You can read Part 1 of this blog here.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Gout?

Gout is characterized by sudden attacks of severe pain, along with swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joints, often at the base of the big toe. This is called podagra. It may occur suddenly and can be extremely painful that it may seem intolerable to move or even apply light pressure to the affected area. The pain often starts during the night and can wake a person from sleep. This is due to colder body temperature which causes the crystals to harden. The pain and tenderness may get worse quickly and could last for hours.

Other symptoms of gout include:

• Warmth on affected joint
• Stiffness in joints
• Red to purplish skin around the affected joint
• Limited movement on affected area
• Itching and peeling of skin around the joint

Besides the big toe, gout can also affect other parts of the body, such as the:

• Ankles
• Heels
• Knees
• Wrists
• Elbows
• Insteps

Occurrence of gout may vary. Some patients experience minimal painful attacks, while others experience frequent attacks (chronic gout). Chronic gout is often confused with other forms of arthritis so make sure to visit your physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Next week we’ll discuss treatments for Gout.