Arthritis

Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint. It can affect people of any age, children included.

Arthritis comes in several types, and the 2 most common are:

• osteoarthritis
• rheumatoid arthritis

Other types of arthritis include:

• ankylosing spondylitis
• gout
• psoriatic arthritis
• enteropathic arthritis
• reactive arthritis
• secondary arthritis

There are also some conditions related to arthritis:

• cervical spondylosis
• fibromyalgia
• lupus
• polymyalgia rheumatica

Most people think of arthritis as a problem of older age, but children can get it too.

Most types of childhood arthritis are called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). It causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least 6 weeks.

Doctors don't know the exact cause of JIA. The symptoms often get better as a child grows older, which means the child can lead a normal life.

What you feel will depend on which type of arthritis you have.

• joint pain
• tenderness in the joints
• stiffness in the joints
• inflammation in and around the joints
• restricted movement in the joints
• warm, red skin on your joints
• weakness and muscle wasting

There's no cure for arthritis, but many treatments can help you manage it.

The best treatment for you depends on the type of arthritis you have. Often, you will need more than one treatment together.

Some common treatments for arthritis include:

• painkillers
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• corticosteroids
• disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
• physiotherapy
• regular exercise

In severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgery. This includes:

• joint replacement
• joint fusion
• osteotomy (where a bone is cut and re-aligned)

If you have severe arthritis, an occupational therapist can help when it affects your:

• ability to move around your home
• ability to carry out everyday tasks, like cooking and cleaning

They can tell you about equipment you may need to help you live independently.

Further information on occupational therapy

If you have arthritis, you need to look after your joints so they don't get damaged any further.

• use your larger, stronger joints as levers, for example, take the pressure of opening a heavy door on your shoulder rather than on your hand
• use several joints to spread the weight of an object, for example, use both hands to carry your shopping
• try not to grip too tightly, so hold things as loosely as you can or use a padded handle to widen your grip
• try not to sit in the same position for long periods, and take regular breaks so you can move around

If you have arthritis, doing everyday tasks around the home can be hard. But a few practical changes to your home, and to the way you go about your work, should make things easier.

• keep things within easy reach
• use a hand rail to help you get up and down the stairs
• use long-handled tools to pick things up or to clean
• fit levers to taps so they are easier to turn
• use electric kitchen equipment, like tin openers, when you prepare food

Living with arthritis isn't easy. Simple, everyday tasks can often be painful and difficult. But there are many things you can do to keep up a healthy lifestyle.

If you have arthritis, it's very important to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Eating well gives you all the nutrients you need and helps you keep to a healthy weight.

Your diet should include a variety of foods from all 5 food groups. These are:

• fruit and vegetables
• starchy foods, like bread, rice, potatoes and pasta
• meat, fish, eggs and beans
• milk and dairy foods
• foods containing fat and sugar

If you're overweight, losing weight can help you cope with arthritis.

Too much weight puts extra pressure on the joints in your hips, knees, ankles and feet. This can mean more pain and more trouble moving around.

If you have arthritis and you're in pain, exercise may be the last thing you feel like doing. But staying active can help reduce pain and stop it from getting worse.

Along with a healthy diet, regular exercise can help you lose weight, and that puts less strain on your joints.

Regular exercise can also:

• improve the range of movement in your joints
• improve joint mobility
• increase muscle strength
• reduce stiffness
• boost your energy

As long as you do the right type and level of exercise for your condition, your arthritis won't get any worse. Speak to your doctor for advice about the type and level of exercise that's right for you.