By far, the most common location for gouty arthritis is inflammation of the joint at the base of the great toe (first metatarsal phalangeal joint). It is also common for gout to attack the small joints in the toes and then seem to spread to cause inflammation of the foot.

Gout is caused by a chemical called uric acid forming small crystals in and around the joints. These crystals also often build up under the skin and form small white or yellow lumps known as tophi. Tophi are usually painless, but they can form in awkward places, such as at the ends of your fingers and around your toes.

Here’s what you can do when a gout flare starts to ease the pain of and reduce the risk of others.

1. Take medicine you have on hand.
2. Ice down.
3. Drink plenty of fluids.
4. Avoid alcohol.
5. Get a cane.
6. Elevate your foot, if affected.
7. Create gout-friendly socks.
8. Chill out.

Symptoms of Gout Acute gout attacks are characterized by a rapid onset of pain in the affected joint followed by warmth, swelling, reddish discoloration, and marked tenderness. The small joint at the base of the big toe is the most common site for an attack.

Many cases of toe pain are due to injury or age-related wear and tear on the skin, muscles, bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments of the toe. Common causes of toe pain include calluses, arthritis and bunions. However, infectious diseases, neurological conditions, and other abnormal processes can also affect the toe.

Gout is caused initially by an excess of uric acid in the blood, or hyperuricemia. Uric acid is produced in the body during the breakdown of purines – chemical compounds that are found in high amounts in certain foods such as meat, poultry, and seafood.

Both cause pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joints that can limit your range of motion. However, the cause differs. RA is an autoimmune disease, which means the body’s own immune system attacks the joints, whereas the pain of gout is due to elevated levels of uric acid in the blood.

X-rays. If you have persistent joint disease or tophi under the skin and your doctor suspects chronic gout, an X-ray may help with the diagnosis. This will show if there are lesions or permanent damage.

Hyperuricemia occurs when there’s too much uric acid in your blood. High uric acid levels can lead to several diseases, including a painful type of arthritis called gout….Gout

• severe pain in your joints.
• joint stiffness.
• difficulty moving affected joints.
• redness and swelling.
• misshapen joints.

The encouraging news is that almost all gout cases are treatable. In fact, gout is one of the few treatable and preventable forms of arthritis, an umbrella term for dozens of conditions that cause inflammation in the joints.

Figure 1 | Reddish-orange discoloration of urine. Note the sedimented uric acid crystals in the urinary catheter. Figure 2 | Urine microscopy showing rosettes and rhomboid-shaped crystals of uric acid.

The uric acid urine test measures the amount of uric acid in a sample of urine collected over 24 hours. Uric acid is made from the natural breakdown of your body’s cells. It’s also made from the foods you eat. Your kidneys take uric acid out of your blood and put it into urine so that it can leave your body.