{"id":173,"date":"2017-05-23T11:26:01","date_gmt":"2017-05-23T11:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=173"},"modified":"2021-03-10T16:39:17","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T16:39:17","slug":"21-common-signs-gout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/21-common-signs-gout\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Most Common Signs of Gout"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Gout is a serious condition that can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for sufferers. Gout is a form of arthritis and even goes under the name \u2018gouty arthritis\u2019, though it has some unique features that make it markedly different from other forms.<\/p>\n

Gout is most common in men and appears to be caused primarily by dietary factors. The result is that uric acids collect around the joints where they can cause pain and discomfort. These high levels of uric acid are referred to as hyperuricemia, though interestingly not everyone with high uric acid levels will develop gout symptoms.<\/p>\n

Gout will affect patients often in waves, resulting in \u2018gout attacks\u2019 that leave them experiencing particularly severe symptoms for short periods.<\/p>\n

So could you be suffering with gout? Read on to discover 21\u00a0of the most common symptoms of gout.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Painful Toes<\/h3>\n

Pain in the toes \u2013 and especially the big toe \u2013 is one of the most notable symptoms that can indicate gout and this is something that sufferers will know all too well. Gout<\/a> is the result of high levels of uric acid as we have already seen and it\u2019s the build-up of this substance that leads to pain. The toes are among the most common places where this can happen and especially on the knuckle. If you struggle to bend your big toe or find yourself limping, this may be something you want to flag up with your doctor.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. \u00a0Tenderness<\/h3>\n

Even after the most severe moments of a gout attack have passed, you may still find yourself with long-term tenderness<\/a> affecting the joints. This may be felt in the big doe for example and it is often described as a radiating pain that also affects other parts of the body.<\/p>\n

You might likewise notice that the pain is felt throughout the foot but with particular focus being on the toe. It can last for weeks and again make walking and even standing difficult.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. \u00a0Swelling<\/h3>\n

A gout attack does not just cause pain but also swelling. As the uric acid<\/a> builds up, the body will respond with an immune reaction to try and drive it out.<\/p>\n

Thus the area around the joint can become enlarged and red and this can even extend up your leg and past your knee. You may find that touching the swelling causes additional pain and discomfort as well.<\/p>\n

Try applying a cold compress to get some slight relief.<\/p>\n

\"\"4.\u00a0 Sudden Acute Pain<\/h3>\n

As well as causing long term discomfort, gout can also cause sudden and acute pain. This is often felt in the toes, the feet, the legs and the lower extremities. This pain can be excruciating and leave you crippled until it begins to subside.<\/p>\n

At this point, the best course of action is to use a cold compress and perhaps a prescribed drug or treatment<\/a>. Once it has faded though, the next important thing to do is to discuss with your doctor to look for more long-term solutions.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. \u00a0Peeling Skin<\/h3>\n

Another unpleasant side effect of gout is that the swelling can eventually start to cause damage in itself. This includes causing the skin to start peeling and becoming itchy, dry, flaky and irritated.<\/p>\n

If the gout is left untreated then this can start to lead to cracking and bleeding<\/a> as well. In the meantime, try applying a topical lotion and covering the area with a dry bandage.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. \u00a0Night Pain<\/h3>\n

Another sign that your pain may be caused by gout is that it comes on during the night. If you go to sleep feeling fine but wake in the night in pain<\/a>, then this suggests you suffered a gout attack during your sleep.<\/p>\n

You might find that this correlates with certain sleeping positions and encouraging yourself to sleep on your side or back may help you to prevent this occurrence somewhat.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. \u00a0Redness<\/h3>\n

Another sign that the cause of your pain is gout and not something else entirely, is redness. It\u2019s normal to experience redness with any kind of inflammation, but where gout is concerned this can be particularly pronounced.<\/p>\n

You might even notice that the area starts to turn a purple-like hue. This is due to the uric acid itself which contributes to the color added by the swelling<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Drink lots of water to encourage your body to flush itself out.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. \u00a0Kidney Stones<\/h3>\n

Gout is painful enough in itself but in a cruel twist of fate, it also increases the likelihood of developing other serious and unwanted conditions. One of the most common of these is kidney stones and these can be so intense as to cause severe nausea<\/a> and vomiting.<\/p>\n

This is the result of uric acid collecting in the urinary tract and you might notice blood in your urine as a tell-tale sign of this condition.<\/p>\n

If you have other signs of gout and you find you are prone to developing kidney stones, then this provides even more evidence that gout might indeed be responsible.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. \u00a0Uric Acid\u2026<\/h3>\n

Many of the symptoms we\u2019ve looked at are caused by uric acid but we can also consider the acid itself to be a key indicator that gout is present. Uric acid doesn\u2019t just build up in the joints but also in the soft tissues of the body, including the ear lobes, the elbows, the hands and the ankles.<\/p>\n

How can you tell if you have a build up of uric acid? Often this results in the formation of solid lumps which are called \u2018tophi\u2019 by those in the medical profession. It sounds a little like \u2018tofu\u2019, but it is a whole lot more serious than that!<\/p>\n

Of course doctors need to identify that these lumps are indeed caused by uric acid however and in order to do that, they must use a biopsy<\/a> of the nodule.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. \u00a0Fever<\/h3>\n

Along with all these other symptoms, gout can also cause the body to develop a fever<\/a>. This is what happens when the gout has moved to many other areas of the body and the immune system begins to respond.<\/p>\n

The fever is low grade in nature and comes often with lots of inflammation.<\/p>\n

If you notice yourself suffering as though you were having an allergic reaction or you are otherwise feeling like you might be suffering with a cold, you should consider whether gout might be the cause.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. \u00a0Low Energy<\/h3>\n

Not a direct symptom of gout but if you start to suffer with symptoms such as fever and achiness, then you should notice that this starts to affect your energy levels too.<\/p>\n

The body is fighting as though you had an infection and this can take its toll, making it harder for you to get up out of bed in the mornings and leaving you feeling exhausted at the end of the day. The joint pain<\/a> will only be an additional symptoms of this.<\/p>\n

\"\"12. \u00a0Weight Gain<\/h3>\n

Again, this isn\u2019t a direct symptom. But what happens when you start to feel pain and discomfort<\/a> and your energy levels drop down significantly? Of course, you become less active.<\/p>\n

Sometimes we can put this down to a host of other things and it is even easy to \u2018write off\u2019 nagging discomfort and pain. However, if you start to notice you are less active than you used to be and it is leading to weight gain and health issues, well then you should consider looking into the potential cause more deeply.<\/p>\n

You might just find that you have an underlying condition such as gout.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. \u00a0Foot Pain<\/h3>\n

By far the most common place to experience<\/a> gout attacks is in the big toe. 90% of all those affected with gout will at some point experience pain in this area and so it has become by far the most \u2018famous\u2019 symptom of a gout attack.<\/p>\n

But while the big toe is the most common sight of discomfort, you can just as likely experience pain in a host of other areas. Commonly affected areas include the foot, which might be felt in the middle of the sole.<\/p>\n

\"\"14. \u00a0Ankle Pain<\/h3>\n

Another common place to experience swelling and pain just behind the big toe is the ankle<\/a>. This happens about as commonly as the foot, falling into a cluster of areas that are the \u2018second most likely\u2019 to experience pain and discomfort behind the big toe.<\/p>\n

Note that not every part of the body is equally as likely to be affected. For example, it is very rare to experience pain in the shoulder. The hip is almost never affected \u2013 so if you experience pain there, it\u2019s likely not gout.<\/p>\n

\"\"15. \u00a0Knee<\/h3>\n

Another place that might indicate that gout is the root problem however is the knee. If this becomes swollen and painful then this can actually be the result of a great many things.<\/p>\n

These include everything from a direct trauma<\/a> to the region, resulting in a cut or bruise, or potentially issues with the patella tracking over the joint.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s more likely to be gout if you notice it comes on in sudden waves, if it results in swelling and redness and if you notice some of the other side effects that we have mentioned here so far. Skin peeling is one such possibility.<\/p>\n

\"\"16. \u00a0Elbow<\/h3>\n

Finally, the last \u2018common\u2019 place for a gout attack to affect is the elbow<\/a>. Again, there are a number of potential different causes of elbow pain so you can\u2019t instantly assume that it is gout.<\/p>\n

Other common causes include tennis elbow (which is caused by swinging), RSI (repetitive strain injury) or joint issues. It\u2019s also potentially caused by other forms of arthritis.<\/p>\n

Again, the key here is to look for the pain occurring in conjunction with the other symptoms that we have mentioned. Moreover, you can also try to rule out potential other causes. Ask yourself: do you play tennis?<\/p>\n

Do you often find yourself resting on your elbow?<\/p>\n

\"\"17. \u00a0Pain in Other Areas<\/h3>\n

Other areas where you might experience pain can include the shoulders, the fingers<\/a> and the wrists.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, these areas are significantly less likely to be at risk and if you do notice pain here, then it will likely be as the condition progresses.<\/p>\n

Other areas, such as the hips, are effectively never affected.<\/p>\n

\"\"18. \u00a0Family History<\/h3>\n

This is not a symptom but a risk factor. If you have a family history of gout then you are at a significantly higher risk of developing the condition.<\/p>\n

This is something your doctor might ask you while making a diagnosis<\/a> and it gives you a good reason to try and avoid foods that might trigger a gout attack such as those foods containing uric acid.<\/p>\n

It is always a good idea to do some research into your family history and to learn what conditions they might have lived with. This can give you a good idea of where you might be at risk and how to avoid potential problems down the line.<\/p>\n

\"\"19. \u00a0Heart Disease<\/h3>\n

Those with gout are at a higher risk of coronary disease. Thus, it is usual for those diagnosed with the condition to also be checked for risk factors such as cholesterol<\/a> and triglyceride levels.<\/p>\n

If you have had heart problems in the past and you suffer with joint pain and some deformity, then you might have further reason to suspect that gout is responsible.<\/p>\n

\"\"20. \u00a0Bone Damage<\/h3>\n

Sometimes a joint will look effectively normal, even though it is afflicted with gout. In other cases, these might be a very small deposit of uric acid.<\/p>\n

On other occasions however, the build-up of uric acid may be very apparent, resulting in effective deformity<\/a> of the areas involved.<\/p>\n

Moreover, these large lumps and the swelling can sometimes lead to actual bone damage. It is very important that this be assessed before a treatment is started.<\/p>\n

\"\"21. \u00a0Kidney Disease<\/h3>\n

As well as causing kidney stones, gout can sometimes lead to kidney disease. This happens as a result of the kidneys working harder to try and remove the uric acid from the blood; the strain<\/a> can then eventually cause more serious health problems.<\/p>\n

This is just one more reason that it is highly important not to ignore this life changing condition. If you notice swelling, redness or discomfort in any of your joints then you should know that something is wrong and the sooner you seek treatment, the better.<\/p>\n

The good news is that gout can be effectively managed by reducing the amount of uric acid in the system and achieving a balance. Speak with your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.<\/p>\n\r\n

<\/div>