What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Gout?

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Learn from experts about how gout affects your joints
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Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that is very painful and commonly impacts the big toe joint, but can also affect joints in the other toes, plus your ankles, knees, fingers, wrists, and elbows. [1] You may feel a lot of pain and discomfort in one or more of these joints for a short period of time and often at night. [2] Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid (hyperuricemia) in the blood. Sometimes, uric acid crystallizes and accumulates in the joints, causing pain and tenderness. By closely observing the level of comfort and mobility in your joints, as well as identifying patterns in your pain and identifying any risk factors, you should be able to better recognize gout symptoms and seek effective medical treatment.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Recognizing Symptoms in the Joints

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  1. Ask yourself whether it feels very sensitive and painful. Pain and discomfort in the big toe is a common sign of gout. [3]
  2. Consider whether any of these joints feel uncomfortable or painful. Gout can impact any joint in the body but most commonly manifests in these joints. If you are experiencing discomfort in one or more of these joints, your doctor may come to the conclusion that you have gout. [4]
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  3. Touch your joint and feel whether it is hot and tender. If so, you may be experiencing a symptom that is common with gout. [5]
  4. [6] If you see redness and swelling of the joint, you are experiencing another symptom that is commonly associated with gout. [7]
  5. If the skin around the joint is very red and shiny, you have another symptom of gout. [8]
    • Consider whether your skin looks very red around your joints, which is also common with gout.
  6. This symptom is also commonly associated with gout. [9]
    • Check if the skin is flaking off your ankles or toes. If you have a lot of flaky skin, this could be a sign of gout.
  7. [10] This is another common symptom of gout. [11]
    • For instance, try wiggling your big toe up and down. If you are able to do this movement without pain, it is a good sign. If you are able to move it all the way up and all the way down, it is also a good sign; however, if you are unable to move it freely and without pain, you may be experiencing gout.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Recognizing the Pattern of Symptoms

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  1. Although the pain of a gout attack can come at any time of the day, most people experience it the worst at night. [12]
  2. Determine whether your joints feel very painful all of a sudden and for a few hours at a time. Gout attacks typically develop fast and over a few hours at the beginning stages of the condition. [13]
    • An acute gout attack will be most painful about 12 to 24 hours after it starts. [14]
  3. Typically, a gout attack will last between three and 10 days. If the attack is not treated, it will last longer.
    • Try recording the duration of your symptoms in a health journal.
  4. If untreated, gout symptoms (e.g., pain, swelling) will become worse over time. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should see a doctor. [15]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Recognizing Whether You Are at Risk for Gout

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  1. Typically, men are at a higher risk for gout than women and the level of risk increases with age. So, older men are definitely at an increased risk for gout. The risk for gout increases significantly for women who have already gone through menopause. [16]
    • Men are at highest risk of developing gout between the ages of 30 and 50. [17]
  2. Figure out whether your father, mother, grandparents, or great grandparents experienced gout. You could ask your parents or other family members if they know of any family history of gout. If you have a family history of gout, you are more at risk of getting it. [18]
  3. If you are too heavy, your body makes more uric acid and your kidneys have a harder time getting rid of it. These factors make you more susceptible to gout.
    • Use a body mass index calculator online. This index is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. Enter your height and weight into an online body mass index calculator, and then hit “calculate.” You can then compare your body mass index to the healthy index projected for your age and sex. [19]
    • Ask your doctor to determine whether you are overweight. Your doctor has a number of different measurements and tools that they can use to determine your current and healthy weight.
  4. [20] Write down everything you eat for one week in order to determine your level of consumption of meat, seafood, sugar, and alcohol. Once you have tracked your level of consumption of these items for one week, you should review your patterns of consumption (e.g., how often you drink sugary soft drinks and at what times of the day). If you regularly consume a lot of meat, sugar, and alcohol, you are at a higher risk for gout. [21] [22]
    • Findings suggest that if men maintain a diet that has a lot of sugar from soft drinks they are more likely to get gout. Drinking soft drinks on a daily basis will greatly increase your risk. [23]
    • Eating a diet with a lot of meat and seafood (high-purine foods) is a risk factor for gout.
    • Alcohol consumption is a trigger for gout attacks. Drinking will likely trigger an attack within 24 hours and your risk increases relative to the amount you drink. [24]
    • If you are unsure of your diet, you could go see a dietitian or doctor. It can help to bring your food diary with you, so they have an idea of how much sugar, meat, and alcohol you currently consume. [25]
  5. Medications used to treat hypertension as well as drugs that suppress the immune system, such as those prescribed to people to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or who have undergone an organ transplant can sometimes increase the risk of gout. [26]
  6. If you have recently experienced surgery or trauma, you may also be at a higher risk for gout. [27] If you have any kind of surgery, you are at an increased risk. [28]
    • Undergoing chemotherapy can also be a trigger for gout. [29]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What does gout feel like?
    Siddharth Tambar, MD
    Board Certified Rheumatologist
    Dr. Siddharth Tambar, MD is a board certified rheumatologist at Chicago Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. With over 19 years of experience, Dr. Tambar specializes in Regenerative Medicine and Rheumatology, with a focus on platelet rich plasma and bone marrow derived stem cell treatments for arthritis, tendinitis, injuries, and back pain. Dr. Tambar holds a BA in Economics from State University of New York at Buffalo. He earned his MD from State University of New York at Syracuse. He completed his Internship, Residency in Internal Medicine, and his Rheumatology Fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr Tambar is board certified in both rheumatology and internal medicine. He also holds Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Diagnostic and Interventional certifications from the American College of Rheumatology and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.
    Siddharth Tambar, MD
    Board Certified Rheumatologist
    Expert Answer
    If you have gout, one of your joints will be painful and swollen. Gout most commonly affects the big toe, but it can also flare up in other joints in your body.
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      Tips

      • Exercise is a way to manage arthritis pain and increase activity. Speak to your doctor about programs that best suit you.
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      Warnings

      • Gout is linked with an increased risk of kidney stones.
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      • Contact your health care provider immediately if you are suffering from severe, worsening joint pain and swelling and you have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or above. This could indicate you have a serious infection inside the joint, known as septic arthritis.
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      References

      1. ↑ Siddharth Tambar, MD. Board Certified Rheumatologist. Expert Interview. 25 August 2020.
      2. ↑ http://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/arthritis-info/gout/clinical-presentation-of-gout/
      3. ↑ http://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/arthritis-info/gout/clinical-presentation-of-gout/
      4. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gout/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
      5. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gout/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
      6. ↑ Siddharth Tambar, MD. Board Certified Rheumatologist. Expert Interview. 25 August 2020.
      7. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gout/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
      8. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gout/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
      9. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gout/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
      1. ↑ Siddharth Tambar, MD. Board Certified Rheumatologist. Expert Interview. 25 August 2020.
      2. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/tc/gout-symptoms
      3. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gout/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
      4. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gout/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
      5. ↑ http://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/arthritis-info/gout/clinical-presentation-of-gout/
      6. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gout/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
      7. ↑ http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/05/31/gout-know.html
      8. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/basics/risk-factors/con-20019400
      9. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/basics/risk-factors/con-20019400
      10. ↑ http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm
      11. ↑ http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/eat/diary.htm
      12. ↑ Siddharth Tambar, MD. Board Certified Rheumatologist. Expert Interview. 25 August 2020.
      13. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/basics/risk-factors/con-20019400
      14. ↑ http://www.bmj.com/content/336/7639/309?variant=long
      15. ↑ https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(06)00164-1/fulltext?cc=y=
      16. ↑ http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/eat/diary.htm
      17. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/basics/risk-factors/con-20019400
      18. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/basics/risk-factors/con-20019400
      19. ↑ http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/gout/causes.php
      20. ↑ http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/gout/causes.php

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you think you might have gout, which is a painful form of inflammatory arthritis, touch your big toe and see if it feels sensitive or painful. If it does, it could be a sign that you have gout. Look for discomfort in your joints, like pain, heat, and tenderness, which is another common symptom of gout. You should also check your skin for any swelling, redness, or flaking around your joints. Also compare your symptoms over time and notice if they’re worse during the night and if they grow in intensity, which are indications you may have gout. If you think you do, visit your doctor as soon as possible for treatment. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to identify common risk factors for gout, read on!

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