About gout
I have gout
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis. An attack often starts suddenly in one joint — commonly the big toe — with intense pain, swelling, redness, and heat.
In brief
- A gout attack causes severe joint pain, usually in the big toe, foot, ankle, knee, or wrist.
- The joint can become suddenly swollen, red, and warm.
- Cooling and elevating the joint may feel better; gentle movement is usually safe.
- With treatment, pain often eases within a couple of days; an attack may last up to a few weeks.
- Gout is linked to high uric acid in the blood, but not everyone with high uric acid gets gout.
What happens in an attack
Uric acid can form needle-like crystals in a joint. The immune system reacts, which causes the sudden inflammation and pain.
Attacks often begin overnight or within a day. Fever is not typical of a simple gout attack — fever with a hot joint needs urgent medical assessment.
Will it come back?
Some people have a single attack. Many people get more attacks over time if uric acid stays high.
Long-term treatment can lower uric acid and reduce how often attacks happen. Your clinician can advise whether that is right for you.