It is difficult to predict when an attack of gout will occur. Symptoms can develop rapidly over a few hours and usually last for 3-10 days. After this time, the joint will start to feel normal again and any pain or discomfort should eventually disappear completely.
The primary symptom of gout is acute (sudden and severe) joint pain, usually in the joint of the big toe. Symptoms often develop during the night, although they can occur at any time. Other symptoms of gout include:
- inflammation
- red, shiny skin over the affected joint
- peeling, itchy and flaky skin over the affected joint
- swelling
The intense pain that gout causes can make walking and getting around difficult. Even the light pressure of a bed cover or blanket can be painful.
Seventy per cent of people with gout experience their first gout attack in the big toe, and 90% of people with gout will experience pain in this joint at some point. However, while gout is most common in the big toe, it can affect any joint. It can also occur in two or more joints at the same time. Affected joints may include:
- heels
- ankles
- knees
- fingers
- wrists
- elbows
The sooner symptoms are treated, the more quickly the pain will pass. You may experience symptoms every few weeks, months or years, but it is impossible to predict when the condition will recur. Sixty-two per cent of people experience a repeat attack of gout within a year. However, some people only ever experience one attack in their lifetime.
