About Arthritis

What is ARTHRITIS?

Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint.  In the UK, more than 10 million people have arthritis or other similar conditions that affect the joints.  Arthritis affects people of all ages, including children.

To learn more about the different types of arthritis, click here.

What causes ARTHRITIS

The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.  However, there are many different causes of arthritis.

To learn about the different causes of arthritis, click here.

Do I have ARTHRITIS?

The symptoms of arthritis vary depending on the nature and severity of the underlying cause.  The symptoms include:

- Joint pain, tenderness and stiffness
- Restricted movement of the joints 
- Warmth and red skin over the affected joint
- Weakness and muscle wasting around the joint 

For information on diagnosing ARTHRITIS, click here.

What treatment is available ?

There are treatments available for all forms of arthritis.  However, the treatment will depend on the cause of the arthritis.  Treatments may include medicines, physiotherapy and surgery.  Some causes of arthritis only need treatment for a short time.  Other causes of arthritis may need lifelong treatment.  For osteoarthritis, if it affects the hip or the knee, surgery can be done to replace the entire joint. 

To learn more about the treatments available for arthritis, click here.