What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a group of conditions that cause inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the joints. Arthritis can affect people of all ages. There are around 10 million people suffering from arthritis in the UK.

Main forms of arthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA). OA is the most common form of arthritis and usually affects people from the age of 45 onwards. It starts as a “wear and tear” roughening of cartilage and leads to damage inside joints as well as pain and stiffness. The areas of the body most commonly affected are the knees, hands, hips, and back.

Gout. Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that causes painful swelling in joints. It is caused by high levels of uric acid in the body. Obesity, excessive alcohol use or eating too much of certain foods (seafood and shellfish, bacon, turkey, veal, venison, and organ meats) can cause uric acid levels to rise. Gout affects more men than women and usually starts with a painful swelling in one of the big toes, that spreads to other areas.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is the second most common form of arthritis. RA occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues surrounding the joints, causing inflammation and pain. This makes moving the affected areas difficult and painful and can lead to permanent damage to the bones and joints.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS). AS is a form of arthritis that causes pain and swelling in the back, buttocks, hips and around the joints of the spine. This condition typically causes pain in the second half of the night, and painful swelling of the back in the morning.

Psoriatic arthritis. It is a form of arthritis that happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, causing painful swelling and stiffness in the joints, as well as a scaly skin condition called psoriasis. Psoriasis can affect several areas of the body, including the elbows, knees, back, buttocks and scalp.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA is a form of arthritis that affects children. It is triggered when the immune system attacks healthy tissues around the joints and results in swelling and pain in the joints.

There is no cure for arthritis; however, with the right treatment and approaches, the symptoms can be managed.

In the UK, 60% of people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions use a variety of complementary medicine products. Complementary medicine includes acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, medical herbalism, and osteopathy.

I present natural complementary and alternative options to manage arthritis symptoms. I introduce these natural products to allow the reader to make informed decisions about their wellbeing in collaboration with their healthcare professional.