A guide to living well with arthritis

If you’ve been diagnosed with 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, some hints, tips or gadgets may help relieve your symptoms and enable you to live your life as fully as possible. 

We’ve created a guide to how to help arthritis, including tips and advice on living life to the full with this condition.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition that causes damage and inflammation to the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and a decreased range of motion. It most commonly affects the hands, wrists, knees, hips, and spine. There are many types of arthritis, but these are the two most common:

• Osteoarthritis
  This is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, typically occurring as people age. It is a degenerative joint disease that breaks down and wears away the cartilage, the smooth tissue that covers the ends of bones within a joint. This makes the bones rub against each other, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion in the affected joint.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
  This chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium (the tissue lining the inside of the joints), damages the joints, cartilage and sometimes bones. It’s characterised by chronic inflammation and leads to pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the affected joints. 

It’s a common misconception that arthritis only affects older individuals, but it can also develop in younger people and even children.

Causes of arthritis

The causes of arthritis depend on the type. For example, osteoarthritis can be caused by ageing, injury, or overuse of the joint. Gout—another kind of arthritis—is caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in the joints and bacterial arthritis is caused by a bacterial infection that spreads to the joints. Genetics are also considered to be a major factor, as those with a family history of arthritis are more likely to develop it.

The exact causes of the many types of arthritis are still unknown. 

Symptoms of arthritis

Different types of arthritis have different symptoms, but they can share some commonalities:

• Joint pain, stiffness and tenderness
• Reduced range of motion
• Weakness and muscle wasting
• Warmth and redness on the skin covering the affected joint
• Swelling

What to do if you have arthritis

If you are regularly experiencing symptoms and believe you have arthritis, please consult your doctor. They’ll review your symptoms and medical history, and a referral to rheumatology can confirm the diagnosis and determine what kind of arthritis you may be experiencing.

Treatment for arthritis

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for arthritis. However, there are treatments and ways to help symptoms and make it easier to live with. You may be prescribed medication to reduce and relieve symptoms and referred for physiotherapy to train your joints to regain strength and movement. In more severe cases, you could receive surgery such as joint replacement or osteotomy.

There are a lot of ways you can manage arthritis symptoms alongside your treatments, such as implementing lifestyle changes. Exercising and stretching regularly will improve joint flexibility and strength to avoid weakness and stiffness. Check with your GP or healthcare provider to see which changes are suitable for you.

How to help arthritis

At Complete Care Shop, we have a wealth of resources and products for living well with arthritis. It can be demanding, making everyday tasks a struggle, which is why we want to make it easier for you. Our living aids are designed to maximise your comfort, safety, and independence.

Recommended products

• Walking aids for arthritis—It's essential for your mental and physical health to get out and about, as it gives us the necessary vitamin D to build stronger muscles and bones. From walking frames to mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and rollators, we have a diverse range of mobility aids to help you get about and reduce the strain on your joints.
• Dressing aids for arthritis—Living with arthritis doesn’t mean giving up your personal style. Our sock aids, dressing sticks, and button hooks allow you to retain your independence and fashion sense. 
• Personal care products for arthritis—It can be difficult to wash without straining your joints, which is where our long-handled sponges come in. If getting in and out of the bathtub is becoming increasingly difficult, we have other products to help, from bath steps and bath seats to bath lifts that raise you from the bottom of the bath.
• Kitchen aids for arthritis—Cooking and eating your own meals is important for boosting your confidence and independence, but it can be difficult with joint pain. Use a perching stool to rest whenever you start to feel pain, can and jar openers can reduce the strain on your fingers, and a kettle tipper can allow you to pour your tea without the risk of any accident. We also have two-handled non-spill cups and mugs, ergonomic cutlery, and non-slip mats.

Useful charities and resources

Living with arthritis can take a toll on your body and your mental well-being; you may want to chat with others in a similar position as you. Many charities in the UK offer support groups so you can meet and share resources with others like you.

Arthritis Action is a UK charity providing practical help to those affected by arthritis. They offer self-management support, mental health resources, online groups, employment support and more.

Versus Arthritis is the UK’s largest charity dedicated to helping those suffering from arthritis. Its helpline provides tailored support, an online community that allows you to chat with others, and detailed information about arthritis and its different types.

How can Complete Care Shop help?

Complete Care Shop aims to enable your independence and prioritise your comfort. Our Arthritis Health Hub contains more guides, tips about living with this condition, and product recommendations from our qualified Occupational Therapists (OTs). You can also contact our OTs and OTAs (Occupational Therapy Assistants) for expert product advice or a virtual home living consultation. For any further advice or information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.