It’s National Arthritis Week and a time to highlight the common problem that blights many people’s lives today. ANGELA KELLY reports

ARTHRITIS affects 10 million people in the UK making joints stiff, tender, inflamed and often swollen.

It comes in two types. Osteoarthritis is a “wear and tear” condition where the protective cartilage on the end of bones breaks down. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system, which normally fights infection, attacks the cells lining the joints by mistake.

The results of both are pain, normal life interrupted and working days lost.

There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis but the NHS advises that early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can offer sufferers months or even years between flare-ups.

Medication and supportive treatments like physiotherapy and occupational therapy can help sufferers keep mobile and surgery may be able to correct joint problems that develop.

Osteoarthritis - which can mainly affects the hands, spine, knees and hips - also cannot be cured but it may not get worse over time. Mild symptoms can sometimes be managed with regular exercise, losing weight if you are overweight, wearing suitable footwear and using special devices to reduce the strain on joints during everyday activities.

Diet can play an important part in managing arthritis. The NHS suggests eating “five a day” fruit and vegetables and base meals on starchy foods like potatoes, bread, rice or pasta. Have some dairy or dairy alternatives like soya drinks. Eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein and choose unsaturated oils and spreads in small amounts. It’s also important to drink plenty of fluids.

Around 400,000 adults have rheumatoid arthritis n the UK. It is more common in women than men and approximately 20,000 new cases occur every year. There are also 15,000 children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Nationally, 8.75 million people have sought treatment for osteoarthritis. There are several treatments available, including a move towards Regenerative Medicine which uses alternatives to surgery like the body’s own blood platelets.

However, for the most severe arthritis cases, total and partial hip and knee replacement procedures are carried out every year. Ankle replacement is less common although the practice is growing slightly.

Not all patients who have hip or knee replacements have suffered from arthritis for years or have a history of it in the family. Although local businesswoman Jackie Hilton had struggled with a swollen left knee for a few years, she had not suffered from arthritis previously nor had anyone in her family.

“I was a manager at the Co-op for 16 years and I think all that kneeling down and dragging big cases about took a toll on my knees, though,” explained Jackie, now 55.

It did, however, affect her mobility and a holiday in Budapest was “ruined” because she could not walk well. Then, earlier this year, she was crossing a main road when her knee “suddenly gave way” and she almost collided with a bus.

As she now works in private medical insurance, she swiftly arranged to see a consultant who diagnosed arthritis and arranged an arthroscopy (a type of keyhole surgery used to diagnose and treat joint problems). This showed Jackie’s cartilage completely worn away so in July, she had a total knee replacement and spent three days in hospital.

Although her knee is still swollen and stiff, she is optimistic about her recovery and future. Unfortunately, her right knee is also now likely to need replacement surgery. “I just feel very lucky, though, that there is this kind of surgery available,” added Jackie.

For information on living with arthritis go to www.arthritiscare.org.uk/