Versus Arthritis

The word arthritis is used to describe pain, swelling and stiffness in a joint or joints. Arthritis isn’t a single condition, there are several different types.

Although there’s no cure for arthritis, treatments have improved greatly in recent years and, for many types of arthritis, particularly inflammatory arthritis, there’s a clear benefit in starting treatment at an early stage.

It may be difficult to say what has caused your arthritis. There are several factors that can increase the risk of each type of arthritis. It could be the genes you inherited from your parents or grandparents made you more likely to get arthritis.

Arthritis can make life tough by causing pain and making it harder to get about. The symptoms of arthritis can vary from week to week, and even from day to day. Many types, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, are long-term conditions.

We provide a range of ways for you to get help including:

• Helpline - You don't need to face arthritis alone. Our advisors aim to bring all of the information and advice about arthritis into one place to provide tailored support to you.
• Online resources - You can learn about the causes, symptoms and treatments of different types of arthritis. You can find out about different treatments for arthritis, including drugs, therapies and surgery. We also provide exercises for you to try to manage the pain.
• Virtual assistants - You can chat to our arthritis virtual assistants and get fast, easy access to our trusted information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Online community - Whether you want to share your own experiences of managing arthritis, or learn more about the challenges and successes others have experienced, the online community will connect you with real people who share the same everyday experiences.