Otherwise known as degenerative arthritis. OA occurs when there is a breakdown of the cartilage, leaving the bones unprotected. It is very common and usually affects people as they get older. You can get it at any age and are more likely to if you have previously injured a joint, or are overweight.

The symptoms can be very mild with just occasional pain with activity. Worsening symptoms include pain with activity and stiffness with rest. Joints can become swollen and restricted in movement. Joints can change shape as the bone changes in response to loss of protection. You otherwise feel well.

The diagnosis is made on the basis of the history, examination findings and sometimes x-rays. The severity of joint damage seen on x-ray does not always correlate with the degree of pain you experience.

Treatment includes guided exercises, weight reduction if needed, pain relief and sometimes surgery.

Useful links

Arthritis New Zealand
Arthritis New Zealand is a national voluntary organisation which represents the interests of those with arthritis.

Health Navigator
Health Navigator has extensive information about Osteoarthritis including - a description, overview, symptoms, tests & diagnosis, treatments, medications, education, support and clinical resources.

RA is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the joints. This results in inflamed (red, hot, swollen), stiff and painful joints and eventually the destruction of the cartilage and bone of joints. RA can occur at any age. The cause is unknown.

Symptoms do not only involve the joints but you may suffer from tiredness, low energy, fevers, poor appetite with weight loss and poor sleep.

Diagnosis is made on the basis of your history and examination of your joints. X-rays may be normal in the early stages of the disease. MRI can be more sensitive at picking up early changes but can also be normal. Blood tests are done looking for an antibody that is present in about 75% of people with RA. This is called the rheumatoid factor. Unfortunately people who don’t have RA can have a positive rheumatoid factor test. Other blood tests can also help make the diagnosis.

Treatment includes medications to relieve pain and inflammation. It also involves medication aiming at modifying the immune system to stop it from damaging the joints further. There are several medications in this group and your specialist will discuss side effects and benefits with you so you can work out which suit you best.

Useful links

Arthritis New Zealand
Arthritis New Zealand is a national voluntary organisation which represents the interests of those with arthritis.

Health Navigator
Health Navigator has extensive information about Rheumatoid Arthritis including - a description, overview, symptoms, tests & diagnosis, treatments, medications, education, support and clinical resources.

This is a syndrome of widespread aches, pains and fatigue. There may be morning stiffness and sleep problems. The diagnosis is made on the history of the pain and accompanying symptoms as well as the presence of tender points at specific sites on the body. There are a number of different theories and reasons for this condition. There will often be blood tests and maybe x-rays to exclude other diagnoses. Treatment involves pain killers, exercises, rest and sometimes antidepressant medication. For more information see Arthritis New Zealand's website.

This is an autoimmune disease where the immune system harms cells of the body.  It can affect the joints, skin, nervous system, kidneys and heart.  It is a disease for which there is no cure. It can be managed and usually controlled with medication. It affects different people differently and can have symptoms that come and go.   Symptoms initially can include tiredness, muscle and joint pain and swelling, hair loss, rash, and fevers.  The diagnosis is made on the basis of the history and examination findings as well as blood tests and urine tests. For more information see Arthritis New Zealand's website. 

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) also known as temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory condition of the blood vessels and can present with headache, jaw claudication, scalp tenderness or other more vague symptoms.

Please click on the following link for: patient information sheets

• Giant Cell Arteritis - Patient Information (PDF, 157.7 KB)
• Temporal Artery Biopsy Request Form (PDF, 442.5 KB)

Gout is one of the most common forms of arthritis (joint inflammation). It appears as an acute attack often coming on overnight. Within 12-24 hours there is severe pain and swelling in the affected joint. The skin over the joint may be red and shiny. 

Gout usually affects only one or two joints at a time - most often the feet and ankles. The ball of the big toe is the commonest site. Without treatment the attack subsides in a week or so and when patients first develop gout there may be intervals of many months or even years between attacks. As time goes by, these tend to become more frequent and more severe and eventually many joints may be involved, sometimes all at the same time. At this stage a state of chronic or continuous joint disease may develop with progressive joint damage, disability and crippling (chronic gout). Gout affects mostly men and is very rare in women until after the menopause when it is quite often seen. Gout is very common in New Zealand and it is particularly common in Maori and Pacific peoples.

Three Key Messages for Gout:

1. Gout is not only a pain in your toe; it is a WAKE UP call to take care of your heart, health and well being.

2. Gout is not cured, even when the pain goes away, but lifestyle changes and medication such as allopurinol can stop gout's bad effects by hitting the target - uric acid less than 0.36.

3. Your genes play an important part in gout, it is not just your kai.

For more information about gout from the Department of Rheumatology at Middlemore Hospital, please click on the following links:

• Gout information (English)
• Gout information (Samoan translation- Gugu)
• Gout information (Tongan translation- Kauti)

Click here to view Gout booklets available in English, Te Reo Maori, Niuean, Samoan and Tongan.

Useful links

Health Navigator
Health Navigator has extensive information about Gout including - a description, overview, symptoms, tests & diagnosis, treatments, medications, education, support and clinical resources.

• Gout information pamphlet (PDF, 33.1 KB)
• Gout (Gugu - Samoan translation) information pamphlet (PDF, 21.8 KB)
• Gout (Kauiti - Tongan translation) information pamphlet (PDF, 25.2 KB)

Please click on the following links for information sheets on:

• Alendronate (Fosamax)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
• Azathioprine
• Cyclophosphamide
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Methotrexate
• Prednisone
• Sulphasalazine (Salazopyrin)

• Alendronate (PDF, 14.4 KB)
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (PDF, 14.3 KB)
• Azathioprine (PDF, 12 KB)
• Cyclophosphamide (PDF, 14 KB)
• Hydroxychloroquine (PDF, 9.4 KB)
• Methotrexate (PDF, 11.2 KB)
• Prednisone (PDF, 25.8 KB)
• Sulphasalazine (PDF, 14.4 KB)