Osteoarthritis – symptoms, causes, and ways to cope

From restless.co.uk

Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes joint pain and stiffness. According to the NHS, it’s the most common type of arthritis in the UK and affects over 9 million people.

The condition can significantly affect a person’s mobility, mental wellbeing, and overall quality of life, so taking steps to prevent or manage symptoms can make a real difference.

Here, we’ll cover exactly what osteoarthritis is – including symptoms, causes, prevention, and tips for coping. We hope you find it useful.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis causes joints to become stiff and painful. It initially affects our joints’ smooth cartilage (which lines the surface and caps the ends of our bones), making it more difficult to move. Once the cartilage lining has begun to thin, tendons and ligaments have to work harder to move joints, which can cause them to swell and develop bony lumps (osteophytes).

Osteoarthritis can affect almost any joint in the body, but most commonly occurs in the hands, fingers, hips, knees, shoulders, and spine (typically the neck or lower back). While it can affect people of any age, it’s most common in older adults.

Osteoarthritis is often confused with osteoporosis because people can have both conditions simultaneously; however, each is distinct. While osteoarthritis causes pain in joints and reduces their function and mobility, osteoporosis is caused by a loss of bone mass, which increases a person’s risk of fractures and injuries.

The condition also differs from rheumatoid arthritis, which is another form of arthritis that causes the immune system to attack joints, often leading to pain and swelling.

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

Joint pain, stiffness, and reduced joint mobility are some of the most common osteoarthritis symptoms.

Other symptoms can include swelling and tenderness, and grating, clicking, cracking, or popping sounds when joints are moved. Some people may also have extra lumps of bone in their joints, or find that their joints look slightly bigger or more ‘knobbly’ than usual.

The severity of symptoms can vary from person to person and differ between individual joints. For example, some people might find that their symptoms come and go, or are mild, while others may experience more severe, continuous symptoms that can make it difficult to carry out daily activities.

We’ll cover some of the main types of osteoarthritis below, along with their symptoms…

Osteoarthritis of the knee

Osteoarthritis of the knee can make walking painful, particularly when going up or down stairs or hills.

You may find it difficult to straighten your legs, hear grating sounds when you move the joint, or find that your knees feel as though they might ‘give way’ beneath you.

Osteoarthritis of the knee usually affects both knees over time – unless it’s the result of an injury or other condition that only affected one knee.

Osteoarthritis of the hand

Osteoarthritis tends to affect three main areas of the hand – the base of the thumb, the middle joints of the fingers, and the joints closest to the fingertips.

Symptoms include fingers becoming stiff, painful, swollen, and bending slightly sideways. Some people may also have bumps on their finger joints or painful cysts on the back of their fingers. In some cases, a bump can also develop where the base of the thumb joins to your wrist.

Osteoarthritis of the hand can make it difficult to perform manual tasks such as opening jars, writing, and turning keys.

Osteoarthritis of the hip

Osteoarthritis of the hip can impact the movement of the hip joints – for example, making it tricky to get in and out of a car or put on shoes.

It can also cause pain in the groin or outer hip, which can intensify when you move around.

What causes osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is caused by joint damage. In part, this is a normal process of life as our joints are exposed to constant low-level damage – for example, through everyday activities such as running, repetitive motions like typing, and sitting in a cramped position for long periods.

In most cases, the body repairs itself, and you won’t experience symptoms. However, osteoarthritis occurs when the damage is more severe, and the protective cartilage at the end of bones breaks down.

Damage to the protective cartilage can progress over time, which is why age is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis. That said, the condition can occur at any point, and there are several other risk factors to consider. These include…

• Obesity – being obese places excess strain on the joints, particularly on those responsible for bearing most weight, such as the hips and knees.

• Previous injury – for example, dislocated joints, torn cartilage, or ligament injuries – and overusing a joint when it hasn’t had enough time to heal.

• Other health conditions – osteoarthritis can occur in joints that have been damaged by another condition, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis. Diabetes has also been identified as a risk factor. In fact, according to experts, almost half of adults with diabetes also have arthritis.

• Family history – research suggests that osteoarthritis may run in families, although studies have yet to identify a single gene responsible for this.

• Gender – due to factors like menopause, which can cause loss of bone mass, women have a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis than men.

• Occupation – having a job that involves kneeling, heavy lifting, climbing, or other similar physical actions can increase the risk of osteoarthritis by placing strain on joints.

How is osteoarthritis diagnosed and treated?

There’s no definitive test used to diagnose osteoarthritis. Instead, diagnosis will typically involve your GP asking questions about your symptoms and examining your joints.

Further tests, such as blood tests or X-rays, aren’t often necessary but may be used to rule out other possible causes of symptoms, such as bone fractures or rheumatoid arthritis.

While there’s currently no cure for osteoarthritis, several treatments can help reduce symptoms. For example, painkillers or a structured exercise plan with a physiotherapist may be advised if your symptoms are more severe.

You can find out more about osteoarthritis treatment and support on the NHS website. However, you should always seek advice from your GP before taking any medication.

6 ways to manage symptoms and reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis

Alongside medication and other professional treatments, lifestyle changes can also play a role in preventing osteoarthritis or managing symptoms.

We’ll cover some of these below.

1. Exercise regularly

Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to keep joints healthy.

Research has shown that exercising regularly can help slow, manage, and, in some cases, prevent osteoarthritis. This is because it can relieve stiffness, reduce joint pain and fatigue, and increase bone and muscle strength (which reduces pressure on joints).

Low-impact exercises, such as resistance training, stretching, and walking, tend to be the most effective at keeping joints mobile while limiting strain. For ideas on how to get started, check out our articles: 15 low-impact exercise ideas and 7 low-impact exercises you can do at home.

2. Improve your posture

Working on your posture and avoiding staying in one position for too long can help reduce your risk of osteoarthritis.

This includes moving around regularly and ensuring that your chair is adjusted to the correct height if your job involves sitting at a desk for long periods.

If you’re looking to work on this, try these 5 exercises to help improve your posture.

3. Get enough rest

Exercise can help keep your joints healthy and manage osteoarthritis symptoms, but getting enough rest is just as important.

Research has found that prioritising sleep quality and getting adequate rest each night may help to reduce osteoarthritis pain. This is because our bodies recover during sleep.

If you struggle to get enough good-quality rest, check out the tips in our sleep and fatigue section. 

4. Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight places stress on joints, which can speed up the deterioration of joint cartilage. This can either worsen existing osteoarthritis symptoms or increase your risk of developing the condition.

As well as exercising regularly, one of the most important steps you can take to maintain a healthy weight is to eat a balanced diet.

If you’d like help losing weight healthily and sustainably, head over to our diet and nutrition section. Here, you’ll find advice on everything from ways to cut back on added sugar to healthy and filling recipes.

5. Eat for joint health

Research has also revealed that some nutrients – such as calcium and vitamin D – are particularly beneficial for joint health.

Some joint-friendly foods include fatty fish, walnuts, ginger, broccoli, and olive oil. For example, research has found that omega-3 fatty acids in fish may decrease inflammation and slow osteoarthritis progression.

For more information on how to eat for joint health, check out our article: 10 best foods for healthy joints and which to avoid.

6. Maintain healthy blood sugar levels

Research has drawn a link between diabetes and an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.

This is because high glucose levels can increase molecules that stiffen bone cartilage, while diabetes can cause inflammation, accelerating cartilage breakdown.

As a result, regulating blood glucose levels can help prevent the onset of osteoarthritis and manage symptoms. For more information, you might like to read our article: 12 science-backed ways to lower (or regulate) blood sugar levels.

Final thoughts…

Osteoarthritis can be a painful and frustrating condition to live with. While there’s currently no cure, several things can help manage symptoms and reduce your risk of developing the condition. Simple lifestyle habits, such as eating a joint-friendly diet and prioritising sleep, can make all the difference.

For further reading, check out our general health section. Here, you’ll find information on everything from gut and bladder health to important health checks and ways to boost longevity.

If you’d like to learn more about how bones work and change as we age, check out our Better Bones series running on Rest Less Events.

Find out more

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How Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Affect Your Marriage — and What You Can Do About It

From everydayhealth.com

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects more than your joints and mobility. The impact of the chronic autoimmune disorder can be profound, reshaping daily routines and the emotional rhythm of marriages and long-term relationships.

When one partner develops RA, couples must adjust to chronic pain, fatigue, stiffness, and unpredictability. A small study involving 17 couples living with chronic illness found that partnership “disappears” behind the disease, caregivers mourn the loss of intimacy, and couples struggle with changing roles and rebalancing their relationship. Over time, both the person with RA and the spouse can encounter feelings of loss, frustration, guilt, and resentment.

But experts say those reactions are normal — and that couples can find ways to adapt together in the face of an RA diagnosis.

“When one partner develops a chronic illness — particularly a condition like rheumatoid arthritis — the dynamic within the relationship often changes. Partners who once saw themselves as equal may suddenly find themselves shifting into a patient-caregiver dynamic,” says Anthony Chambers, PhD, the chief academic officer of the Family Institute at Northwestern University and a clinical psychologist focused on treating couples across the lifespan on a range of issues, including chronic illness. 

That shift can be difficult, but it does not have to define the relationship.

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Psychological Effects on the Partner With RA

RA can take an emotional toll on the person living with it, especially when symptoms begin to interfere with independence and identity — impacting marriage as they once knew it.

People with RA may experience:

• Anxiety, depression, and a reduced quality of life: Research suggests people with rheumatic diseases face higher rates of anxiety and depression, which can affect daily functioning, relationships, and social life. Some people report feeling isolated or left behind by friendships formed before their diagnosis.
• Grief for the life they once imagined: Some people mourn their pre-disease life and experience a deep sense of loss of their old identity, as well as the future they once pictured for themselves. Old hobbies like hiking or playing sports may not look the same anymore, Chambers says. “There’s this loss of your autonomy. This idea that you can come and go and do what you would like to do, all of a sudden is taken away.”
• Anger, frustration, and feeling misunderstood: Many people with RA struggle with the loss of abilities they once took for granted. “What used to be simple, something we would take for granted, now is a challenge to do,” says Christine Crawford, MD, MPH, an adult and child psychiatrist and an associate medical director at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She notes that this frustration can lead to irritability or withdrawal. Because RA is an invisible illness, others may minimize the pain if someone “looks okay,” which can leave people feeling misunderstood and reluctant to share their struggles for fear of being judged or having their experience invalidated, Dr. Crawford says.
• Guilt and feeling like a burden: People with RA often worry about being a burden to their caregivers and may even struggle with self-blame. Chambers says many people feel guilt over needing help, not only in relation to their spouse but to their children. 
• Stress about money and contributing to the household: RA can bring worries about medical expenses, professional life, parenting — and whether you’re able to “pull your weight” across different roles and responsibilities.
• Changes in self-image: Because of swelling, changes in the shape of hands and feet, or weight gain and weight loss, people with RA report lower levels of self-esteem and positive body image. This can seep into your sex life and intimacy with your partner.

Psychological Effects on the Partner Without RA

Partners of people with RA may also experience a range of emotional responses.

Common feelings include:

• Sadness, anger, and helplessness: Research on relatives of people with inflammatory arthritis (including RA) shows that partners feel a wide range of emotions, including anger, frustration, feelings of loss, worry, and fear of the future.
• Stress about caregiving responsibilities: People feel the time crunch in their daily schedules, and may lack support from their families. This is exacerbated if the caregiver has health issues of their own.
• Resentment — followed by guilt: Feeling overwhelmed by added responsibilities and a loss of independence as caregiver demands take priority can lead to resentment.
• Caregiver burnout. Juggling caregiving responsibilities on top of managing the household and working on your career may lead to caregiver burnout, Chambers warns. One study found that over half of caregivers to those with RA provided more than seven hours of support per week, and some had to take leave from work or reduce working hours to provide care.

Chambers says caregivers should understand these feelings are common — and human.

“You may, at times, have feelings of anger and frustration about always being in this role of caregiver. And then you struggle with the guilt that comes with that thinking, ‘I shouldn’t feel this way,’” he says.

Partners are often processing these feelings while providing emotional support, empathy, and patience to their spouse, Crawford says. People living with chronic conditions can experience frustration, anger, or sadness as they grapple with the loss of abilities they once took for granted. Those emotions may spill over into the relationship, she says.

“The person experiencing the condition can project a lot onto their partner — the anger that they have inside, the sadness, the frustration,” Crawford says.

That can make the experience particularly complex for caregivers. They may be worried about their partner’s health while also adjusting to how the disease affects their own lives — from changes in routines and responsibilities to sacrifices in social activities, travel plans, or career decisions, Chambers says.

Practical Changes in the Household

When one partner develops RA, everyday responsibilities at home often need to shift. Tasks that once felt routine — like cleaning, cooking, running errands, or lifting children — can become more difficult when joint pain, stiffness, and fatigue are involved.

“Couples are oftentimes having to renegotiate their relationship in order to be able to manage the illness that they’re struggling with,” Chambers says, noting this extends across physically demanding chores, looking after the kids, and running the household.

These changes can take time to figure out, but experts say a few strategies can help couples adapt more smoothly.

• Revisit the division of labour. Talk openly about which tasks are realistic for each partner and adjust responsibilities as symptoms change. The partner without RA may decide to take on more physically demanding chores, while the partner with RA may handle tasks that are easier to manage on days when symptoms are flaring. Depending on their symptom severity, they may even want to take ownership of tasks like paying bills or ordering groceries online, Chambers says.
• Break large tasks into smaller ones. Chambers notes that tackling chores in shorter bursts, such as cleaning one room at a time, can make them more manageable on difficult days. 
• Decide on parenting duties. Chambers says that some couples may need to rethink what activities they can comfortably do with their children, especially during periods of fatigue or increased pain. While the parent with RA may not be able to play soccer in the backyard, they can still maintain a bedtime story routine.
• Consider outsourcing when possible. Grocery delivery, yard work, or childcare can relieve pressure on both partners and free up energy for more meaningful time together, Crawford says. Do not feel like you as a couple must take care of everything alone. “Community becomes a really important piece … when you have the community of a support system, it makes it much easier to be able to navigate things,” she says.

Crawford says that these adjustments often happen gradually as the disease progresses, with couples slowly adapting their routines over time. Instead of expecting life to continue exactly as before, she says it’s important to recognize that some changes are simply part of living with a chronic illness. 

“Life looks different now. And when life looks different at a certain point in time, you’ve got to adapt,” Crawford says.

Learning to Reconnect and Bridge the Gap

RA can complicate everyday life for couples, but there are ways partners can stay connected and support each other.

Communicate openly and check in regularly. Both partners need space to talk honestly about how they’re feeling — physically and emotionally. Chambers suggests setting aside time for weekly check-ins so concerns don’t quietly build up. One simple approach is to ask each other, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how are you feeling and how are you feeling about how we’re doing?” That kind of open-ended question can help get the conversation started and address potential issues early.

Listen to and validate each other’s feelings. Build a supportive environment where each partner feels heard and safe enough to be vulnerable, Chambers says. “You need to feel like teammates working against this external thing.” A study of 163 couples living with rheumatoid arthritis found that the way they coped together affected their psychological well-being and relationship quality. It was couples who practiced “dyadic coping” — or sharing stresses, problem-solving together, and supporting each other emotionally — that reported lower levels of psychological distress and better relationship quality.

Cocreate a new shared vision. Chambers says coming to terms with RA can involve a grieving and acceptance process as couples adjust to a new stage of life together. When they’re ready to, partners can begin “cocreating their new shared vision” — a new life they’re excited about from how they define success in daily life to what shared activities will look like. Make sure you incorporate some flexibility in planning, recognizing that symptoms and energy levels can change from day to day, he says.

Redefine what intimacy and connection look like. Fatigue and joint pain can sometimes make physical intimacy difficult, but that doesn’t mean couples have to lose closeness. “Intimacy doesn’t have to look a certain way. People forget small moments like holding your partner’s hand or putting your head on your partner’s shoulder … all of those are very intimate moments that still foster connection,” Crawford says. If you’re not in the mood because of symptoms, it’s okay to let your partner know, too, Crawford says. At times, they may feel like they’re unattractive when their partner may be going through a flare.

Practice compassion. When tension arises, Crawford says it can help to remember what may be driving those emotional reactions. “If a partner becomes irritable, withdrawn, or unusually quiet, it may be the stress or pain they’re going through rather than a deeper problem in the relationship,” Crawford says. Understanding that context can make it easier to respond with empathy, even when the situation feels difficult.

Learn about the disease together. Understanding RA can help couples develop more realistic expectations about what daily life might look like. Chambers says that educating yourselves about the illness by attending doctor appointments together can help align expectations with reality and reduce frustration. It also provides partners with an up-close understanding of their spouse’s disease.

Lean into a wider support circle. Connecting with others who understand the experience of chronic illness can help couples feel less alone. This might include patient support groups, caregiver networks, or trusted friends and family members, Crawford says.

The Takeaway

• Rheumatoid arthritis can shift a relationship into a patient-caregiver dynamic, leading to feelings of grief, guilt, or resentment for both partners.
• To adapt, couples should communicate openly through regular check-ins and practice solving problems and managing stress as a team.
• Adjusting daily life may involve renegotiating household chores, outsourcing tasks, and finding new ways to maintain physical and emotional intimacy.
• Educating yourselves about the disease together and leaning on a wider network of friends or support groups can help align expectations and reduce isolation.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/rheumatic-conditions/how-rheumatoid-arthritis-can-affect-your-marriage/