gout symptoms

Gout Symptoms

Gout symptoms often follow a similar pattern

Inflammation and pain in the big toe joint of one foot.

Pain comes on rapidly, often overnight, and then eases off over a period of days.

The pain is excruciating. Even the weight of a bedsheet can be too much to bear.

Gout sufferers may find the only relief is to hang their foot outside of the bed.

Even the slightest movement of the joint will be incredibly painful.

There will be limited movement in the affected joint.

Along with swelling and pain, the skin will stretch and maybecome itchy.

The big toe is not the only joint that can be affected by gout symptoms.

Pain can appear in many joints, including fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles and feet.

Gout does not always present in the form of a painful attack.

In less acute gout attacks, the joint may feel warm and tender. It may be slightly red.

You may have ongoing joint pain which is otherwise unexplained.

This may resemble normal gout symptoms, but perhaps be less severe.

Urate deposits (tophi) can show up in the ears as nodules,

even if the classic gout symptoms are not present.

Tophi can also show up in the hands and fingers.

Normally gout attacks will go away by themselves, and often stop within one or two weeks.

However even though the outward gout symptoms might have gone away, the cause is still there.

Gout commonly returns to the same joint or even to another joint.

If gout is not managed, gout attacks can occur more often and last longer.

The problem compounds over time, even when gout symptoms aren't actually present.

Ultimately the cause of gout symptoms is a build-up of uric acid crystals in the joint.

Uric acid is a natural by-product of eating certain types of foods rich

in “purines”.

The body can end up with more uric acid than it can deal with.

When this happens uric acid crystals will form and start accumulating in the joints.

Unless the uric acid levels reduce, these crystals will keep forming

and keep accumulating

Eventually you reach the tipping point and gout symptoms become evident.

Although you can relieve gout symptoms temporarily, the underlying problem is still present.

Eventually people with excess uric acid can develop chronic gout and joint damage can become permanent.

There are many forms of medication that can be taken to relieve gout symptoms and prevent

it coming back.

However these medications can have significant side effects

Such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and even stomach ulcers.

Gout can often be managed through knowing what to eat and knowing what not to eat.

There are several gout remedies you can make yourself, using things you will already have in your house.

Remember... Even when the pain and swelling is not present, the gout is still there and will come back!