in joints
- Fatigue, particularly with inflammatory arthritis
- Joint deformity in advanced disease
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if joint pain is persistent, worsening, or limiting daily activities. Seek urgent review if a joint is hot, red, severely swollen, and painful as this may indicate infection in the joint.
Diagnosis
Blood tests (including rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP antibodies, and CRP) help identify inflammatory arthritis. X-rays and MRI scans show the extent of joint damage. Rheumatologists lead care for inflammatory types.
Treatments
Pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication
Paracetamol and topical NSAIDs for osteoarthritis; oral NSAIDs and steroids for flares of inflammatory arthritis.
Disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs)
Methotrexate and other DMARDs slow joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis by suppressing the abnormal immune response. Biologic agents are used when DMARDs alone are insufficient.
Joint replacement surgery
Hip and knee replacements are highly effective for severe osteoarthritis, relieving pain and restoring mobility when other treatments have failed.
Self-care and lifestyle
- Regular low-impact exercise such as swimming or cycling maintains joint movement and strengthens surrounding muscles
- Losing even 5 to 10% of body weight significantly reduces knee joint loading
- Apply heat before activity to loosen stiff joints and cold packs after to reduce swelling
- Occupational therapy devices and joint protection techniques reduce strain in daily tasks
Prevention
Maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, avoiding joint injuries, and not smoking reduce the risk of developing arthritis and slow its progression.