Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsGout AttacksCommonly Mistaken ConditionsDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Gout Attacks
Commonly Mistaken Conditions
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Goutis a type ofarthritisthat is most often in one area or joint and involves swelling and pain.The big toe, other toes,fingers, ankles, and knees are the most common places to experience gout.
This condition happens when a natural waste product in the body called uric acid, or urate, builds up either because too much is produced or more commonly, not enough is broken down and passed out of the body.This leads tocrystalsthat can cause arthritis attacks and, later on, kidney stones or bumps under skin.
Learn about gout, its symptoms, what it feels like, and more.
Jan-Otto / Getty Images
Gout Symptoms in the Foot
Symptoms of GoutInflamedor swollen or painful joint or joints, most often in the big toe, foot, ankle, or kneesStiffness in the area affectedDifficulty walking or moving due to foot pain, swelling, or stiffnessBumps under the skin near the affected joint
Symptoms of Gout
Inflamedor swollen or painful joint or joints, most often in the big toe, foot, ankle, or kneesStiffness in the area affectedDifficulty walking or moving due to foot pain, swelling, or stiffnessBumps under the skin near the affected joint
High Uric Acid Levels (Hyperuricemia)
What Does Gout Feel Like?
Gout feels different for everyone and may depend on the specific joint or area affected. The area may be stiff and extremely painful, even painful enough that having anything touching the area is unbearable.The pain can be on the joint only or in the area around the joint as well.
Tophi are bumps that can appear on the skin with gout. They are usually not painful. However, they can swell and become painful.
What Conditions Is Gout Commonly Mistaken For?
Gout may also be mistaken for other types of arthritis, such asrheumatoid arthritis, especially in people who do not experience tophi or noticeable bumps of crystal build-up.
Gout vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Are the Differences?
How Is Gout Diagnosed?
Diagnosing gout may include:
Gout Treatment
Treatments for gout include medications and lifestyle changes such asstress management,nutrition,physical activity, and weight loss.
Medications for Gout
People with gout can benefit from switching to alow-purine diet.This involves limiting or eliminating alcohol, meats, and otherfoodshigh in purines while eating plenty of foods that are low in purines, such as fruits and certain vegetables.
Summary
Gout is a type of arthritis. It generally affects only one joint at a time, usually the big toe joint or another joint in the foot, ankle, or knee. This condition can appear suddenly with intense pain and there may also be swelling and lumps of crystals under the skin called tophi. People with gout may also have trouble walking due to the pain.
Gout symptoms are similar to other types of arthritis and can sometimes be mistaken for other types, including rheumatoid arthritis. It also is often confused with pseudogout, which involves a buildup of calcium deposits under the skin. Gout can go away on its own, and treatment options are available.
A Word From Verywell
Suspecting, being diagnosed with, and living with gout can be uncomfortable and challenging, especially when pain, swelling, or other symptoms interfere with mobility and daily life. If you or someone you know is experiencing gout symptoms, reach out to a healthcare professional such as a primary care provider or a rheumatologist for support. Gout can be treated when symptoms are severe or last longer than a few days or a couple of weeks.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe part of the foot or body that hurts with gout depends on the area affected. It is most common in the joint of the big toe, but can also affect other toes, other parts of the foot, ankle, or knee. Some people may also experience pain in other areas, such as the back.There is no cure for gout, but symptoms of a gout attack, or flare, usually go away on their own after a week or two. However, the damage to the joint from a gout attack may last, and gout can resurface. Treatment to resolve symptoms is available.It can be painful to walk with gout. However, walking and other low-impact activities can help to heal gout and improve the symptoms. It may be more comfortable to walk with a cane or in water so there is less weight on the joint.
The part of the foot or body that hurts with gout depends on the area affected. It is most common in the joint of the big toe, but can also affect other toes, other parts of the foot, ankle, or knee. Some people may also experience pain in other areas, such as the back.
There is no cure for gout, but symptoms of a gout attack, or flare, usually go away on their own after a week or two. However, the damage to the joint from a gout attack may last, and gout can resurface. Treatment to resolve symptoms is available.
It can be painful to walk with gout. However, walking and other low-impact activities can help to heal gout and improve the symptoms. It may be more comfortable to walk with a cane or in water so there is less weight on the joint.
11 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.University of Rochester Medical Center.Uric acid.National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Salama A, Alweis R.Images in clinical medicine: Tophi.J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2017;7(2):136-137. doi:10.1080/20009666.2017.1328967National Health Service.Gout.American Society for Surgery of the Hand.What is the difference between gout and pseudogout?Arthritis Foundation.Is it rheumatoid arthritis or gout?American College of Rheumatology.Gout.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Treatment of gout.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Gout.Zhang Y, Chen C, Choi H, et al.Purine-rich foods intake and recurrent gout attacks.Ann Rheum Dis. 2012;71(9):1448-1453. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-201215
11 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.University of Rochester Medical Center.Uric acid.National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Salama A, Alweis R.Images in clinical medicine: Tophi.J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2017;7(2):136-137. doi:10.1080/20009666.2017.1328967National Health Service.Gout.American Society for Surgery of the Hand.What is the difference between gout and pseudogout?Arthritis Foundation.Is it rheumatoid arthritis or gout?American College of Rheumatology.Gout.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Treatment of gout.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Gout.Zhang Y, Chen C, Choi H, et al.Purine-rich foods intake and recurrent gout attacks.Ann Rheum Dis. 2012;71(9):1448-1453. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-201215
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.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.University of Rochester Medical Center.Uric acid.National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Salama A, Alweis R.Images in clinical medicine: Tophi.J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2017;7(2):136-137. doi:10.1080/20009666.2017.1328967National Health Service.Gout.American Society for Surgery of the Hand.What is the difference between gout and pseudogout?Arthritis Foundation.Is it rheumatoid arthritis or gout?American College of Rheumatology.Gout.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Treatment of gout.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Gout.Zhang Y, Chen C, Choi H, et al.Purine-rich foods intake and recurrent gout attacks.Ann Rheum Dis. 2012;71(9):1448-1453. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-201215
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Uric acid.
National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.
Salama A, Alweis R.Images in clinical medicine: Tophi.J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2017;7(2):136-137. doi:10.1080/20009666.2017.1328967
National Health Service.Gout.
American Society for Surgery of the Hand.What is the difference between gout and pseudogout?
Arthritis Foundation.Is it rheumatoid arthritis or gout?
American College of Rheumatology.Gout.
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Treatment of gout.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Gout.
Zhang Y, Chen C, Choi H, et al.Purine-rich foods intake and recurrent gout attacks.Ann Rheum Dis. 2012;71(9):1448-1453. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-201215
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
