What are the symptoms of arthritis?

If you’ve been living with joint pain, stiffness, or swelling, especially if it’s come on for no clear reason, you might be wondering, “Could it be arthritis?” The truth is, arthritis symptoms can affect people of any age, not just older adults.

Arthritis simply means "inflamed joint", and pain is the common link across all types. There are many different types of arthritis, but the most common ones are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Each has its own symptoms and treatment options, so it’s important to get the right diagnosis early.

Some signs your joint pain might be arthritis:

• Pain and stiffness that lasts more than a few days
• Joints that feel warm, red, or swollen
• Trouble moving a joint the way you used to

If this sounds familiar, now is the time to see your doctor or Māori health provider. Don’t wait, early diagnosis and treatment can help protect your joints and reduce long-term damage. You know your body best. Trust what your body is telling you.

You don’t have to figure this out on your own. We're here to support you and your whānau on your journey to feeling better.

This is the most common type of arthritis and tends to come on slowly, often affecting just one joint at first.

You might notice:

• Pain in the joints
• Pain in a joint that has previously been injured
• Stiffness in the joints. With OA, morning stiffness is common, and this improves with movement
• Swelling or deformity of joints
  -Can be hard and knobbly swelling in the finger joints
  -Sometimes soft swelling in larger joints from thickened joint lining and extra fluid in the joint
• Reduced flexibility. Reduced range of motion for the joint. Like fingers not being able to grip as well as they used to
• Grating or cracking sounds in the joint
• Sometimes the muscle around the joint looks thinner
• Over time, the joint may give way due to weakened muscles

At first, the pain might only come after a lot of movement. Over time, even everyday activities can cause pain, although it often eases with rest.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition that can affect people of any age. It often starts gradually, but can also come on quickly.

• Pain that is worse with joint movement
• Stiffness lasting longer than 30 minutes in the morning
• Swelling of the joints with warmth and redness
• Tenderness in the hands, wrists and soles of the feet that comes and goes in the beginning
• Early symptoms can be nonspecific, including feeling unwell, low-grade fever, feeling tired and low appetite
• As RA progresses, the tiredness can sometimes be extreme fatigue
• Both sides of the body are usually affected at the same time, but not always

RA can cause extreme fatigue. Some people say they woke up one day and couldn’t get out of bed. If this sounds familiar, it’s important to get checked.

Gout is a very painful type of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the blood.

• Sudden onset of severe pain in one or more joints
• Hard lumps under the skin where uric acid crystals have deposited
• Skin is shiny and purple or red over these areas
• The first attack often affects the big toe, but can affect other joints
• Typically, you went to bed fine and woke up unable to bear the weight of the sheet on your toe
• Swelling and warmth in the joint area
• Without treatment, the acute phase generally settles by itself within seven to ten days 

Gout isn’t just a one-off attack. It’s a chronic condition that needs long-term treatment to prevent it from coming back and protect joints and kidneys.

If these arthritis symptoms sound familiar, it’s worth talking to a health professional. Getting answers can be the first step towards feeling better and protecting your joint health.

Our team at Arthritis NZ is here to walk alongside you and your whānau. You don’t have to do this alone; reach out for support, kōrero, and trusted information.