What is an Autoimmune Diagnosis, and Why Does Without Wings exist?

Without Wings, the Manx Autoimmune Trust, was established in 2016 to support people in the Isle of Man affected by autoimmune arthritis.

In 2025, due to demand and the NHS health discussion, we expanded our legal constitution to cover all autoimmune conditions. 

For clarity, this also means our charitable objects are limited to people affected by autoimmune. 

Your autoimmune wellness path

Scroll down for the lowdown on autoimmune arthritis and other autoimmune conditions.

Before you do, it’s important to understand that for most autoimmune conditions, if you have access to the right resources, you’re more likely to find your own wellness path.

Thankfully, our NHS provides excellent medical support.

However, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), recognises that the pathway for people living with an autoimmune diagnosis should also include psychological intervention and other holistic coping strategies.

It is here where we identified a gap for tailored support that Manx Care was struggling to address. 

Lifestyle Medicine and Social Prescribing

Because of this, Without Wings is designed around filling that gap, following a lifestyle medicine and social prescribing model.

This means that through raising awareness, providing useful information and our grant making initiative, our goal is to help you look after you.

We do this by enabling easy access to the holistic support you need to thrive as best you can – not just survive – with an autoimmune diagnosis.  

Please note: you can apply for up to 2 funding pots in any given period. Also, Without Wings seeks to work in partnership with other Manx charities where our objects may overlap.   

APPLY FOR FUNDING SUPPORT

For people living with long-term physical health conditions, social prescribing can reduce pain, fatigue, and isolation — helping people take back control over their health in ways that matter to them.”
— Dr. Michael Dixon, NHS England National Clinical Champion for Social Prescribing

What is Autoimmune Arthritis?

Autoimmune arthritis is a group of chronic illnesses where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues — particularly the joints. These conditions include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

• Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

• Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)

• Lupus (SLE)

• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

There are many other variants — some less common, others linked to wider autoimmune activity. At Without Wings, our legal constitution covers all forms of autoimmune arthritis, not osteoarthritis (OA). If you’re looking for support with osteoarthritis, we recommend visiting Arthritis Care Ellan Vannin.

What Makes It Different?

Autoimmune arthritis is sometimes called inflammatory arthritis, because it’s driven by immune system dysfunction, not wear and tear.

In contrast, osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition caused by ageing, joint stress, or injury. While both can be painful and disabling, their causes, treatments, and progression are very different.

Fast Facts

• 🧬 Systemic Illnesses: Autoimmune arthritis can affect the whole body — not just joints, but also skin, eyes, organs, and blood vessels.

• 👀 Often Invisible: People may appear “fine” even when symptoms are severe. This invisibility can lead to misunderstanding, isolation, or even bullying.

• 🔄 Unpredictable: Symptoms fluctuate, even daily. One day you might struggle to move; the next, seem almost symptom-free. This makes work, relationships, and daily life harder to manage.

• 👶 Affects All Ages: Though most cases develop between ages 20–50, children and teenagers can be affected too (particularly in JIA).

• ⚖️ Impacts Mental Health: According to nras.org.uk, up to 60% of people with RA may experience mental health challenges at any one time — often due to chronic pain, fatigue and stress.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosed by a Rheumatologist

Autoimmune arthritis is usually diagnosed through a combination of:

• Blood tests (e.g. CRP, ESR, rheumatoid factor)

• Symptoms like joint swelling, stiffness, and reduced mobility

• Imaging (X-rays, MRIs, ultrasound)

Some people test positive for markers like rheumatoid factor (seropositive). Others may not, and are classed as seronegative — often seen in PsA, AS, and JIA. These cases can be harder to diagnose and may take longer to confirm.

Common Medications

Most people with autoimmune arthritis are prescribed one or more of the following:

• DMARDs (e.g. methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine)

• Biologic therapies / anti-TNF drugs

• Steroids (injections or tablets)

• NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory pain relief)

Treatment requires ongoing monitoring, and side effects vary. Early, targeted treatment gives the best chance of managing the disease long-term.

Understanding Flares

A flare is when symptoms worsen — often without warning. This may include:

• Increased joint pain or swelling

• Whole-body stiffness or fatigue

• Flu-like symptoms or brain fog

Flares may require a change in medication or extra rest and care. They’re a common and disruptive part of life with autoimmune arthritis.

Why Awareness Matters

These conditions aren’t rare — autoimmune arthritis affects 1–1.5% of adults and around 1 in 1,000 children. Yet it remains misunderstood and under-discussed, particularly when symptoms are invisible or slow to diagnose.

At Without Wings, we’re working to change that. Alongside awareness and information, we provide:

• Fully funded counselling

• Compassionate grants for home help, exercise support, and essential services

• Accessible wellbeing events for those affected by autoimmune illness

Other Autoimmune Conditions Without Wings Supports

Since 2025, Without Wings has expanded its constitution to support all autoimmune conditions — not just those affecting the joints.

Autoimmune illness occurs when the body’s immune system mistakes healthy tissue for a threat and begins to attack it. These conditions vary in severity, visibility, and progression — but what they all have in common is the emotional, physical, and practical toll they can take on a person’s life.

Below are some of the most common non-arthritis autoimmune conditions, grouped by the part of the body or system they primarily affect.

A Quick Note on Autoimmune Demographics

According to the University of Oxford, in a study based on 22,000,000 people across Britain, autoimmune conditions were found to affect up to 10% of the population.

It was also discovered that women were disproportionately affected at the ration of 13% to 7% of men.

Given the many complexities surrounding women’s health, this finding is significant. However, when it comes to learning how to cope, all groups matter.

🧠 Neurological & Nerve-Related Autoimmune Conditions

These affect the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – Attacks the protective covering of nerves, causing pain, fatigue, balance issues, and mobility challenges.

• Myasthenia Gravis – Affects communication between nerves and muscles, leading to muscle weakness.

• Guillain-Barré Syndrome – A rare condition causing rapid-onset muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.

• Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) – A long-term version of Guillain-Barré with ongoing nerve inflammation.

🦠 Gastrointestinal Autoimmune Conditions

These impact the digestive system and often require strict dietary or lifestyle management.

• Crohn’s Disease – Causes inflammation anywhere in the digestive tract, leading to pain, diarrhoea, and fatigue.

• Ulcerative Colitis – Affects the colon and rectum, often causing bloody diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

• Coeliac Disease – Triggered by gluten, leading to inflammation and damage in the small intestine.

• Autoimmune Hepatitis – A rare condition where the immune system attacks the liver.

🦋 Skin & Connective Tissue Conditions

These autoimmune diseases may present primarily as skin conditions or affect connective tissue throughout the body.

• Lupus (SLE) – A systemic illness that can affect the skin, joints, organs, and blood — often with a butterfly-shaped rash.

• Scleroderma – Hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues.

• Dermatomyositis – Involves skin rash and muscle weakness.

• Vitiligo – Causes loss of skin pigment in patches due to immune attack on pigment cells.

🧬 Endocrine & Hormone-Related Autoimmune Conditions

These affect the glands that regulate hormones, often leading to widespread symptoms like fatigue, mood changes, and metabolism issues.

• Type 1 Diabetes – The immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

• Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis – An underactive thyroid condition caused by immune attack.

• Graves’ Disease – An overactive thyroid condition, often causing weight loss, anxiety, and eye issues.

• Addison’s Disease – Affects adrenal glands, leading to fatigue, low blood pressure, and salt cravings.

💉 Blood & Systemic Autoimmune Conditions

These affect the blood, vessels, or multiple systems throughout the body.

• Autoimmune Hemolytic Anaemia – The immune system destroys red blood cells.

• Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) – A blood clotting disorder, often associated with lupus.

• Vasculitis (e.g. Behçet’s disease, Takayasu arteritis) – Inflammation of blood vessels that can affect any organ.

• Sjogren’s Syndrome – Often overlaps with RA or lupus; causes dry eyes, dry mouth and fatigue.

🧒 Paediatric Autoimmune Conditions

Autoimmune illnesses can affect children too, often requiring specialist paediatric care and support.

• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) – A group of arthritis types affecting children under 16.

• Paediatric Lupus

• Paediatric IBD (Crohn’s or Colitis)

• Autoimmune Encephalitis – A rare but serious condition where the immune system attacks the brain.

A Note on Diagnosis and Support

Many autoimmune conditions overlap. It’s not unusual for someone to be diagnosed with more than one. Symptoms often come and go, making the experience confusing and unpredictable — and frequently invisible to others.

Whether newly diagnosed or living with a long-term condition, Without Wings offers:

• Fully funded counselling

• Compassionate grants for practical support

• Accessible wellbeing groups tailored to build confidence, connection and calm

We’re here to help you feel less alone, more in control, and fully supported.