Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCauses and TriggersDiagnosisTreatmentAt-Home StrategiesComplicationsReduce FlaresSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes and Triggers
Diagnosis
Treatment
At-Home Strategies
Complications
Reduce Flares
Seeking Medical Care
Goutis a type ofinflammatory arthritisthat develops when high uric acid levels in the body form urate crystals in joints and other structures.This condition most commonly affects the big toe and knee joints.Gout symptoms come and go. Periods of increased symptoms are called flare-ups or gout attacks.
This article discusses gout in the knees—how it feels, its causes and triggers, how it is diagnosed, treatment options, and possible complications.
The Good Brigade / Getty Images.
Symptoms: How Gout Knee Pain Feels
The primary symptom of knee gout is severe pain, often starting at night. Symptoms of gout can include the following:
Gout flare-ups in the knee can last for days or weeks. Typically, the pain is at its worst within the first 24 hours of onset.Flare-ups can occur frequently or might be years apart.
Causes and Knee Gout Triggers
Consuming high amounts of these foods and beverages increases your risk of gout. Beer contributes more significantly to gout risk than other alcoholic beverages.
Other potential risk factors for gout are:
Plant-Based Purines and DairyHigh levels of purines are also found in dairy products and plant-based foods—such as mushrooms, legumes, peas, and beans—but eating these foods has not been linked to an increased risk of gout.
Plant-Based Purines and Dairy
High levels of purines are also found in dairy products and plant-based foods—such as mushrooms, legumes, peas, and beans—but eating these foods has not been linked to an increased risk of gout.
How to Get Gout in Knee Diagnosed
A healthcare provider begins the process of diagnosing gout with a physical exam. This can include a review of your symptoms, a visual inspection of the knee, palpation (gentle touching), and assessment of movement in the knee.
Other tests can include:
You might also be referred to arheumatologist—a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating gout, as well as other inflammatory and arthritic conditions.
Differential Diagnosis of GoutSymptoms of gout in the knee can be similar to other medical conditions, such as:Osteoarthritis: The breakdown of padding between bones in a jointRheumatoid arthritis: A condition that causes the immune system to attack its jointsSarcoidosis: An autoimmune condition that causes granulomas to formCellulitis: A bacterial skin infectionPsoriatic arthritis: An autoimmune condition that causes skin lesions in addition to joint damage
Differential Diagnosis of Gout
Symptoms of gout in the knee can be similar to other medical conditions, such as:Osteoarthritis: The breakdown of padding between bones in a jointRheumatoid arthritis: A condition that causes the immune system to attack its jointsSarcoidosis: An autoimmune condition that causes granulomas to formCellulitis: A bacterial skin infectionPsoriatic arthritis: An autoimmune condition that causes skin lesions in addition to joint damage
Symptoms of gout in the knee can be similar to other medical conditions, such as:
Gout vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Are the Differences?
Knee Gout Treatment Options
Providers typically treat knee gout withnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) orcyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. which include:
Healthy lifestyle habits, such as following a goutdietto lower purine levels, can also help reduce uric acid in your body and decrease gout symptoms in the knee.
Medications are often prescribed to help lower uric acid levels in the body. These can include:
5 Ways to Relieve Gout Pain Fast
Home Remedies and Self-Care
Home remedies and self-care can help control your symptoms during a knee gout flare-up.
They include:
Complications and Long-Term Effects of Gout in Knee
Complications can occur from gout in the knee, mainly if left untreated. Uric acid crystals can accumulate under the skin and form lumps called “tophi.”
Chronic (long-term) gout can cause knee joints to become deformed, leading to constant pain and limited mobility or osteoarthritis.
Severe joint damage can requiretotal knee replacementsurgery. People with chronic gout are also at higher risk forkidney stonesandkidney disease.
How to Reduce Gout in Knee Flares
Lifestyle modifications can reduce the risk of gout in knee flares. These include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider for Gout in Knee
If you develop new or worsening gout symptoms, follow up with a healthcare provider.If you’re having difficulty moving your knee or walking, consider seeing aphysical therapistfor exercises and recommendations for assistive devices, like a cane or walker.
Summary
Gout in the knee occurs when uric acid builds up in the body, causing crystals to form in the knee joint. Gout causes pain, redness, warmth, and swelling in the affected joint. It is diagnosed with a physical examination and other tests, such as blood work and joint aspiration. Left untreated, gout in the knee can lead to permanent joint damage.
Medications are the primary treatment for gout. Home remedies, such as ice and rest, can help reduce gout symptoms in the knee. Eating a diet of low-purine foods and maintaining a healthy weight can decrease your risk of further gout flare-ups.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Symptoms and diagnosis of gout.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gout.Coburn BW, Mikuls TR.Treatment options for acute gout.Fed Pract. 2016;33(1):35-40.Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: an old disease in new perspective – a review.Journal of Advanced Research. 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Clebak KT, Morrison A, Croad JR.Gout: rapid evidence review.afp. 2020;102(9):533-538.Durme CM, Wechalekar MD, Landewé RB, et al.Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for acute gout.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;2021(12):CD010120. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010120.pub3National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Arthritis Foundation.Managing a gout flare.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.Gout may be your second arthritis.National Kidney Foundation.Gout and kidney disease.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Symptoms and diagnosis of gout.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gout.Coburn BW, Mikuls TR.Treatment options for acute gout.Fed Pract. 2016;33(1):35-40.Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: an old disease in new perspective – a review.Journal of Advanced Research. 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Clebak KT, Morrison A, Croad JR.Gout: rapid evidence review.afp. 2020;102(9):533-538.Durme CM, Wechalekar MD, Landewé RB, et al.Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for acute gout.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;2021(12):CD010120. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010120.pub3National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Arthritis Foundation.Managing a gout flare.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.Gout may be your second arthritis.National Kidney Foundation.Gout and kidney disease.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Symptoms and diagnosis of gout.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gout.Coburn BW, Mikuls TR.Treatment options for acute gout.Fed Pract. 2016;33(1):35-40.Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: an old disease in new perspective – a review.Journal of Advanced Research. 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Clebak KT, Morrison A, Croad JR.Gout: rapid evidence review.afp. 2020;102(9):533-538.Durme CM, Wechalekar MD, Landewé RB, et al.Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for acute gout.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;2021(12):CD010120. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010120.pub3National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Arthritis Foundation.Managing a gout flare.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.Gout may be your second arthritis.National Kidney Foundation.Gout and kidney disease.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Symptoms and diagnosis of gout.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gout.
Coburn BW, Mikuls TR.Treatment options for acute gout.Fed Pract. 2016;33(1):35-40.
Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: an old disease in new perspective – a review.Journal of Advanced Research. 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.
Clebak KT, Morrison A, Croad JR.Gout: rapid evidence review.afp. 2020;102(9):533-538.
Durme CM, Wechalekar MD, Landewé RB, et al.Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for acute gout.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;2021(12):CD010120. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010120.pub3
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
Arthritis Foundation.Managing a gout flare.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Gout.
Arthritis Foundation.Gout may be your second arthritis.
National Kidney Foundation.Gout and kidney disease.
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