Symptoms of gout

The main symptom of gout is a sudden attack of severe pain in one or more joints, typically your big toe.

Other symptoms can include:

The joint feeling hot and very tender, to the point of being unable to bear anything touching it.
Swelling in and around the affected joint.
Red, shiny skin over the affected joint.
Peeling, itchy and flaky skin as the swelling goes down.

The intense pain can make getting around difficult. Even the light pressure of a bed cover or blanket can be unbearable.

Which joints can be affected?

Gout can affect almost any joint and can occur in more than one joint at the same time. The joints towards the ends of the limbs tend to be affected more often, including the:

Toes – particularly the big toe joint
Midfoot (where your shoelaces sit)
Ankles
Knees
Fingers
Wrists
Elbows

If gout is left untreated, it’s likely to affect more joints over time.

Pattern of symptoms

Attacks of gout tend to:

Occur at night, although they can happen at any time
Develop quickly over a few hours
Last between three and 10 days – after this time, the affected joint should start to return to normal, but the problem can persist if treatment isn’t started early
Come back – you may experience attacks every few months or years
Become more frequent over time if not treated

It’s difficult to predict how often attacks will occur and when exactly they will happen.

When to seek medical advice

See your GP if you suspect you have gout and it hasn’t been previously diagnosed. Contact your GP immediately or call if you have both:

Severe, worsening joint pain and swelling
A high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above

This could mean you have an infection inside the joint. If you’ve already been diagnosed with gout and you have an attack, see your GP if any medication you’ve been prescribed doesn’t start working within a couple of days.

Source: NHS UK
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gout/Pages/Symptoms.aspx