These crystals act like tiny, hot, jagged shards of glass, resulting in pain and inflammation. Gout can strike any joint, but often affects those in the feet, such as the big toe, and those in the legs. A gout attack can last several hours to a few days. Persons who have gout can be symptom-free for years between attacks. Never assume you have gout without consulting a physician.
Many conditions can mimic an acute attack of gout.
These include infection, injury, and rheumatoid arthritis. Only a doctor can diagnose the problem. If you do have gout, treatment will depend on the reasons behind your high levels of uric acid. Your doctor can conduct a simple test to tell if your kidneys aren't clearing uric acid from the blood the way they should or to find out if your body simply makes too much uric acid. The first goal is to relieve the acute gout attack.