People with OA are unlikely to experience systemic symptoms. The degenerative nature of OA is limited solely to the joints. You might develop lumps under the skin around joints, but these lumps are different from rheumatoid nodules. People with OA tend to develop bone spurs , or excess bone growth at the edges of the affected joints. Learn more about the symptoms of OA.
RA usually begins in the smaller joints. As RA progresses, symptoms can develop in larger joints such as knees , shoulders , and ankles. RA is a symmetrical disease. OA is less symmetrical. You might have pain in both your left and right knee , for example, but one side or one joint is worse.
OA, like RA, is common in the hand and fingers. OA often affects the spine and hips in addition to the knees. Anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid medications are generally effective for both OA and RA , but use of corticosteroids is minimized. If you have RA, drugs that suppress your immune system can prevent damage by stopping your body from attacking your joints, and prevent joint damage. While OA usually develops after years of wear and tear on cartilage, people with RA may have it earlier in life due to causes such as sports injuries that result in damage to the cartilage, joints, or ligaments.
While people with OA may have morning stiffness that lasts fewer than 30 minutes , it lasts longer for people with RA. Treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms of both conditions. If needed, they can refer you to a specialist who can help you find the right treatment to manage your condition. Warm joints, or the sensation of heat or warmth around the joints, can be caused by arthritis, bursitis, osteoarthritis, tennis elbow and other…. OA occurs when cartilage breaks down from age or heavy use.
The degeneration of cartilage exposes the bones of the joint and allows bone on bone…. Arthrosis and arthritis are conditions that affect your bones, ligaments, and joints.
Learn about the differences and how to treat them. People with hypermobile joints are able to extend them painlessly beyond the normal range of motion. This occurs when the tissues holding the joint…. Arthritis is a common condition that can cause inflammation and pain in the joints. This article explores the connection between eggs and rheumatoid…. Navigating a chronic condition on your own terms can be challenging, especially when family members think they know best.
Showering and bathing can be difficult when you're living with arthritis. These hacks from an occupational therapist with rheumatoid arthritis can…. Members of the RA Healthline community shared what other people don't understand about living with rheumatoid arthritis, which can often be invisible…. Fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis are two different conditions that can have similar symptoms.
Find out more about living with rheumatoid arthritis. Having rheumatoid arthritis can lead to several other conditions that may cause additional symptoms and can sometimes be life threatening. Making sure that rheumatoid arthritis is well controlled can help to reduce your risk of these complications.
Find out more about complications of rheumatoid arthritis. In this video, a rheumatologist describes the effects of rheumatoid arthritis and the symptoms and treatments. Page last reviewed: 28 August Next review due: 28 August There may be periods where symptoms become worse, known as flare-ups or flares. Video: rheumatoid arthritis In this video, a rheumatologist describes the effects of rheumatoid arthritis and the symptoms and treatments.
Media last reviewed: 21 April Media review due: 21 April Heated items that could help your joint pain include a hot water bottle or electric heat pad. Wrap these in a towel, then place on a painful joint.
You could also try having a hot or warm shower or bath. Other heated items that people have found useful are wheat bag, heat pads, deep heat cream, or a heat lamp. Make sure these items are warm but not hot, as you could risk burning or scalding yourself. Gentle heat will be enough. A towel should be placed between the heated item and the skin for protection. Check your skin regularly, to make sure it is not burning. Some people find that using an ice pack can help their joint pain.
You can buy one from a pharmacy, or you can make one at home, by wrapping ice cubes in a plastic bag or wet tea towel. You may find it difficult to be physically active in the first place, especially if you are having a flare-up. However, if you find the right activities, help and support, you can be active in a way that suits you.
Not keeping active can lead to stiff joints and weak muscles. It could also cause you to gain weight. As you get used to it, this will get better.
However, if a type of exercise always causes a flare-up, it's probably best to find another one. High-impact exercises such as step exercises, or contact sports, such as rugby and football, are more likely to cause problems. Swimming, walking, gentle cycling and aqua aerobics generally put less strain on your joints. Yoga and tai chi are generally thought to be suitable for those with rheumatoid arthritis.
However, there are many different styles, so it is best to check the style is suitable for your condition before you sign up to a class. You should also break up long periods of sitting with light activity, to avoid being sedentary for extended periods. A physiotherapist can suggest suitable exercises for you and support you in keeping active. People with rheumatoid arthritis should have access to specialist physiotherapy to help manage their condition and improve their fitness, flexibility and strength.
You should also have follow-up reviews. Find a physiotherapist on The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy website. You may also find that hydrotherapy helps to ease your symptoms. This involves doing special exercises in a warm-water pool, under the supervision of a trained physiotherapist. Any member of your healthcare team should be able to refer you to an NHS physiotherapist if they think you might benefit from hydrotherapy.
In some parts of the UK, you can also refer yourself to a physiotherapist , who will assess whether hydrotherapy would be suitable for you.
Check with your GP or call your local rheumatology department to find out if an NHS physiotherapist in your area will accept self-referrals. It can help to improve the pain in your joints, and you may also find it relaxing. Ask your doctor or physiotherapist if they think hydrotherapy would be suitable for you.
If these problems are left untreated, they can lead to the infections spreading and, eventually, to ulcers forming. It is therefore important to see a podiatrist , who specialises in general foot care. They can give advice on footwear, information on how to treat foot problems yourself, and can provide special insoles.
They can also monitor your foot and general health, and will refer you to a consultant if they find any issues. There may be a podiatrist in the rheumatology department where you receive your care, or you may get a referral to an NHS podiatrist. GPs can also refer you to community-based services. You can find a private podiatrist on the College of Podiatry website. Complementary treatments can be useful when used alongside prescribed medicines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, they should not replace your prescribed medicines and you should talk to your rheumatology team before starting a complementary treatment.
Generally complementary treatments aren't considered to be evidence-based and are therefore not usually available on the NHS. Occupational therapists can help you keep doing the activities you need or want to do — at home or at work.
They will work with you to find different ways of doing things. Ask your GP about occupational therapists that are local to you. If you regularly see a social worker, nurse or other health care professional, they can help you contact an occupational therapist through health or social services. Be prepared to describe any difficulties you have and how they are affecting your life, or the lives of those who care for you.
You may want to know how long it will be until you get an appointment, so remember to ask if there is a waiting list. You can also see an occupational therapist privately. You will be able to get an appointment quicker, but it will cost you money. Find an occupational therapist that works privately on the Royal College of Occupational Therapist website.
If you have trouble doing everyday tasks, you may find it useful to use certain aids and adaptations. Aids can help you manage everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, and cooking. These can include shoe horns, rails or handles, and shower seats.
Adaptations are bigger items that can help you move around your home. These items include wheelchairs, fixed ramps and baths with built-in handles. You can request a needs assessment from your council to see if you would be eligible for aids and adaptations. Aids and minor adaptations you receive form your local council should not be means-tested, meaning that no matter how much money you have, the local authority has to provide you with them.
If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, contact your GP or local council for information about access to these items. If you are living with rheumatoid arthritis, you may also be living with one or more other conditions. Depression is the most common condition among people with rheumatoid arthritis, affecting one in six people. If you are feeling low, talk to your GP, who can signpost you to the appropriate services.
You can also call the arthritis helpline for free on , where our trained advisors can give you help and support. If you're over the age of 55, The Silver Line is there 24 hours a day, days a year to provide information, support and friendship. If you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, Switchboard is available from 10am—11pm, days a year, to listen to any problems you're having. Surgery is sometimes needed for those with rheumatoid arthritis.
This can be to reduce pain, correct joint shape or restore your ability to use your joint. The types of surgery people with rheumatoid arthritis undergo are:.
During the operation, an arthroscope is inserted into the joint through a small cut in the skin, so the surgeon can see the affected joint. Damaged tissue is then removed. You usually don't have to stay overnight in hospital for this type of surgery, but the joint will need to be rested at home for several days. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis need surgery to replace part or all of a joint - this is known as a joint replacement, or arthroplasty.
Common joint replacements include the hip, knee and shoulder. Replacement of these joints is a major operation that involves several days in hospital, followed by rehabilitation, which can take months. The latest joints generally last for 10 to 20 years, and there is no guarantee that the new joint will be fully functional.
For more information on surgery, see our surgery content. There's no single diet that will help everyone with rheumatoid arthritis. However, some people find that making changes to their diet helps their symptoms. For more information, see our diet and arthritis content. There is little evidence that taking supplements will improve rheumatoid arthritis, or its symptoms. However, some people think certain supplements work for them.
Some supplements may be prescribed by your specialist team or GP. For example, folic acid may be prescribed if you are taking methotrexate, and calcium and vitamin D may be prescribed if you are taking steroids. This could include people in care homes and people who cover their skin when outside. Ethnic minority groups with dark skin — from African, Afro-Caribbean and South Asian backgrounds — should also consider taking a supplement throughout the year, as they may not get enough vitamin D from sunlight in the summer.
Most couples — whether they have arthritis or not — go through phases when their sex life is less exciting or satisfying than it was. There may be physical reasons for this, but emotional factors and stress often play a part.
For more information, see our sex, relationships and arthritis content. We explain which foods are most likely to help and how to lose weight if you need to. We're currently funding research projects to find out what causes rheumatoid arthritis, and to develop new and improved treatments.
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