How do gout feel

These crystals also often build up under the skin and form small white or yellow lumps known as tophi. Tophi are usually painless, but they can form in awkward places, such as at the ends of your fingers and around your toes. Sometimes they can make everyday tasks such as preparing food or getting dressed difficult. It normally takes several years after the first attack of gout for tophi to develop, but some people develop them even before experiencing an attack.

They're usually a sign of severe gout and a good reason to start treatment to reduce the level or uric acid in your body. Successful treatment will prevent the tophi from getting any bigger, and long term treatment often gradually shrinks them.

Without treatment, gout attacks may become more frequent and prolonged, and your likelihood of developing permanent joint damage will increase. Occasionally, high levels of uric acid can lead to the formation of kidney stones. Some kidney stones interfere with the flow of urine, resulting in pain when you pass urine, and can make you feel that you need to pass urine more often.

Some kidney stones interfere with the flow of urine, resulting in pain when you pee, and can make you feel that you need to pee more often.

You may be prescribed medication to make your urine less acidic, which should help dissolve any kidney stones that have developed. Read more about treating kidney stones. Gout can also affect your mood, work and home life. The severe pain that gout causes can make it difficult to do everyday tasks and to get around, which in turn can lead to feelings of depression or anxiety.

If gout is affecting your mood or making everyday life difficult, talk to your GP. They will be able to offer treatment and support. There are also a number of organisations that offer information and advice for people who have gout, including Arthritis Research UK and Arthritis Care. Home Illnesses and conditions Muscle, bone and joints Conditions Gout. Gout See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About gout 2. Symptoms of gout 3. Causes of gout 4. Diagnosing gout 5. Treating gout 6.

Complications of gout. About gout Gout is a type of arthritis in which small crystals form inside and around the joints. It's estimated that between one and two in every people in the UK are affected by gout.

Signs and symptoms of gout Any joint can be affected by gout, but it usually affects joints towards the ends of the limbs, such as the toes, ankles, knees and fingers. Signs and symptoms of gout include: severe pain in one or more joints the joint feeling hot and very tender swelling in and around the affected joint red, shiny skin over the affected joint Symptoms develop rapidly over a few hours and typically last three to 10 days.

Almost everyone with gout will experience further attacks at some point, usually within a year. When to see your GP See your GP if you suspect you have gout and it hasn't been previously diagnosed, particularly if the pain keeps getting worse and you also have a high temperature fever.

What causes gout? Gout is caused by a build-up of a substance called uric acid in the blood. Treatments for gout If you have gout, treatment is available from your GP to: relieve symptoms during an attack — this can be done using ice packs and by taking medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , colchicine or corticosteroids prevent further attacks — through a combination of lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or changing your diet, and taking medication that lowers uric acid levels, such as allopurinol With treatment, many people are able to reduce their uric acid levels sufficiently to dissolve the crystals that cause gout — and as a result have no further attacks.

Can gout cause further problems? Sometimes gout can lead to further problems, particularly if it's left untreated. These can include: kidney stones small firm lumps of uric acid crystals under the skin called tophi permanent joint damage Read more about the complications of gout. What's pseudogout? Symptoms of gout The main symptom of gout is a sudden attack of severe pain in one or more joints, typically your big toe. Other symptoms can include: the joint feeling hot and very tender, to the point of being unable to bear anything touching it swelling in and around the affected joint red, shiny skin over the affected joint peeling, itchy and flaky skin as the swelling goes down The intense pain can make getting around difficult.

Which joints can be affected? Gout can affect almost any joint and can occur in more than one joint at the same time. The joints towards the ends of the limbs tend to be affected more often, including the: toes — particularly the big toe joint midfoot where your shoelaces sit ankles knees fingers wrists elbows If gout is left untreated, it's likely to affect more joints over time.

Pattern of symptoms Attacks of gout tend to: occur at night, although they can happen at any time develop quickly over a few hours last between three and 10 days — after this time, the affected joint should start to return to normal, but the problem can persist if treatment isn't started early come back — you may experience attacks every few months or years become more frequent over time if not treated It's difficult to predict how often attacks will occur and when exactly they will happen.

When to seek medical advice See your GP if you suspect you have gout and it hasn't been previously diagnosed. Contact your GP immediately or call the service if you have both: severe, worsening joint pain and swelling a high temperature fever of 38C Causes of gout Gout is caused by small crystals forming in the joints, resulting in severe pain, tenderness and swelling. Uric acid Uric acid is created when the body breaks down chemicals known as purines. What can increase your risk?

If you have any of the follow gout symptoms, talk to your doctor. You may need testing aspiration and testing of joint fluid to determine if gout is to blame. This is the classic hallmark of a gout attack, making it the most clear-cut gout symptom. Huffstutter explains.

Those crystals often migrate to the toe, where they get attacked by your body as foreign invaders. The result: excruciating pain, warmth, and redness. While uric acid crystals tend to deposit themselves near the big toe, they can form in any joint in the body. That means severe, unexplained pain in any joint could be a sign of gout. Some people develop pain in just one joint i.

Gout flares are twice as likely to happen at night between midnight and 8 a. This is because of a few different factors, including lower body temperature and being more dehydrated overnight, which can allow uric acid to accumulate more readily.

Gout-related pain tends to go from zero to 60 in less than 24 hours. Some people go to bed feeling perfectly fine, then wake up during the night with intense pain. Gout tends to strike as intense flares of pain that dissipate within a few days to a few weeks. Gout can typically be treated without surgery.

But after many years, this condition can damage the joints, tear the tendons, and cause infections in the skin over the joints. Hard deposits, called tophi, can build up on your joints and in other places, like your ear.

These lumps may be painful and swollen, and they can permanently damage your joints. Which one of these surgeries your doctor recommends depends on the extent of the damage, where the tophi are located, and your personal preferences. Certain conditions, such as blood and metabolism disorders or dehydration, make your body produce too much uric acid.

A kidney or thyroid problem, or an inherited disorder, can make it harder for your body to remove excess uric acid. For some people, gout is caused by consuming foods that are high in gout-producing purines. Most people can tolerate high-purine foods. But if your body has trouble releasing excess uric acid, you may want to avoid certain foods and drinks, such as:. Some foods help reduce uric acid levels in the body and are good choices if you have gout.

Alcohol , like red meat and seafood, is high in purines. When your body breaks down purines, the process releases uric acid. More uric acid increases your risk of having gout. Alcohol can also reduce the rate at which your body removes uric acid.

Not everyone who drinks will develop gout. But a high consumption of alcohol more than 12 drinks per week can increase the risk — especially in men. Beer is more likely than liquor to influence the risk. Your doctor can diagnose gout based on a review of your medical history, a physical exam, and your symptoms.

Your doctor will likely base your diagnosis on:. Your doctor may also order a test to check for a buildup of uric acid in your joint. A sample of fluid taken from your joint can show whether it contains uric acid. They may also want to take an X-ray of your joint. If you have symptoms of gout, you can start with a visit to your primary care doctor.

If your gout is severe, you may need to see a specialist in joint diseases. Certain foods, medications, and conditions can set off gout symptoms. You may need to avoid or limit foods and drinks like these, which are high in purines:. Some medications you take to manage other conditions increase the level of uric acid in your blood. Talk with your doctor if you take any of these drugs:. Sometimes it can be hard to pinpoint which of these factors is behind your gout attacks.

Keeping a diary is one way to track your diet, medications, and health to help identify the cause of your symptoms.

Gout can only be diagnosed during a flare when a joint is hot, swollen, and painful and when a lab test finds uric acid crystals in the affected joint. The disease should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor or a team of doctors who specialize in care of gout patients. This is important because the signs and symptoms of gout are not specific and can look like signs and symptoms of other inflammatory diseases. Doctors who specialize in gout and other forms of arthritis are called rheumatologists.

To find a provider near you, visit the database of rheumatologists external icon on the American College of Rheumatology website. Once a rheumatologist has diagnosed and effectively treated your gout, a primary care provider can usually track your condition and help you manage your gout.

Gout can be effectively treated and managed with medical treatment and self-management strategies. Your health care provider may recommend a medical treatment plan to. In addition to medical treatment, you can manage your gout with self-management strategies.

Self-management is what you do day to day to manage your condition and stay healthy, like making healthy lifestyle choices.