What are the Symptoms of Gout?
The main cause for gout is uric acid crystals in the joints and surrounding tissues which have been built up over the years.
The Gout symptoms usually include:
- Very intense nightly pain. The pain can be so strong that even light pressure from a sheet cannot be tolerated.
- Feeling of pain, heat, tenderness and swelling in a joint. Usually the joint in the big toe is affected.
- Nightly discomfort which can last for many hours.
- Itching and peeling skin around the joint as the attack slowly subsides.
- The affected joint looks like it is infected with reddish or purple skin.
- Problems moving the affected joint.
- Fever.
The symptoms of gout may not always be the same for everyone:
- If the gout has become chronic it is not experienced as many painful attacks. Especially in older people this often causes the gout to be confused with arthritis.
- Symptoms can all of a sudden occur after a surgery or illness.
- There may be no classic symptoms of a gout attack and it may first appear as nodules on the hands, elbows, or ears.
The most commonly affected joint is the big toe. But the feet, wrists, fingers, ankles, elbows and knees can be affected as well. Furthermore, gout can be accompanied by Inflammation of the fluid sacs in the elbow and knee.
Gout without a doubt is a dreadful disorder, my husband is battling with the condition for many years now. It is really worrying to me, witnessing a much loved member of the family suffer from pain attacks often. Using an appropriate diet regime for prevention and making use of good medications and treatments is something I consider critical. I would would suggest anybody who already notices primary signs or symptoms of inflammatory arthritis to by any means take this absolutely serious. You should talk with a physician as soon as possible and alter your eating plan to prevent the outbreak of the disease. It is anything but fun, thats for sure. Look for effective treatment options and keep clear of purine rich food, alcoholic beverages and so forth to take prophylactic measure.