Inflammatory Arthritis
Autoimmune joint inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis, distinct from osteoarthritis.
Last revised
Key takeaways
- Distinguishing feature: morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes
- Typical pattern: small joints of hands and feet, often symmetrical
- Most useful single change: See a GP promptly rather than waiting for symptoms to settle.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming joint pain in your thirties or forties is wear and tear.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Why it matters
Early treatment substantially changes long-term joint damage, which makes the time to diagnosis the thing that matters most.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Distinguishing feature | morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes |
| Typical pattern | small joints of hands and feet, often symmetrical |
| Urgent referral | recommended for suspected rheumatoid arthritis |
| Treatment | disease-modifying drugs, started early |
| Blood tests | can be normal; they do not exclude it |
What helps
- See a GP promptly rather than waiting for symptoms to settle
- Describe stiffness duration specifically; it is the key discriminator
- Ask about rheumatology referral if several joints are involved
- Keep moving; rest alone worsens stiffness and function
What to avoid
- Assuming joint pain in your thirties or forties is wear and tear
- Waiting for blood tests to be abnormal before pushing for referral
- Stopping disease-modifying treatment without advice
Where to go next
- Inflammatory Arthritis: Just the Figures
- What the Guidance Really Says About Inflammatory Arthritis
- The Evidence on Gout, Without the Hype
- Back Pain: What Published Guidance Supports
When to get help
See a GP urgently for joint swelling with morning stiffness lasting more than thirty minutes, especially in the small joints of the hands or feet. Seek same-day help for a single hot, red, swollen joint with fever, which can be septic arthritis. People on immunosuppressive treatment should seek urgent advice for any fever or infection.
Where this comes from
- NICE — Rheumatoid arthritis in adults: management
- Versus Arthritis — inflammatory arthritis
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.