It Took Me Years to Find the Right Psoriatic Arthritis Medication

From verywellhealth.com

By Leslie Beth Herbert

My pain began in 2009. It started in my back but eventually reached my shoulders, hips, and back. The karate and bootcamp classes I often attended became difficult to join as I often woke up stiff with limited mobility.

I tried physical therapy and applying ice and heat, but that provided little to no relief. My doctor sent me for a mammogram, ultrasound, and cancer screenings, which all showed no reason for my pain. Finally, I had an X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that confirmed I have arthritis. Unfortunately, this diagnosis was only part of the puzzle. It would be years of treatment trial and error before I received my psoriatic arthritis diagnosis.

Read on to learn about my journey in receiving a psoriatic arthritis diagnosis and medication that works for me.

When Treatments Just Aren’t Working, Perhaps the Diagnosis Is Wrong (Or Incomplete)

The next few years were a whirlwind as I went to different providers trying to find treatments and medications that worked for me. I saw:

• Two back doctors
• A knee doctor
• Two rheumatologists
• A neurologist

I started carrying a thick binder to appointments with notes and tests from previous doctors. I had to advocate for myself. 

I’m an educated patient. I have a doctorate and two children who have navigated serious health conditions, including cancer. I had my suspicions about what was causing my pain, but I knew that doctors wouldn’t take me seriously if I just came out and told them my self-diagnosis. Instead, I learned to ask them guided questions. My questions would spark them to consider other conditions—including those I thought might be at play.

I faced some very difficult appointments. One doctor suggested that my pain was all in my head and put me on an antidepressant. I was frustrated and desperate, so I tried taking the antidepressant. It didn’t do anything for my pain.

A Sign of Hope: A Medication Actually Helped

Before I got any clear answers, I developed uveitis (a rare type of inflammatory eye disease) in my eye. I felt a stabbing pain in my eyeball, and the entire area around it felt like I had been punched. I went to an ophthalmologist, who suggested I try a biologic. Soon after that I started Humira, and the medication changed my life.

I noticed the results almost immediately. I wasn’t as stiff in the morning. I regained my range of motion and did karate with little pain. I was still tired, but as a working mom with two young kids, that was to be expected. 

I was on Humira for four years, and I became a spokesperson for the patient experience on the medication. Unfortunately, I eventually had to go off the Humira because I was having recurrent thrush infections. Medications like Humira weaken the immune system to stop it from attacking the points; unfortunately, that can leave patients vulnerable to fungal infections and viruses. I felt better most of the time while on Humira, but I got sick more often. 

Paying Attention to Ignored Symptoms

During a 2016 appointment, my primary care doctor noticed skin issues. I didn’t have the plaques that are typical of psoriasis, but I had patches of dry, itchy skin and dandruff, and some pimple-like bubbles on my skin. I was so focused on the pain in my joints that I never paid much attention to my skin symptoms. And yet, they’d be the key to finding a treatment that worked. 

This updated diagnosis from my doctor, partnered with the need to switch off of Humira, prompted me to start on Stelara, a medication for psoriatic arthritis and other conditions. So far, it’s been great. I teach karate, keep up with work and home life, and enjoy traveling with my family. 

Even though I now have a diagnosis and targeted treatment, I still rely on lifestyle changes and home remedies to feel my best. The most important is movement. I try to run two miles every day. They’re slow and steady, with my dog stopping to sniff every few feet, but they keep me feeling less stiff. I also swear by turmeric supplements (I keep a jar on my desk), as well as muscle relaxers to help when I have enthesitis (inflammation of the tendons or ligaments) or muscle pain. I get enough sleep and try to manage stress. 

Paving the Path for a Life With a Chronic Illness

I know this disease is progressive. I take medication to slow it down, but I can’t stop it entirely. Most recently, I’ve noticed pain in my hands. My husband has started silently stepping in to open jars for me, so I don’t have to feel embarrassed asking him for help. I see a pain psychologist who has rheumatic arthritis. She’s helped me accept and process living with this chronic disease. 

Meet The Author

LB Herbert lives in Texas and shares her experience with psoriatic arthritis nationally. She’s a volunteer with the National Psoriasis Foundation, where she helps other people with the condition connect with resources and support.

Courtesy of Laura Beth Herbert

https://www.verywellhealth.com/psoriatic-arthritis-medication-8416214 

Can Arthritis Go Away?

From batonrougeclinic.com

If you have arthritis, here are tips to manage symptoms and slow progression of the disease.

There are many types of arthritis and the pain and inflammation caused by the condition can affect a variety of joints within your body. By far, the most common type is osteoarthritis. This is a degenerative condition, which means it gets worse over time. But is there anything you can do to get rid of arthritis once you have it?

Although you can’t “cure” arthritis or reverse any damage it’s already caused, you can often manage its symptoms and may be able to improve the function of your joints. You may also be able to delay or prevent further progression of the disease. The right kind of treatment and making some lifestyle changes can help.

What happens to your joints with osteoarthritis?

This common form of arthritis develops over time. It occurs when the cartilage in your joints that is supposed to provide a cushion between the bones of the joint breaks down or wears away as you age. When this occurs, it causes the bones in the joints to rub together. This is what causes the symptoms of arthritis, which may include pain, swelling, inflammation and joint stiffness.

How can you manage the symptoms of arthritis?

You can’t reverse any joint damage that has already been done if you have arthritis, but there are often ways you can reduce the symptoms. Some of these involve making lifestyle changes. For example, if you lose weight, you will put less pressure on your joints and may experience less pain and inflammation. Doing regular moderate exercise may also help you manage your condition.

Applying moist heat can provide relief to an aching joint. Cold therapy (such as an ice pack) may also help reduce pain and swelling. Some people find that using a splint or brace helps because it provides support to the affected joint.

If you have osteoarthritis, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help manage pain, swelling and inflammation when symptoms flare. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you will likely need to take other types of medications, including disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and/or biological response modifiers. This form of arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. The medications that treat rheumatoid arthritis are not given to people who have osteoarthritis because the cause of the condition is different.

Should you exercise if you have osteoarthritis?

It may seem like exercise will exacerbate your symptoms and cause your joint damage to get even worse, but exercise is one of the best things you can do for your joints if you have osteoarthritis. Of course, you may not be able to do the same type of exercise as you did before you had arthritis, or do it at the same level of intensity, but exercising regularly can reduce the pain and stiffness in your joints caused by arthritis. It can also strengthen the muscles surrounding your affected joints and helps improve your mobility and flexibility.

If you experience pain with exercise, consider switching to a different activity or taking a break. You may also find that wearing a brace or splint helps. Talk to your doctor about the best types of exercise for you and what symptoms you should look out for that indicate an activity is not appropriate.

https://batonrougeclinic.com/can-arthritis-go-away/ 

Could getting enough sleep help prevent osteoporosis?

From sciencedaily.com

In people's early- to mid-20s, they reach what is called peak bone mineral density, which is higher for men than it is for women, according to researchers. This peak is one of the main determinants of fracture risk later in life. After reaching this peak, a person's bone density remains roughly stable for a couple of decades. Then, when women enter the menopausal transition, they experience accelerated bone loss. Men also experience bone density decline as they age. Sleep patterns also evolve over time.

As part of the University of Colorado Department of Medicine's annual Research Day, held on April 23, faculty member Christine Swanson, MD, MCR, described her National Institutes of Health-funded clinical research on whether adequate sleep can help prevent osteoporosis.

"Osteoporosis can occur for many reasons such as hormonal changes, aging, and lifestyle factors," said Swanson, an associate professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes. "But some patients I see don't have an explanation for their osteoporosis.

"Therefore, it's important to look for novel risk factors and consider what else changes across the lifespan like bone does -- sleep is one of those," she added.

How bone density and sleep change over time

In people's early- to mid-20s, they reach what is called peak bone mineral density, which is higher for men than it is for women, Swanson said. This peak is one of the main determinants of fracture risk later in life.

After reaching this peak, a person's bone density remains roughly stable for a couple of decades. Then, when women enter the menopausal transition, they experience accelerated bone loss. Men also experience bone density decline as they age.

Sleep patterns also evolve over time. As people get older, their total sleep time decreases, and their sleep composition changes. For instance, sleep latency, which is the time it takes to fall asleep, increases with age. On the other hand, slow wave sleep, which is deep restorative sleep, decreases as we age.

"And it's not just sleep duration and composition that change. Circadian phase preference also changes across the lifespan in both men and women," Swanson said, referring to people's preference for when they go to sleep and when they wake up.

How can sleep relate to our bone health?

Genes that control our internal clock are present in all of our bone cells, Swanson said.

"When these cells resorb and form bone, they release certain substances into the blood that let us estimate how much bone turnover is going on at a given time," she said.

These markers of bone resorption and formation follow a daily rhythm. The amplitude of this rhythm is larger for markers of bone resorption -- which refers to the process of breaking down bones -- than it is for markers of bone formation, she said.

"This rhythmicity is likely important for normal bone metabolism and suggests that sleep and circadian disturbance could directly affect bone health," she said.

Researching the connection between sleep and bone health

To further understand this relationship, Swanson and colleagues researched how markers of bone turnover responded to cumulative sleep restriction and circadian disruption.

For this study, participants lived in a completely controlled inpatient environment. The participants did not know what time it was, and they were put on a 28-hour schedule instead of a 24-hour day.

"This circadian disruption is designed to simulate the stresses endured during rotating night shift work and is roughly equivalent to flying four time zones west every day for three weeks," she said. "The protocol also caused participants to get less sleep."

The research team measured bone turnover markers at the beginning and end of this intervention and found significant detrimental changes in bone turnover in both men and women in response to the sleep and circadian disruption. The detrimental changes included declines in markers of bone formation that were significantly greater in younger individuals in both sexes compared to the older individuals.

In addition, young women showed significant increases in the bone resorption marker.

If a person is forming less bone while still resorbing the same amount -- or even more -- then, over time, that could lead to bone loss, osteoporosis, and increased fracture risk, Swanson said.

"And sex and age may play an important role, with younger women potentially being the most susceptible to the detrimental impact of poor sleep on bone health," she said.

Research in this area is ongoing, she added.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150236.htm  

5 inflammatory foods to avoid if you have arthritis or are at risk of arthritis

From msn.com

Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults suffer from the painful symptoms that come with arthritis, per the CDC. While there is no known cure for arthritis, simple changes in diet can improve symptoms such as joint pain or swelling and lower risk of developing forms of arthritis.

Let’s take a look at 5 inflammatory foods that may trigger arthritis symptoms. 

1. Red meat

Research suggests red meats such as beef, pork, lamb and veal may increase inflammation, resulting in worse arthritis symptoms. A large review of studies found that plant-based diets could reduce pain in people with arthritis.

“Red meats are higher in fat — particularly saturated fat — than white meats and plant-based protein. Studies have associated red meat intake with increased levels of inflammation, which may worsen swelling in the joints and arthritis symptoms,” reports Verywell Health.

Processed meats like hot dogs, pepperoni and bacon may also be troublesome for those at risk of arthritis. A 2021 study published in the Nutrition Journal found an associated between high consumption of processed meats and risk of developing Rheumatoid arthritis, when compared to fish and poultry diets.

2. Gluten

Gluten may be the culprit behind your inflamed and painful joints — even if you do not have Celiac disease. Although recent studies suggest individuals with celiac disease are more prone to Rheumatoid arthritis.

Still, cutting back on gluten could be advantageous in reducing joint inflammation, research shows a gluten-free diet can significantly ease arthritis symptoms and reduce inflammation.

“A lot of people do an elimination diet with gluten and think their joints feel better ... It doesn’t necessarily mean they have celiac disease, but they could have a gluten sensitivity,” Dr. Sonali Khandelwal, MD, a rheumatologist at Rush University Medical Centre told Women’s Health.

3. High-salt foods

Consuming high amounts of salty foods, or sodium, may put people at higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory arthritis, according to a 2017 study.

On average, Americans eat almost twice the recommended daily sodium intake — which is about 1 teaspoon of salt per day, per the FDA.

Some high-sodium foods include:

• Fast foods such as hamburgers and fries.
• Pizza.
• Deli meats.
• Condiments and salad dressings.
• Canned vegetables.
• Frozen dinners.

“Your body needs the sodium in salt for many functions, but consuming too much (which is common) can be problematic. Research has associated high salt intake with greater inflammation and an increased risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis,” according to Verywell Health.

In a 2015 study, researched evaluated 18,555 individuals — nearly 400 of which self-reported having rheumatoid arthritis. The results linked high sodium intake with a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.

4. Added sugars

Consuming added sugars — found in soda, candy, pastries, and dairy desserts — can worsen symptoms of arthritis, research shows.

In a 2017 survey of individuals with arthritis, sugar was named as a top trigger for symptoms — 12.7% said sugar trigger symptoms and 12.4% claimed desserts were a trigger.

“Eating excess sugar causes the body to produce more cytokines, which are inflammatory proteins,” reports Medical News Today. “People with arthritis already have high levels of cytokines, so increasing inflammation can make them feel worse.”

Those who frequently drink sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda or energy drinks may be more likely to have arthritis. A 2016 study involving more than 1,200 adults found that those who drank sugar-sweetened beverages at least five times per week were three times more likely to have arthritis than those who drank sugar-sweetened beverages infrequently.

5. Highly-processed foods

“Ultra-processed items — such as fast food, breakfast cereal, and baked goods — tend to be high in refined grains, added sugar, preservatives, fructose, and other potentially inflammatory ingredients, all of which may worsen arthritis symptoms,” reports Healthline.

Many highly processed foods contain large amounts of Dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These AGEs can cause oxidative stress in the body, resulting in higher inflammation, per Healthline. Some of these foods include: hot dogs, American cheese, mayonnaise, salty snacks and fried bacon.

Frequently consuming highly processed foods is often associated with obesity and increased insulin resistance, both of which can trigger arthritis, according to a 2018 study.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/5-inflammatory-foods-to-avoid-if-you-have-arthritis-or-are-at-risk-of-arthritis/ar-AA1kK4my?item=flightsprg-tipsubsc-v1a?season=2024

How I Run Marathons With a Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

From popsugar.com

By Laura Robinson

In December 2016, when I was 28 years old, I was nearing the end of my training cycle for my first marathon. I had just finished my peak long run of 20 miles when I started experiencing hip pain that was so severe I could hardly walk. I made an appointment to see an orthopaedic specialist, who ordered an MRI, which led to a diagnosis of a hip stress fracture.

The diagnosis meant the marathon (my hometown race, the Houston Marathon) the following month was out. Even though my injury was on my right side, the doctor noted that he saw inflammation on both sides. I didn't think anything of it at the time, though, and assumed it was just a running injury I needed to let heal before getting back to doing the thing I loved.

                                                                                                                    Courtesy of Bethany Robinson ; Capstone Photography

A few weeks later, however, my right thumb joint started to feel super sore and I started having difficulty doing everyday things like picking items up, holding things in my hand, and putting dishes away.

After talking to my twin sister, I learned she had been dealing with similar symptoms in her wrists, which she initially thought was carpal tunnel syndrome. She had had bloodwork done that showed high platelet counts, which ultimately led to a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. She and my mom convinced me to also see a rheumatologist since there was a high chance of me having the same condition, seeing as we were identical twins.

The rheumatologist immediately ordered a blood panel to test for hundreds of different autoimmune disorders. The results came back showing only severe rheumatoid arthritis. The bad news didn't stop there, though — that doctor told me that if I didn't stop running and if I performed any other type of high-impact exercise, I would eventually end up in a wheelchair at some point in my life.

That was really hard to hear. I've been a runner since I was in elementary school and had still been looking forward to eventually tackling that first marathon. I left that visit in tears, which was also hard for my husband and two young sons, who were 5 and 3 years old at the time, to see.

Beginning to navigate my diagnosis was immediately challenging. Women are typically diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at any age between 30 and 60, but I was often much younger than any of the other patients I'd see in the waiting rooms at doctors' offices.

I'd also been prescribed five different medications, and didn't do well starting so many medications at once – it was difficult to tell what was helping and what wasn't. Still, I took them all for a year, while experiencing side effects like frequent nausea, weight loss, and hair loss. I was also nervous about the potential for more serious impacts, like stomach ulcers.

But despite the warning from that first doctor, after healing from my hip injury and getting cleared by the orthopaedic specialist — which took eight weeks, including four on crutches — I never did stop running, as it had been essential for both my mental and physical well-being for most of my life at that point, and I believed the benefits outweighed the risks. In fact, I completed my first marathon at the 2018 Houston Marathon, which is still one of my favourite racing memories to date. I finished in a time of 3:46:04, which is not too shabby for a first go at the distance.

Ultimately, the doctor's plan didn't feel tailored to me based on my individual situation, so after that first year, I decided to do some research to begin to advocate for myself. I came across studies that showed that not only can being active be beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis, it may also help with associated inflammation and pain. So I decided to see a different doctor, one who supported my desire to run and stay active, as well as my request to not be on more than two medications at once.

The road to managing my condition hasn't been completely smooth since then, though. I'm currently on a combination of two immunosuppressive drugs that reduce inflammation to help manage my symptoms: Humira, which I inject into my upper thigh once every two weeks, and methotrexate, which I take orally once per week. I also get routine blood work every three months to make sure I'm not experiencing any serious side effects from the meds.

But getting here has taken a lot of trial and error, of seeing different doctors and trying different medications. At one point, I even tried going off all medications and saw a naturopath to try alternative solutions. I tried things like going vegetarian, giving up coffee and limiting sugar, and while these dietary changes did help with my symptoms, I found they weren't sustainable for my lifestyle as an athlete.

Even with my current treatment plan, I've experienced flare-ups that have led me to have to take breaks from running, when even getting out of bed has been painful and difficult.

My condition has also posed challenges in parenting two young kids. My youngest was still a toddler when I was first diagnosed and it was sometimes hard to pick him up and carry him. As they've gotten older, I've learned to be mindful about managing my stress and fatigue levels to be able to help them with their school work and generally be present in their lives.

One of the most frustrating things about living with rheumatoid arthritis is not being able to distinguish if symptoms like stiffness or soreness may simply be aches and pains that come with being an endurance athlete, or if they're related to my condition. In any case, when I begin to experience them, I scale back and take off a day or two (or even a week, depending on the severity) to be cautious and avoid bringing on a new flare.

I've had to learn that while I can stay active, I have to listen to my body and take adequate rest and recovery. That includes between training cycles, even when I don't hit my race goals. While I may want to push myself more, I've found that my body does best with just one marathon per year, and with lower overall volume of less than 45 miles a week, in addition to regular strength and balance exercises to maintain healthy joints.

On the day-to-day, I've found that I need to adequately prepare my body and joints before every run. I do best if I run or work out in the evenings, when I've already been moving around all day, rather than shortly after waking up with stiff and achy joints. But I have training partners that I love to run with when I can, and we meet in the morning. On those days, I wake up three to four hours before we're set to work out, giving myself plenty of time to stretch, move around, and perform some activation exercises to get my joints lubricated and ready.

I have the goal to eventually qualify for the Boston Marathon, which would mean running a 3:35:00 or faster marathon for my current age group. I've completed seven marathons to date and my current personal best — 3:40:33 from the 2022 Houston Marathon — is not that far off from that standard. I'm only 35 now, and they say female runners peak in their 30s, so I'm confident I will still get it in the near future.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis as a marathoner has taught me so much about myself. It's shown me that I'm a lot stronger than I give myself credit for, which is something my husband often reminds me of when I may be feeling down about my situation. I'm always grateful to be able to just show up on a race starting line. I look at myself now and know that I'm doing everything I can to not eventually end up harming my health, like that first doctor implied I would. In fact, I'm confident that by putting myself, my fitness, and my overall well-being first, I'm contributing to a better quality of life in the long-term.

— As told to Emilia Benton

---

Emilia Benton is a freelance health and wellness journalist who is particularly passionate about sharing diverse stories and elevating underrepresented voices. In addition to PS, her work has been published by Runner's World, Women's Health, Self, Outside, and the Houston Chronicle, among others. Emilia is also a 13-time marathoner and a USATF Level 1-certified run coach.

https://www.popsugar.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis-running-essay-49360310 

Osteoarthritis – symptoms, causes, and ways to cope

From restless.co.uk

Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes pain and stiffness in the joints. According to the NHS, osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK and affects around eight million people.

The condition can 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 is a condition that causes joints to become stiff and painful.

It initially affects the smooth cartilage of a joint (which lines the joint and caps the ends of your bones), making it more difficult to move. Then, once the cartilage lining has begun to thin out, tendons and ligaments have to work harder to move joints, which can cause swelling and lead to the formation of bony lumps (osteophytes) on and around the joint.

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 at the same time – however, the two are different. While osteoarthritis causes joint pain and reduces joint function and mobility, osteoporosis is caused by a loss of bone mass, which increases a person’s risk of fractures and injury.

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.

To learn more about osteoarthritis and how it differs from osteoporosis, head over to the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) website.

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, 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 which can make it tricky to carry out daily activities.

We’ll cover some of the main types of osteoarthritis below, as well as their symptoms…

Osteoarthritis of the knee

Osteoarthritis of the knee can make it painful to walk, 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 the condition was 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 your fingers, and the joints closest to your 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 at the base of the thumb where it 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 make it difficult to move your hip joints – for example, making it difficult to get in and out of a car or put your shoes on.

It can also cause pain in the groin or outside of the hip, which can get more intense when you move your hips.

What causes osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is caused by damage to joints. 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 the same cramped position for long periods of time.

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. This can then cause swelling, pain, and problems moving the joints.

Damage to the protective cartilage can progress over time, which is why age is one of the major risk factors for osteoarthritis.

That said, the condition can occur at any time, and there are a number of other risk factors to consider too. 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 already 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, though studies are 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.

• Poor posture – research has identified a strong link between poor posture and an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.

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, are not usually necessary but may be used to rule out other possible causes of symptoms, such as bone fractures or rheumatoid arthritis.

There’s currently no cure for osteoarthritis, but a number of treatments can be used to help reduce symptoms. For example, painkillers or a structured exercise plan with a physiotherapist may be advised if your symptoms are more severe.

However, you should always seek the advice of 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 managing osteoarthritis symptoms and reducing your risk of developing the condition.

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 to slow down, 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 the amount of pressure on joints).

Low-impact exercise, 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, you might like to 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 to reduce your risk of osteoarthritis.

This includes moving around regularly and making sure that your chair’s adjusted to the correct height if your job involves sitting at a desk for long periods of time.

If this is something you’d like to work on, you may like to try these 5 exercises to help improve your posture.

3. Get enough rest

Exercise can help people keep their joints healthy and manage osteoarthritis symptoms – but getting enough rest is just as important.

Research has found that prioritising sleep quality and making sure you’re getting adequate rest each night may help to reduce osteoarthritis pain. This is because our bodies go into recovery mode during sleep.

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

4. Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight places excess 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 changes you can make towards maintaining a healthy weight is to eat a balanced diet.

If you’d like help losing weight in a healthy way, head over to the diet and nutrition and food and drink sections of our website. 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 the omega-3 fatty acid content of fish can lower the number of inflammatory markers in the body which are linked with osteoarthritis.

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 speed up the creation of molecules that make bone cartilage stiff, and diabetes can also cause inflammation in the body that accelerates the breakdown of cartilage.

As a result, regulating blood glucose levels can help to prevent the onset of osteoarthritis and manage symptoms. For more information, you might like to have a read of 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, there are a number of things that can help to manage symptoms and also reduce your risk of developing the condition. Simple lifestyle habits, such as eating a joint-friendly diet and prioritising good quality sleep, can make all the difference.

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