Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a form of inflammatory arthritis, which mainly affects the spine, but can also cause pain and/or swelling in the shoulders, hips, knees, heels, chest/ribs and small joints of the hands and feet. Read more
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome associated with widespread pain and fatigue. There are no outward signs of the condition but fibromyalgia symptoms include severe pain, fatigue and stiffness. Read more
Gout is a very painful form of arthritis. It is a long term, chronic condition that, if not properly managed, can affect you for your whole life. Read more
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the name given to several forms of arthritis in children and teenagers under 16. It is an auto-immune condition, and while it principally affects the joints, it may also affect other organs including the eyes. Read more
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is systemic disease, that can affect many different parts of your body. Cells and antibodies, which are in the blood to defend the body against infection, begin to attack it instead and cause inflammation. Read more
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common of all types of arthritis. It usually develops gradually, over several years, and affects a number of different joints. The cause is unknown, but it does appear more in females than males. Read more
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory condition affecting the muscles in and around the shoulder and upper arm areas, buttocks and thighs. Read more
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a form of arthritis that in most cases affects the skin and the joints. Most people with PsA will develop the condition following the onset of psoriasis, however, not all people with psoriasis develop PsA. Read more
Raynaud’s disease or Raynaud’s phenomenon is a condition which affects the extremities, predominantly the fingers and toes. Symptoms include painful sensation of cold and a whitening or reddening of the fingers and/or toes. Read more
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a very common type of inflammatory disease. The body’s natural defences (the immune system) attacks certain parts of the body instead of protecting it. This auto-immune reaction occurs mainly in the joints, but can affect vital organs too. Read more
Scleroderma is a rare disorder of the body's connective tissues. It damages the cells that line the walls of the smaller arteries, such as those in the fingers and toes. Systemic scleroderma can damage the organs, while local scleroderma tends to affect the hands and face. Read more
Sjogren's syndrome is an auto-immune condition, where the body's natural self-defence system, gets confused and attacks the body's healthy tissues. White blood cells attack the body's tear and saliva glands, reducing the amount of saliva and tears produced, and causing a dry mouth and dry eyes, along with other related symptoms. Read more