If you’ve been given a diagnosis of arthritis, you may have concerns about what it could be like living with this long-term condition. If the symptoms have existed for a long time, you’ve probably learnt things that help you manage on a day-to-day basis. However, there may be some hints, tips or gadgets which could help to relieve your symptoms and enable you to live your life as fully as possible. Read our guide about living with arthritis to pick up some tips.
Arthritis is a condition that describes damage to the joints within the body. There are many different types of arthritis, which are caused by different processes occurring within the body to cause damage to joints.
The two most common types of arthritis are:
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects the cartilage. This is the smooth tissue that covers the ends of bones within a joint. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and typically develops gradually over time. It commonly affects weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips, ankles, and spine, as well as the hands and fingers.
In a healthy joint, cartilage provides a cushioning effect and allows for smooth movement. However, with osteoarthritis, the cartilage begins to break down and wear away. As a result, the bones may rub against each other, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion in the affected joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints. It is characterised by chronic inflammation, which leads to pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the affected joints. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis involves the immune system mistakenly attacking the body's own tissues, particularly the lining of the joints.
The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The immune system dysfunction in RA leads to an inflammatory response in the lining of the joints, causing it to become thickened and resulting in the production of excess synovial fluid. This inflammation can lead to damage to the cartilage and bones within the joint. It can also affect other organs and systems in the body.
Over 10 million people in the UK have some form of arthritis, so you are not alone. Your symptoms are likely to include feeling stiff – especially in the morning – cracking joints, swollen and red joints, muscle weakness and tiredness. However, everyone is different. Those living with arthritis will experience different levels of symptoms and pain, but there are things that could help you manage your symptoms and live well and fully.
It's important for both your mental and physical health to get out and about, regardless of your disability. Going outside makes us feel better and gives us essential vitamin D for building stronger muscles and bones. Going outside – even if it’s only for 15 minutes a day – can significantly improve your health, whether that’s doing a spot of gardening, hanging out the laundry, going for a gentle walk, or throwing a ball for your dog.
Of course, getting outside safely may mean that you have to use mobility aids such as a rollator or walking stick to compensate for a balance issue and prevent falls, but NHS research shows that it’s worth it. This may be particularly the case if you’re in open spaces or unfamiliar places.
If you feel that you need more assistance to benefit from the fresh air and get outside, you could always invest in a wheelchair or scooter. This may enable you to sit outside with family and friends or simply have a cup of tea in the sunshine.
If you’re feeling more adventurous and want to go further afield, in the car or on public transport, there are many products that can make this easier for you and your family.
If you have tired muscles and painful joints, it could help to have a soak in a warm bath to help soothe aches. But if you're finding getting in and out of the bathtub is becoming increasingly difficult, there are many products that can help, from bath steps and seats to bath lifts which raise you up from the bottom of the bath.
You may also want to consider your safety when you have a bath if getting around is becoming a little tricky. An alarm can help to give you peace of mind that you can get help if you need it. Also, putting grab rails on the side of the bath and having slip-resistant flooring in the bathroom can help to keep you safe when in the bathroom.
Getting dressed when living with ankle arthritis, or in your hands, hips or knees, can become a tricky task due to stiffness and pain. Here are some tips to make it a little easier:
Keeping active and productive is really important for your physical and mental health and, unfortunately, this includes the household chores. You may feel like these are getting on top of you but there are simple things you can try to help make these tasks achievable despite living with ankle arthritis or pain in your knees:
Eating and drinking are one of life’s pleasures and should continue to be made as easy and enjoyable as possible while living with arthritis. Simple modifications made as early as possible can really make a difference:
When living with ankle arthritis, your joints can feel painful and stiff when getting up from furniture. Simple additions like furniture raisers can make all the difference. Also, investing in riser recliner chairs might give you the extra “umph” you need! A bed grab rail can also help you to sit up easier.
Hopefully, this has given you a few ideas to help make living with arthritis a little easier and more comfortable.
If you'd like more personalised recommendations, you may find it useful to take advantage of our virtual assessment service with an Occupational Therapist. They'll be able to identify different ways of doing things or products that can help you in your day-to-day.
If you’re finding daily life an increasing struggle, it's a good idea to check in with your doctor as they may be able to offer further help and advice.
For any other queries and support, don’t hesitate to contact us.
By signing up you consent to us using your email address in accordance with our privacy policy.