Medically reviewed by Dr Sulaiman Shah, GMC No. 7038832 — The GP Clinic , 124 City Road, London.
Last updated: September 11, 2026
Quick answer: Arthritis is inflammation or degeneration of one or more joints, causing pain, stiffness and swelling. It affects over 10 million people in the UK and covers more than 100 distinct conditions — the most common being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. There is no single cure, but medication, physiotherapy, diet and lifestyle changes can manage symptoms effectively in the vast majority of cases.
Joint pain is easy to dismiss at first. You tell yourself it’s tiredness, or that it will pass. But when morning stiffness lingers, when stairs start to feel like a challenge, and when the ache begins disturbing your sleep — it may be time to look closer.
Arthritis isn’t a single disease. It’s an umbrella term for more than 100 different conditions that cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in and around the joints. Some forms wear down joint cartilage over time (osteoarthritis); others are driven by the immune system attacking healthy joint tissue (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis); and some are caused by crystal build-up in the joint (gout).
The most common symptoms across arthritis types include:
If any of these have lasted more than two weeks, it’s worth speaking to a GP — early diagnosis significantly improves long-term joint outcomes.
Osteoarthritis (OA) — the most common form, affecting around 9 million people in the UK. Cartilage gradually wears down, causing bones to rub together. Most common in the knees, hips, hands and lower back, and tends to develop gradually with age or after joint injury.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) — an autoimmune condition affecting around 400,000 people in the UK, roughly three times more common in women. The immune system attacks the joint lining, causing symmetrical pain and swelling — often in both hands or both wrists at once. Unlike osteoarthritis, RA can develop at any age, including in children and young adults.
Gout — caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in a joint, most classically the big toe. Attacks tend to come on suddenly and intensely, often overnight, with severe pain, redness and swelling. Diet and alcohol intake can both trigger flare-ups.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) — affects some people who have psoriasis (a skin condition), causing joint pain and swelling alongside skin symptoms. It commonly affects the fingers, toes, and lower back, and can range from mild to severe.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) — a form of spondyloarthritis mainly affecting the spine, causing inflammation, stiffness and lower back pain that’s typically worse in the morning or after rest and improves with movement. Left untreated, it can gradually cause the vertebrae to fuse.
Reactive arthritis — joint inflammation triggered by an infection elsewhere in the body (often gut or genital infections), usually appearing within a few weeks of the original infection and often resolving as the infection clears.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) — arthritis affecting children under 16, causing joint pain, swelling and stiffness that persists for more than six weeks. It’s the most common form of arthritis in children.
While osteoarthritis risk rises with age, inflammatory types — rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and gout — can all start well before 40, and are frequently missed or misdiagnosed in younger adults because arthritis isn’t the first thing either patients or clinicians consider. If you’re under 40 and experiencing persistent joint symptoms, don’t assume you’re “too young” for arthritis — mention it specifically when you see a GP.
There’s rarely a single cause — usually it’s a combination of factors:
Joint and muscle pain can come from several different sources. Here’s how to tell them apart:
| Condition | Key Distinguishing Signs |
|---|---|
| Arthritis | Joint-centred pain and stiffness, often worse in the morning, swelling in the joint itself |
| Bursitis | Localised pain and swelling around a joint (not inside it), often from repetitive pressure |
| Tendonitis | Pain along a tendon, worsens with specific movements, usually from overuse |
| Fibromyalgia | Widespread muscle pain and tenderness, not confined to joints, often with fatigue and poor sleep |
| Gout (specifically) | Sudden, severe pain in a single joint — classically the big toe — coming on overnight |
If your symptoms don’t fit neatly into one of these, a GP assessment can help clarify what’s going on.
A GP will typically start with your symptom history and a physical examination, checking for swelling, warmth, and range of movement. Depending on what’s suspected, further tests may include:
There’s no single cure for arthritis, but the right combination of treatments can significantly reduce pain and improve day-to-day function.
Medication:
Physiotherapy and targeted exercise strengthen the muscles supporting affected joints and improve range of movement over time — this applies across almost all arthritis types, not just osteoarthritis.
Weight management particularly benefits osteoarthritis of the knees and hips, where every extra kilogram adds meaningful load to the joint.
Steroid injections or surgery (including joint replacement) may be recommended where other treatments haven’t provided sufficient relief, particularly for advanced osteoarthritis.
While no diet cures arthritis, some dietary patterns are associated with reduced inflammation and symptom severity:
Arthritis flare-ups can make work — particularly physical or desk-based roles requiring repetitive movement — genuinely difficult to manage some days. If a flare-up is affecting your ability to work, a GP can issue a fit note (sick note) after assessing your symptoms, whether for a short flare-up or longer-term reasonable adjustments discussed with your employer.
On the NHS, GP referral to rheumatology can involve a wait, particularly for non-urgent presentations — though suspected inflammatory arthritis is typically fast-tracked. An online private GP appointment can provide a same-day initial assessment, symptom management advice, and — where appropriate — a private specialist referral, without the initial wait for a routine NHS GP appointment.
Myth: Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis. Fact: There’s no good evidence linking knuckle-cracking to arthritis development.
Myth: Arthritis only affects older people. Fact: Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis can all develop in childhood, teens, or early adulthood.
Myth: Exercise makes arthritis worse. Fact: For most types of arthritis, appropriate low-impact exercise reduces stiffness and improves joint function — inactivity generally makes symptoms worse, not better.
Myth: Nothing can be done for arthritis besides pain relief. Fact: DMARDs and biologic therapies can slow or halt disease progression in inflammatory arthritis, not just mask symptoms.
Book an appointment if joint pain or stiffness lasts more than two weeks, if swelling doesn’t settle, or if symptoms are starting to limit daily activities like walking, gripping, or sleeping. Sudden, severe joint swelling with fever should be assessed urgently, as it can occasionally signal joint infection.
You don’t need to wait weeks to discuss your joint pain. Our online GPs can assess your symptoms, recommend treatment, issue prescriptions or a sick note where appropriate, and refer you to a specialist — all from home.
Book your online GP appointment now and start managing your arthritis the right way
Early signs often include morning joint stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, mild swelling around a joint, and discomfort that eases with gentle movement but returns after rest.
An online GP can assess your symptoms and history and recommend next steps, including blood tests, imaging, or a specialist referral. A definitive diagnosis sometimes needs in-person tests, which your GP will arrange if appropriate.
There’s currently no cure for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, but both can be effectively managed with medication, physiotherapy, lifestyle changes and, in some cases, surgery.
Osteoarthritis results from gradual cartilage wear and is more common with age. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that can develop at any age, including in younger adults.
Yes — where clinically appropriate, our GPs can prescribe medication for arthritis symptoms and advise on physiotherapy and lifestyle management.
Yes, particularly osteoarthritis of the knees and hips — extra weight increases joint load, which can accelerate cartilage wear.
Common triggers include alcohol (especially beer), red meat, shellfish, dehydration, and sudden changes in uric acid levels — including starting or stopping certain medications.
Yes. Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis can all begin well before middle age.
Several types — including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis — have a genetic component and can run in families, though lifestyle and environmental factors also play a role.
Diet won’t cure arthritis, but an anti-inflammatory eating pattern (rich in omega-3s, vegetables and whole grains) is associated with reduced symptom severity in several studies, and avoiding purine-rich foods specifically helps manage gout.
If a flare-up is affecting your ability to work, a GP can assess your symptoms and issue a fit note — available through the same online consultation as your arthritis review.
Untreated inflammatory arthritis can lead to permanent joint damage and reduced mobility over time, which is why early diagnosis and treatment matter significantly more than symptom severity alone.
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