In short
Osteoarthritis usually feels like a deep ache that’s worse with use, with stiffness that eases within about 30 minutes. Rheumatoid arthritis feels like warm, puffy, stiff joints, often worst in the morning for an hour or more. Gout causes sudden, intense pain where even a bedsheet hurts.
On this page
Osteoarthritis
- A deep, aching pain in or around the joint
- Worse with use and at the end of the day, better with rest, at least early on
- Stiffness after rest or first thing in the morning that usually eases within 30 minutes
- Grinding, crunching or clicking
- Firm, bony swelling, especially in the fingers
- Good days and bad days, with flares after more activity than usual
In later stages, pain can be more constant and can disturb sleep.
Rheumatoid arthritis
- Warm, puffy, tender joints, usually on both sides of the body
- Small joints of the hands, wrists and feet affected first
- Morning stiffness lasting more than an hour
- Pain and stiffness that improve with gentle movement
- Tiredness and sometimes feeling generally unwell
Sore joints slowing you down?
Talk it through with an Australian doctor online. No referral needed.
Gout
- Sudden, intense pain that often starts overnight
- A hot, red, shiny, swollen joint, classically the big toe
- So tender that even the weight of a bedsheet hurts
- Attacks that settle over one to two weeks, with no pain in between in the early years
Psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis
- A swollen “sausage” finger or toe
- Pain where tendons attach, such as the heel
- Back pain and stiffness that are worse in the morning and better with exercise
Is it arthritis, or something else?
Many things feel like arthritis, including tendon problems, bursitis, nerve pain and widespread pain conditions. The pattern of which joints hurt, how long stiffness lasts, and whether joints swell helps a doctor tell them apart. See types of arthritis.
When to see a GP
See a GP if joint pain lasts more than a few weeks, if joints are swollen or stiff for a long time in the morning, or if a joint suddenly becomes hot and very painful. A hot, swollen joint with fever needs same-day care.
Next step: talk to a doctor
Answer a few quick questions and you’ll get an email about your eligibility. A consultation doesn’t guarantee any particular treatment.
References
- Hunter DJ, Bierma-Zeinstra S. Osteoarthritis. Lancet. 2019;393(10182):1745-1759.
- Smolen JS, Aletaha D, McInnes IB. Rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet. 2016;388(10055):2023-2038.
- Dalbeth N, Gosling AL, Gaffo A, et al. Gout. Lancet. 2021;397(10287):1843-1855.
- Ritchlin CT, Colbert RA, Gladman DD. Psoriatic Arthritis. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(10):957-970.
- Sieper J, Poddubnyy D. Axial spondyloarthritis. Lancet. 2017;390(10089):73-84.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.