Arthritis is a condition of pain and inflammation in one or more joints. Arthritis and other common joint problems affect more than 10 million people in the UK.
What are the different types of arthritis?
There are different types of arthritis, the main being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. You may have also heard of psoriatic arthritis, gout, and lupus, which are also recognised as types of arthritis.
What is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?
The main difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is that osteoarthritis involves the physical wearing away of the joint cartilage, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that attacks the joints and surrounding tissue. Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects individuals at a younger age, but not always. Osteoarthritis tends to affect large joints, particularly knees and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects multiple joints at the same time and is often symmetrical (affecting the same joints on each side of the body).
The most common cause of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is a disorder whereby there is structural change within a joint due to abnormal repair in the setting of injury and/or increasing age. It is the most common joint disease globally. It is estimated to affect almost 9 million people in the UK.
The next most common arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis which is a systemic inflammatory disease, which typically affects the small joints of the hands and feet in a symmetrical fashion, although it may affect any joint. In addition to pain and swelling, it classically results in early morning stiffness. In addition to its effects on the joints it can also affect other bodily systems such as the eyes, lungs or heart.
Other causes of arthritis include:
What causes osteoarthritis?
The most common cause of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is a disorder whereby there is structural change within a joint due to abnormal repair in the setting of injury and/or increasing age. It is the most common joint disease globally. It is estimated to affect almost 9 million people in the UK.
What causes arthritis to flare up?
Arthritis flare ups are usually caused by over-use of the arthritic joints. But there may be some other triggers such as inconsistency with your treatment plan, stress or lack of sleep. This differs from person to person and it’s important to make note of what you think might have caused your flare up to understand the cause.
The symptoms associated with arthritis will depend on the underlying cause for the pain. The pain may be mild or severe and continuous or sporadic.
Many types of arthritis are associated with reduced range of movement of affected body structures resulting in limited function and restriction in activities.
The most common pain locations are back, hips and knees. However, the way the specific sites and the way they are affected may suggest the underlying cause of arthritis. Therefore, it is always important to seek a diagnosis where possible through a trained healthcare professional.
Arthritis is not only a physical problem; it often has severe effects on psychological, social and economic health.
What are the main signs of arthritis?
The main signs of arthritis are:
What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are vast, and it is important to note that some of these symptoms will help medical professionals differentiate the type of arthritis that you are suffering from. The main symptoms are:
Below is a list of symptoms that may also affect individuals with rheumatoid arthritis:
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are:
A holistic approach is often needed to treat chronic arthritis. Physiotherapy, modifications to work and home environment and psychological therapies are important aspects of patient care. It is also important to try and continue exercising as tolerated.
Medical therapy is dependent on the underlying cause of arthritis, as addressing the underlying cause is an important component of treatment.
For arthritis, simple painkillers are often first line treatment with stronger painkillers used in conjunction in severe pain. For those with inflammatory arthritis they may be started on specialist medications that regulate their immune system.
For those with osteoarthritis of the hip or knees, they may benefit from an operation when severe.
Medicinal cannabis can be considered when first line therapies have not achieved adequate symptom control for their pain. There is insufficient evidence to suggest whether medicinal cannabis may affect disease progression.
Arthritis is usually diagnosed by taking a thorough history and examination to identify the type of pain, severity, functional impact, and context.
Blood tests are often usual when assessing whether the arthritis is part of a systemic inflammatory condition.
Some patients may benefit from X-Rays, ultrasound scans or MRI scans of the affected areas, depending on the symptoms described by the affected individual.
A clinician may make recommendations for other investigations, such as joint aspiration, depending on the underlying cause of the arthritis.
There is no cure for arthritis, but there are many ways in which arthritis can be treated. A holistic approach is often needed to treat chronic arthritis. Physiotherapy, modifications to work and home environment and psychological therapies are important aspects of patient care. It is also important to try and continue exercising as tolerated.
Medical therapy is dependent on the underlying cause of arthritis, as addressing the underlying cause is an important component of treatment.
Pain relief for arthritis
Managing the pain that arthritis causes is a crucial part of your treatment plan. For arthritis, simple painkillers are often first line treatment with stronger painkillers used in conjunction in severe pain. For those with inflammatory arthritis they may be started on specialist medications that regulate their immune system.
For those with osteoarthritis of the hip or knees, they may benefit from an operation when severe.
For arthritis pain relief, medicinal cannabis can be considered when first line therapies have not achieved adequate symptom control for the pain. There is insufficient evidence to suggest whether medicinal cannabis may affect disease progression.
Rheumatoid arthritis treatment
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis can differ from other types of arthritis due to it being an inflammatory, auto-immune disease. The most common first line of treatment is a course of a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARDs). They can sometimes be prescribed alongside steroids to help reduce the pain and delay progression of the disease.
There are of course holistic approaches that can be used to help manage rheumatoid arthritis pain, like those suggested above (e.g. pain killers or medicinal cannabis).
Arrange an Appointment
If you are a patient or carer seeking an appointment to discuss medical cannabis, you can complete this form and we can assist you with this.
Eligible patients can provide us with their healthcare records or we can obtain these through your GP. This is to confirm that a patient’s condition has been fully assessed and all other treatment options have been attempted. We will ensure that the primary care provider receives all treatment communication to maintain the highest level of clinical governance.
We also accept referrals from healthcare professionals.
To refer a patient to us, please click here to fill and securely submit a referral form.
Research into the effect of medicinal cannabis on pain associated with arthritis is limited. However, following the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes in 2018, there has been a rise in people looking towards medical cannabis. When first-line therapies have not proved effective at reducing symptoms, medical cannabis may be considered an option for arthritis.
For further information and to find out more about medical cannabis, click here to discover more about our multi-award-winning Sapphire Access Scheme. Alternatively, complete an eligibility assessment now. Once complete, one of our clinicians will review your application and advise whether you are eligible for progression to an appointment.
Arthritis usually develops as the cartilage around your joints begins to wear down. It can be a result of an injury or incorrect use over many years.
Arthritis usually starts with a pain called arthralgia. Arthralgia is the aching or burning sensation that you feel in your joints when you suffer with the condition. It can come on after using the affected area for a long time, for example, if you suffer with arthritis in your knees and you have been for a long walk, you may start to feel the pain that is arthralgia.
Arthritis can look red and swollen and can be more noticeable in some areas like your hands and feet. Joints may look large and swollen.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disease, which typically affects the small joints of the hands and feet in a symmetrical fashion, although it may affect any joint. In addition to pain and swelling, it classically results in early morning stiffness. In addition to its effects on the joints it can also affect other bodily systems such as the eyes, lungs or heart.
Read more above in the ‘symptoms’ section to find out more about rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes joint pain, stiffness, and tenderness.
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects people who also suffer with psoriasis. This is a long-term skin condition that causes painful dry, red, and flaky skin. According to the NHS, almost 1 in 3 people with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis, and usually develops years after psoriasis has been diagnosed.
Psoriatic arthritis has similar symptoms to other types of arthritis, such as stiff and swollen joints.
The most common parts of the body that suffer from arthritis are:
Due to the number of joints and bones in your hands, fingers tend to be a very common area of the body to be affected by arthritis and can be extremely painful. Arthritic fingers can be caused by:
You may have arthritis in the hands for all or none of the above reasons. You must see a professional who would take a full health assessment to be able to understand why you have developed arthritis.
If you are a patient or carer seeking an appointment to discuss treatment with medical cannabis, you can complete this form and we can assist you with this.
Eligible patients can provide us with their healthcare records or we can obtain these through your GP. This is to confirm that a patient’s condition has been fully assessed and all other treatment options have been attempted. We will ensure that the primary care provider receives all treatment communication to maintain the highest level of clinical governance.
We also accept referrals from healthcare professionals.
To refer a patient to us, please click here to fill and securely submit a referral form.
Press contact:
[email protected]
Head Office Address: – Sapphire Clinics, 10 Harley St, London W1G 9QY
Postal Address:- Sapphire Clinics, PO Box 1436, Sunderland, SR5 9UE
| Overall Rating for this Location | Good |
| Are Services Well-led? | Outstanding |
