1. Be Suspicious of Intense Pain in Your Big Toe
The primary symptom of gout is intense, throbbing pain in one large joint, typically the big toe. The pain can be so severe that the weight of socks or the blanket on a bed can be too much for the person with gout to bear. Most people who suffer from gout have to keep their foot elevated and exposed to the air during a flare-up of this condition, as even walking will be very painful. While the big toe is the most common joint to experience this kind of arthritis, the knees, ankles, wrists and elbows can also be subject to gout.
2. Redness and Swelling will be Present
Bright redness and noticeable swelling will be present during the painful period in whichever joint is affected by gout. The affected joint may be warm, or even hot, to the touch and will become large as the lining around it fills with fluid. If severe swelling lasts more than a few weeks, it may become necessary to have a doctor remove the fluid with a syringe. In most cases, the swelling and redness will eventually go away as the attack of gout subsides. In the meantime, however, there is little that can be done to relieve the symptoms besides rest, ice and pain killers
3. Be Aware of Symptoms That Come on Suddenly
In gout, the intense pain, redness and swelling associated with it usually appear suddenly and without warning, often in the middle of the night. The pain may be so sudden and severe that it wakes you up from a sound sleep. An attack of gout typically lasts one to two weeks and will then subside on its own, leaving the affected joint painless and normal in appearance and function. This actually sets gout apart from other types of arthritis that have more permanent symptoms. However, once gout has attacked, it will probably come back again, though it may be months or even years between episodes.
