Gout is one of the most painful and common forms of arthritis, and was once referred to as “the disease of kings”, due to those who over-indulge in rich foods and a substantial intake of alcohol. However, you do not have to be royalty to suffer from gout, and is on the increase for both men and women alike. In fact, gout has increased in recent years, and has affected up to two per cent of the western population.

Gout Symptoms

Symptoms of gout often come on suddenly without warning. The majority of gout sufferers experience symptoms at night, due to inactivity when you are sleeping. When a gout attack occurs, it can be painful, often waking you from your sleep with a sudden, sharp pain in your joints. Typically this will occur in your big toe. Although the big toe joint is more common, a warm swelling pain can start in a different joints, such as the knee, wrists, elbows  or ankle.

Pain can become rapidly uncomfortable and last for a few hours, then begin to ease. As the attack recedes, the skin around the joint may begin to peel and some degree of irritation may prevail.

Other symptoms may include limited movement in an affected joint, or red or purple skin, which may give the impression that it is infected.