Typically, pain, swelling, and redness in the afflicted joint are the initial indications of gout. The big toe is usually where gout begins, and symptoms usually start suddenly and at night.
Uric acid crystals in your joints cause gout, a severe kind of inflammatory arthritis. Early-stage gout symptoms can catch you off guard because they often appear unexpectedly and at night.
This post will outline the early signs of gout and discuss who is most susceptible to developing it. Additionally, we'll go over treatment suggestions and when to see a doctor.
Pain
Some patients describe the joint discomfort associated with gout as unbearable. Pain from gout often strikes at night. A typical initial sign is excruciating pain in one joint, commonly the big toe.
Gout discomfort in its early stages can also affect other joints, such as your:
- knee
- fingers
- ankle
- wrist
Gout in its early stages can cause excruciating pain that lasts for several hours. After that, the pain will gradually start to decrease. Even still, for a few days or weeks following the initial attack, you can continue to experience mild pain.
Swelling
The afflicted joint and surrounding tissues typically enlarge significantly in the early stages of gout symptoms.
You will probably see obvious swelling on the exterior of the toe joint, where your big toe joins your foot if this is the case. You can find it difficult to move or flex your toe due to the swelling.
Skin symptoms
The skin of the afflicted joint may become glossy and bright red due to inflammation. Additionally, your skin could feel heated, squishy, and warm to the touch.
Sometimes, your skin can get so sensitive that you can't even stand to have anything touching it, like a blanket or pair of socks.
Your skin may get flaky and scratchy while your initial bout of gout resolves. It might come off.
Who’s at risk of gout?
Males are more likely than females to get gout. Gout is more common in women after menopause.Gout risk factors include:
- obesity
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- kidney disease
- diabetes
- osteoarthritis
- psoriasis
- family history of gout
- drinking alcohol to excess
- using drugs such as niacin, diuretics, or low-dose aspirin that promote the accumulation of uric acid
- consuming foods strong in purines, such as organ meat, in their diet
- hereditary disorders like Lesch-Nyhan syndrome and Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome
When to contact a doctor
See a medical practitioner if you believe you are experiencing a flare-up but have not been diagnosed with gout. For symptoms like excruciating pain, they can diagnose conditions and suggest remedies.
Early-stage gout symptoms might be confused with those of other illnesses, such as pseudogout and rheumatoid arthritis. Several kinds of medication are needed to treat these diseases.
Getting the right treatment will be ensured by a timely and precise diagnosis. It might also aid in preventing flare-ups in the future.
How can I manage or treat early symptoms of gout?
You likely wish to prevent further flare-ups and seek prompt symptom alleviation if you are going through a gout flare-up. Anti-gout medications, such as colchicine, can be prescribed by a medical practitioner to rapidly lessen pain, oedema, and inflammation.
In addition, they might give you an injection of corticosteroids straight into the afflicted joint or recommend you take them orally.
Uric acid levels can be lowered with the aid of additional prescription drugs like febuxostat (Uloric) or allopurinol (Zyloprim, Lopurin).
Among the at-home remedies that could lessen early gout symptoms are:
- consuming nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) that are sold over-the-counter
- icing the injured joint to lessen discomfort and swelling
- raising the afflicted joint to lessen inflammation
- resting the affected joint
FAQs
Does walking on gout foot make it worse?
It won't become worse or increase your chance of having a flare-up if you walk on a gouty foot. However, walking during a flare-up might exacerbate your pain and swelling symptoms, so it's best to take it easy during these periods.
Are tomatoes bad for gout?
Tomatoes are generally considered a low-purine food that is good for gout sufferers. They also include anti-inflammatory substances like vitamin C. However, substances like glutamate and phenolic acid found in tomatoes have been shown to cause gout in certain individuals.
Can I eat rice with gout?
Purines are generally low, but even those that are greater haven't been demonstrated to have an impact on gout symptoms. Additionally, the advantages are substantial. Savour all grains, excluding oats. Except for oats, rice, pasta, and cereals are all gout-friendly.
Takeaway
An abrupt flare-up of gout frequently happens while you're sleeping. Early signs of this illness include redness, swelling, and pain that worsens over many hours. Your skin can get hot and sensitive.
If you are experiencing a flare-up of gout, see a medical expert. They can diagnose you, provide a course of therapy, and help you modify your lifestyle to lessen flare-ups in the future.
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