The Symptoms of Gout

Various sources mention the following symptoms indicative of gout.

- There are no early symptoms in the initial stages of gout. While the crystals responsible for gout build up, no perceptible symptoms are produced.

- When a gout attack sets in the common symptoms include unbearable pain in the joints, usually that of the big toe, though other movable joints of the body can eventually be affected.

- The joint shows considerable swelling and redness.

- The skin around the affected joint feels hot to touch.

- The ball of the foot gets inflamed and starts aching.

- Pain is felt in the arch of the foot.

- When gout spreads to the ankle, then the ankle swell up and starts to pain.

- Gradually, other joints of the body are affected, like the knees, the knuckles of the fingers, the wrist, elbows, hips, and the like. All these joints become swollen and sharp, sudden pains are experienced.

- The gout attacks are very fast to set in, taking as little as one day only to begin.

- Hyperuricemia of the blood is a certainty.

- Skin lumps and Tophi are observed.

- The attacks are recurrent, though a second attack may come months or even years after the first one. But in chronic cases, the attacks occur one after the other.

The swelling is a better indication of gout. Swelling occurs due to deposition of urate crystals on the joints. However, neither the pain nor the inflammation is conclusive symptom that can confirm the diagnosis of gout.

Discoloration of the skin is another indication of gout. The color of the skin over the gout-afflicted joints alters drastically. It almost becomes purple in hue. This is a definitive symptom and if a patient observes such changes in color of the skin along with pain and swelling, they should immediately consult a doctor. Timely treatment is essential in counteracting gout attack. Delayed medical care can make the treatment difficult.

Anyone of the signs of gout can be quite unnerving. The occurrence of more than one symptom all at once can seriously become a cause of anguish and anxiety for the patient suffering from gout. However, unnecessary worry will not help. The correct course of action would be to seek help from qualified medical practitioners as soon as possible and take measures for preventing further complications before the gout attack gets out of hand.

The point that is to be borne in mind is that the symptoms of gout are those that are known by a patient, but gout signs are indications that are perceivable only by a doctor.