More than 6 million adults in the United States have had gout, according to 2010 information reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gout is sudden in its onset and severely painful, but is also very treatable and controllable. In some cases, gout can progress, over time, through the disease's four stages to become a more chronic condition.
About Gout
Gout is a type of arthritis that is characterized by the sudden onset of inflamed, red and painful joints, usually occurring in the big toe, but it can also be present in your feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid, a byproduct of the body breaking down purines. Purines occur naturally in your body and in some foods such as organ meats, asparagus, mushrooms and some fish. If your kidneys excrete too little or your body produces too much uric acid, it hardens into needle-like crystals that concentrate themselves in and around joints.
Stage One
Gout can progress through four distinct stages. The first stage, asymptomatic hyperuricemia is characterized by no symptoms. Your body will already have an excess of uric acid in your blood, but no pain or discomfort is evident at this early stage. If you have gout in your family history, you may want to take some preventative measures before you experience any symptoms by avoiding alcohol and foods with purine, drinking 1 to 2 liters of water a day, and exercising.
Stage Two
In this stage, acute gout ushers in a buildup of uric acid that has caused crystals to form in your joints and you will begin to experience severe pain. An acute attack of gout usually happens at night and without warning. The worst pain may be experienced within the first 24 hours after the initial pain began, with residual discomfort lasting from 3 to 10 days. Additional episodes of gout may not happen for years or they may reoccur more quickly with subsequent episodes generally having a longer duration and a shorter period between acute attacks.
Stage Three
Intercritical gout is that stage when the acute gout has subsided and you are again symptom free with no pain or discomfort and your joints are functioning normally. There are many options to help prevent another episode of gout, but diet and exercise are a great start. Your physician can work with you to determine the best prevention methods to reduce your chances of recurrence.
Stage Four
Chronic tophaceous gout occurs only after many years of recurrent gout. Your joints are showing long-term damage and you are at a high risk for kidney stones. You may experience chronic pain and have evidence of tophi, hard nodular deposits of uric acid crystals in and around joints. Most people with gout do not progress to this chronic stage if they receive proper treatment and take preventative measures.
