What is arthritis?
Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. Most people with arthritis will experience pain and difficulty moving around.
Over nine million people in the UK have arthritis and, like them, you can take control of your symptoms and continue to have a good quality of life.
There are over 200 kinds of rheumatic diseases – the word rheumatic means aches and pains in joints, bones and muscles.
Two of the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) - the type people with spina bifida are most likely to have - and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Arthritis can affect people of all ages, including children. There is no cure at present, but modern treatments are good and there is plenty you can do to manage your condition and lead a full and active life.
How you may be affected
For most people, arthritis causes discomfort, pain, stiffness, fatigue – and frustration. It may result in varying degrees of physical impairment such as a loss of strength and grip which in turn may make your movements more difficult.
This may be hard to accept and may mean that you will have to adapt and make some changes to your life.
Arthritis in the hands and shoulders is particularly difficult for wheelchair users.
Treatment
Once you have been diagnosed you will need the right treatment for you, which depends on the kind of arthritis you have and how it is affecting you.
Talk with your healthcare professionals – and don’t be afraid to speak out about your symptoms.
You have to explore the options which may include physiotherapy as well as drug treatment to find the most suitable treatment for you.
Most people are treated initially with drugs such as ibuprofen (if you are able to tolerate it) before arthritis specific drug treatments.
Help yourself
Getting medical help and treatment for arthritis is the first step. Do not self diagnose – leave it to the experts, but once diagnosed there is a lot you can do to help control your arthritis.
Look at Your Diet
Eating a healthy diet is a basic way of keeping well. Your body needs a range of nutrients and to get these you need to eat a variety of foods.
If you are overweight you should try and lose some weight to take the strain off your joints. Not easy but there is always help from your GP practice nurse, various slimming clubs or ASBAH medical advisers.
Some people think certain foods make their arthritis worse. If you notice this it makes sense to cut them from your diet and see if this makes a difference.
Cider vinegar and honey seems to have a particular following from arthritis sufferers including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who first tried the remedy after developing bad arthritis in his hands and his hip 23 years ago. However, the medical profession does not embrace this “cure” and is quick to say that there are no studies to prove that it works.
Other ‘natural’ remedies are glucosamine, chondroitin, or green lipped mussel tablets. Always check with your doctor before trying them.
Exercise
Stiff joints which aren’t exercised become stiffer and may, in the end, stiffen up altogether, although, any exercise you do has to be the right sort.
For many types of arthritis, gentle, regular exercise is very helpful and important. It keeps you mobile, reduces pain and stress and protects your joints by keeping the muscles strong.
However the wrong sort of exercise can put strain on your joints and damage them further. A physiotherapist can help advise you on a safe routine, which will probably include swimming which is good for all of your joints.
Resting is also important, especially when there is a lot of inflammation or your arthritis flares up badly.
For more information about arthritis the following organisations can help:
Arthritis Care
www.arthritiscare.org.uk
Free helpline 0808 800 4050
Arthritis Research Campaign
www.arc.org.uk
National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
www.rheumatoid.org.uk
Freephone Helpline 0800 298 7650