Living with arthritis

Living with arthritis can be challenging and carrying out everyday tasks can be difficult. However, support is available and there are many things you can do to help you to live a fulfilling life.

Three smiling ladies of different ages at a local fair

Financial support for living with arthritis or a musculoskeletal condition

You may be entitled to financial support if your condition is making it difficult to do everyday tasks such as getting about or caring for yourself. Find out what financial support is available, if you are eligible and how to apply. 

Find out more
Eating well with arthritis as a family

Eating well with arthritis: How to manage your weight and eat a balanced diet

While there are no miracle foods that will make your arthritis symptoms go away, eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight can make joint pain easier to manage. 

Eating well with arthritis
Two men with arthritis comforting each other while sharing a funny moment

How to deal with your range of emotions and look after your mental health

Living with arthritis can be emotional: whether you’re experiencing your first symptoms, recently diagnosed, or living with your condition for some time. Managing your emotions and finding joy in everyday life can help you to take care of your mind and body. 

Emotions and relationships

There are a range of useful gadgets and home adaptations which can help you to manage your arthritis. Find out how they can assist your everyday life. 

Aids and adaptations

Gardening is great for your physical and mental health but some heavy or repetitive tasks can be difficult if you have arthritis. Here are ways to enjoy gardening more. 

Gardening

Research: Understanding arthritis flare ups

When you're living with arthritis, joint pain, swelling, fatigue and stiffness may strike suddenly and without any apparent trigger. This is known as an arthritis flare up. Find out how to live with arthritis flare ups and what we're doing to tackle them. 

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Did you know we have a range of gadgets and equipment that will help you to manage your arthritis symptoms and make living with arthritis easier in our shop? 

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Work and travel with arthritis

Work and arthritis: Help with ways of working

Living with arthritis can affect your work or the way you work. Find help and advice around your rights at work, sick leave, work adjustments and more. 

Work and arthritis

Reasonable adjustments at work might be specialist equipment or a change to your working hours. Know your rights and how to ask for help. 

Know your rights
Driving with arthritis: What you need to know

If you drive, you may feel discomfort behind the wheel or need special controls. Advice around driving with arthritis, Blue Badges and DVLA. 

Driving with arthritis

Arthritis stories

Navigating the dating world can be full of excitement and uncertainty. What if you throw rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis into the mix? 

Read James' story

Richard, 37, has osteoarthritis and was diagnosed with Perthes disease after experiencing symptoms which started when he was four.

Read Richard's story

Amy works as a doctor and lives with psoriatic arthritis. She shares a snapshot of a typical working day and how she finds a work life balance.

Read Amy's story
Arthritis UK information booklets

Order our FREE information booklets

From information about your condition to treatments, surgery, exercise and keeping well, we have a range of  information booklets packed full of useful tips and advice that are FREE to download or order by post in our shop. Plus shipping is free too.

Order for free

Search using your town or postcode and you can find Arthritis UK support groups, events, activities and more near where you live.

What's on near you
Arthritis UK Inspire magazine

Get Inspire magazine delivered to your door for just £3 a month

Created specially for people living with arthritis, every edition of Inspire magazine is packed with expert, in-depth articles and features, covering what matters most to you — all for just £3 a month.

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