Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when too much uric acid gets in the bloodstream. This is also called hyperuricemia. Uric acid is a natural by-product of digestion, but if individuals produce too much, or if their kidneys don't excrete enough, the excess uric acid builds up, causing small, sharp crystals to develop around some joints. The most commonly affected joint is the big toe, but gout may also attack the feet, ankles, knees, wrists or hands.
Episodic Joint Pain
Characterized by recurring episodes of sudden extreme pain in a joint, gout often occurs at night and sometimes becomes triggered by a stressful event, alcohol or ingesting certain foods, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Though only a single joint may become affected in acute gout, it usually becomes very tender to the touch, and sometimes even just the weight of a blanket can cause significant pain. Some people also have a fever during these acute phases of the disease.
While the degree of pain will gradually subside, it could last up to a couple of weeks per episode, according to the Arthritis Foundation, which notes that treatment usually shortens this acute phase of the disease. Another episode may not occur for weeks or even months, and some people never experience another attack. However, if the disease progresses from the acute to the chronic stage, the time between attacks generally decreases, while the number of joints affected increases.
Inflammation and Uric Acid
In addition to the pain, affected joints will become inflamed and appear red and swollen. This occurs because of the buildup of uric acid around the joint. Because the symptoms of gout have similarities to some other conditions, finding of uric acid in the joint fluid, called synovial fluid, helps your doctor make a diagnosis. A doctor will need to draw synovial fluid from the affected joint and send it to a lab for uric acid screening to make this determination.
Tophi
If gout reoccurs periodically, then doctors considered it a chronic condition. Those with chronic gout often have hard, whitish nodules show up around their joints. These appear because of the uric acid crystals that develop and are called tophi. According to the Mayo Clinic, tophi are not painful, except during an acute attack, when they may become swollen and tender.
