Covid Safety. Contact Us. Become a carer. About HomeTouch. Help and Support. Articles Arthritis Conditions. What is arthritis? If you would like to learn more about Arthritis; the history, causes, and the various treatments, see Arthritis: A Deeper Dive What does arthritis feel like? Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, both in the joints and in the rest of the body. Related topic Hip Replacement Recovery. Related topic Social interaction and brain health.
Related Care Advice. Where Does Arthritis Affect? Arthritis commonly affects the load bearing joints like knees and hips, or the joints in…. This article will describe how RA feels and where people with this condition can find support. RA flares can be unpredictable and temporarily increase the severity of the condition. A person may have days, weeks, or months with no RA symptoms between these events.
However, some people have specific known triggers for flares and may be more aware of when they may occur. Common triggers include exercising too intensely or doing too much physical work.
Illness or infection, lack of sleep, and stress can also trigger flares. The symptoms of flares can vary between people. As a result, there is no definitive definition of how they feel. People living with RA may experience whole-body symptoms. These may include :. This can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and social exclusion. A person may be experiencing severe pain and fatigue that is hard for others to recognize and understand. This lack of visible symptoms can lead to frustration among family, friends, and coworkers.
Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects joints in the hands, wrists, and knees. Learn more about the effects of rheumatoid arthritis here.
Remission is a state in which a person experiences few to no RA symptoms for a period of time. There are a number of clinical criteria that define remission, and discussion of these is ongoing. A common measure is a disease activity score DAS28 of below 2.
How long a period of remission lasts and how symptoms present during this time will vary between individuals. These nodules may feel like solid lumps underneath the skin. Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that can cause pain and tenderness all over the body.
Symptoms can be similar to arthritis. However, the symptoms are mainly in the muscles rather than the joints. Polymyalgia rheumatica PMR is a condition involving painful and stiff muscles. The hips, shoulders and thighs are commonly affected. Lifting both arms above your head can be painful and difficult. The pain and stiffness are often worse in mornings.
Other symptoms include a general feeling of being unwell and fatigue. Some people who have polymyalgia rheumatica develop a condition called giant cell arteritis GCA. This affects the blood vessels in the head and can lead to symptoms of pain and tenderness around the side of the head.
Giant cell arteritis can also cause pain in the tongue or jaw when chewing, and in rare cases problems with vision or even loss of vision. If left untreated, giant cell arteritis can lead to permanent damage to eyesight, even blindness. Both polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis can be treated effectively with steroids , normally tablets. Back pain is a common problem that affects many of us.
There might not even be a specific cause. Tendinopathy is a condition in which tendons, the strong cords that attach muscles to bones, are painful. The affected part of the body may be hot, swollen and red. This can make moving that part of the body difficult.
You might also feel a grating sensation. This can be caused by over-use of that part of the body. Stopping or altering the activity that caused the problem may be the first step to recovery. Applying an ice pack, such as a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel, can also reduce pain and swelling. Aches and pains like back pain and neck pain usually don't have a serious cause. Find out about causes, treatments and exercises.
As well as medical treatments, there are many things you can do to help yourself manage your arthritis. You might not always feel like exercising if you have arthritis.
And you might be worried that exercising will make your pain or your condition worse. However, exercise can make symptoms such as pain and swelling better. There are several reasons why this is the case:. People usually find that low-impact exercise is best. You may feel some discomfort and sometimes pain when you exercise. This feeling is normal and should calm down a few minutes after you finish.
Exercise will help reduce pain and can help you manage your arthritis better. The key is to start off gently and to gradually increase the amount you do. Regular exercise is also an important part of maintaining a healthy weight. This will improve your symptoms as it will take pressure off joints.
Being overweight can make someone more likely to have inflammation in their body. The best way to lose weight is to have a healthy, low-fat, low-sugar and balanced diet.
Make sure you have plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, drink plenty of water, and exercise regularly. If you burn off more calories than you consume on a daily basis, you will lose weight. If you are ever struggling and need support or motivation to keep active, see a GP or physiotherapist. If you can afford it, another option would be to have regular sessions with a personal fitness trainer at a gym.
If you are able to find someone who is trained to personal trainer level two or above, they will be able to give you advice on the best exercises for you and can monitor your progress.
Make sure you tell them about your condition. Try these exercises for neck, shoulders, knees, back, hips, feet, ankles, toes, wrists, fingers and hands to manage your condition and maintain healthy joints. We explain which foods are most likely to help and how to lose weight if you need to. Having a good understanding of your condition will help you know about your treatment options and why exercise and other self-management methods are important.
They could also refer you to another relevant healthcare professional. This could include a physiotherapist , who is trained to help you with exercise and help you maintain movement and function of any part of your body affected by arthritis. Alternatively, you might benefit from seeing an occupational therapist. These are professionals who could help you overcome the difficulties that your condition might cause, by providing practical solutions.
Joint Swelling While osteoarthritis can create localized swelling, RA inflammation can cause all your joints to swell, making it very painful to move at all for long periods of time. Joint Stiffness The same applies here — osteoarthritis stiffness can be treated with exercise, but joint stiffness from RA can cause your joints to lock up completely, creating pain that courses from your joints and throughout the rest of your body. Trouble at Your Extremities Because RA can impact your entire body, it can be especially felt in your hands and feet.
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What Causes Arthritis? What is the Best Medicine for Arthritis?
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