Arthritis in the elderly – causes and care options

What causes arthritis?

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints which can cause pain, and swelling. What causes arthritis itself will depend on which type a person has been diagnosed with. Osteoarthritis, the UK’s most common type of arthritis, doesn’t have an exact known cause, however injuring or overusing your joints, obesity, and a family history of the condition can increase your risk. 

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Everyday life exposes our joints to constant damage. However, usually this damage is low level – meaning the body can repair it before we feel any adverse effects. 

However in cases of OA the smooth cartilage (think of it as a ‘shock absorber’) in our joints gets thinner and rougher which makes movement more difficult and lead to pain and stiffness. 

People with OA may also feel a grating, popping or cracking when using their joint, and the formation of extra bits of bone around the affected joint. 

While the exact reason why this happens is unknown, there are a number of factors that can contribute to a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis – 

• Joint damage from a previous injury 
• Using a joint too quickly after an injury or operation
• Being older 
• Having a family history osteoarthritis
• Being overweight 
• Being a woman  

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid Arthritis is less common that osteoarthritis, and tends to effect people earlier in life too – usually presenting symptoms among people between 30 and 50 years old. 

it’s an autoimmune disease, meaning it’s caused by the body attacking itself. In this case, the immune system attacks the cells that line your joints  – causing swelling. It may eventually lead to the joints changing shape as well as lasting damage to the cartilage and nearby bone.

Again, the exact reason why this happens isn’t really known. However you are more susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis if you – 

• Are a  woman
• Are a smoker 
• Have a family history of the condition

Gout

Often described as one of the most acutely painful types of arthritis – gout can cause sudden and intense bouts of joint pain. Pain is most commonly in the big toe, but can also appear in the feet, hands, wrists, elbows and knees. People may also experience hot, swollen and red skin on the affected area. 

Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the blood – too much uric acid can lead to sharp crystals forming in and around the joints, which are responsible for the painful symptoms. 

Usually our kidneys do a good job of filtering out excess uric acid. However there are a few things that can contribute to a build up and trigger gout – 

• If you’re ill and have a high temperature
• If you drink too much alcohol
• If you eat a lot of large or very fatty meals 
• if you’re dehydrated 
• if you take certain medication, such as diuretics or medicine for high blood pressure 

There are lots of other types of arthritis too, such reactive arthritis, which is brought on after an infection in the gut, bowel or throat, and psoriatic arthritis which is another autoimmune disease which can affects around 30% of people living with the skin condition psoriasis. 

To learn more about the causes of these rarer forms of arthritis, visit the NHS website.

What can I do to stop an arthritis flare up?

Arthritis flare-ups can occur in almost all forms of the condition – they can come on unexpectedly and cause a range of symptoms depending on your type of arthritis, from intense pain and joint stiffness to fever and fatigue. 

Identifying and avoiding any common triggers is a good first step if you’re prone to flare ups. For example, osteoarthritis can be caused by too much physical activity putting additional stress on the joints. OA flare ups may also be made worse by the weather. Many people living with arthritis have reported that changes in pressure, and particularly cold or humid weather can lead to worsening symptoms. 

If a joint is sore, but not swollen, applying heat may ease the pain, either using a hot water bottle or heating pad, or by taking a bath or shower if the pain is more widespread. For swollen joints cold therapy is usually recommended. Applying a cold compress such as a damp washcloth or a bag or frozen peas wrapped pillowcase to the affected area may provide relief. 

You can try changing how you perform certain activities too. For example, when shopping you may find it easier on your joints to spread the weight across two small bags instead of one big one, and to use a trolley instead of a basket.