In brief
Pain or stiffness in one or more joints. Joints get sore and swollen for many reasons, from injury and overuse to arthritis, including gout and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the same joints on both sides of the body, according to healthdirect.
- Many people with high uric acid never develop gout, according to Pathology Tests Explained.
- Staying active and getting regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to treat arthritis.
When to get help
Get help now
- If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero (000) immediately.
See your doctor if
- A joint is red, hot and swollen.
- Your joints are swollen or stiff, especially in the morning.
Things that can contribute
- Injury or overuse
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
- Inflammatory arthritis
Questions you could ask your GP
- Could this be inflammatory arthritis, and do I need blood tests?
- Would a physiotherapist help?
- What pain relief is safe with my other medicines?
Based on healthdirect Australia, Arthritis. You can also check your symptoms with the healthdirect Symptom Checker, or speak with a registered nurse on 1800 022 222.
How it works
Joint pain can come from an injury, overuse or starting a new type of physical activity. The most common types of arthritis in Australia include osteoarthritis and gout, and inflammatory forms of arthritis cause swelling, redness and warmth.
Gout causes sudden, severe pain and swelling, most often in the big toe. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the same joints on both sides of the body, with stiffness that is often worse in the morning, and early treatment helps control it.
Connections
5 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.
Joint pain can be caused by
Rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling, pain and heat in the joints, usually starting in the hands or feet.
Sources: Better Health Channel (Victorian Government), Rheumatoid arthritis; healthdirect Australia, Rheumatoid arthritis
Gout causes sudden, severe pain and swelling in a joint.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Gout; Pathology Tests Explained, Urate (uric acid)
Joint pain, stiffness and swelling are the main symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Some people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which affects the joints and may damage them.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Psoriasis; Better Health Channel (Victorian Government), Psoriasis
Joint pain is linked with
Joints get sore and swollen for many reasons, including arthritis.
Lab tests
Medicines and supplements
General education only. Never start, stop or change a medicine without your prescriber.
Sources
Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.
Summarised from healthdirect, the Better Health Channel and Pathology Tests Explained. Sources read on 12, 13, 16 and 19 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.