Arthritis is a painful, long term invisible health condition which affects over 10 million people in the U.K. While often seen as an older person’s illness, around 15,000 children and young people also live with arthritis and it can affect people of all ages.
Living with an invisible, painful illness can be incredibly difficult. Some people may struggle with mobility and doing everyday things around the house, whilst others may feel they are unable to enjoy physical activities because of the pain. Arthritis affects different people in different ways and some days may bring more symptoms than others.
While there is no cure for arthritis, there are many ways to manage the pain of arthritis.
The pain and symptoms of arthritis
Arthritis means ‘inflammation in the joints’. Inflammation is a difficult thing to imagine and describe, but it is part of the body’s normal healing process, just like the healing of a cut or a bruise. Inflammation can be thought of as being like a bruise with swelling on the inside of the joints, and this can cause symptoms including pain and stiffness.
The two most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage (a smooth layer of tissue that lies between the bone and the joint and helps your joints move smoothly) starts to wear down. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and lack of mobility in the joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition where the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body, which leads to painful inflammation.
The pain felt due to arthritis differs hugely from person to person, and can come and go at different times. The reason for this pain and stiffness depends on the type of arthritis causing it. In osteoarthritis, the body is attempting to repair itself, forming new bone which grinds painfully against your body. For people with rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the joints, causing swelling, pain and stiffness. Gout, meanwhile, is caused by crystals of uric acid irritating the joints.
The impact of arthritis
Not all days with arthritis are the same and symptoms can flare up and then feel comparatively mild. If you have arthritis in your hand, it may be difficult to hold a book or open a can. If you have arthritis in the knee, it may be difficult to walk, dance or run. Living with an invisible health condition can be incredibly frustrating and uncomfortable, but luckily there are drug and drug-free options which can help alleviate the symptoms.
Arthritis’ impact on sleep and mental health
Aside from physical pain, arthritis can have a huge impact on a person’s mental health.
Pain can lead to poor sleep quality, meaning that people wake frequently up at night and do not get the deep restorative sleep that we all need to wake up feeling refreshed. This contributes to fatigue and low mood, both of which can then increase the levels of pain in a vicious cycle.
Managing an invisible illness
The pain of arthritis can be really difficult at times, but self management combined with medication and drug-free alternatives can help reduce symptoms and give you back control over your life.
Research shows that a supported ‘self-management’ approach towards living with arthritis, including managing your exercise, weight, pain management, and healthy eating, can significantly improve your quality of life.
Self-management of arthritis, put simply, is managing your condition yourself using a variety of methods to address both the physical and mental impacts of arthritis. Arthritis affects people differently, so each individual can choose the techniques that help them live a fuller, more active life whilst living with the condition. There are many techniques that can help symptoms, especially managing weight, sensible use of pain-killing medicines, gentle exercise, and therapies to help with the mind, sleep or pain-related worries.
Living with the pain of arthritis can be incredibly challenging, but luckily there are many ways you can help manage your symptoms to reduce the pain. How does arthritis impact your life and what do you find helps? Let us know on Facebook.
