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Pain and swelling in the ankle
Fingers are red and swollen
I can't bend my toes because of both pains
Red blotches on the skin
Hands and feet feel hot
Burning sensation in the joints
Joint pain that is always there
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
Gout and pseudogout are diseases caused by inflammation and crystal accumulation in the joints. Gout results from uric acid crystals, while pseudogout stems from calcium pyrophosphate crystals. Both are marked by sudden, painful swelling in one or more joints. Gout attacks can be triggered by eating purine-rich foods like seafood, alcohol, and red meat, while pseudogout may be due to joint injury, surgery, or immune issues.
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
Treatment varies between gout and pseudogout. For gout, doctors may suggest medication to lower uric acid levels and dietary changes. In both cases, anti-inflammatory oral and injected medications can be helpful.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Kaito Nakamura, MD (Rheumatology)
Dr. Nakamura is a rheumatologist who has practiced in the Ota Nishinouchi Hospital attached to Ota General Hospital, National Health Insurance Matsudo City Hospital, Chiba University Hospital, and the National Health Insurance Asahi Central Hospital.
Content updated on Feb 13, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Q.
Is Your Joint on Fire? Why Gout Attacks & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
A sudden, red, swollen, intensely painful joint is often a gout flare caused by uric acid crystals, usually in the big toe, and it is highly treatable with the right plan. Start care promptly with doctor guided anti inflammatory meds, rest, ice, and hydration, and consider long term uric acid control and lifestyle changes to prevent damage and future attacks; there are several factors and urgent red flags like fever that can change your next steps, so see the complete guidance below.
References:
* Singh JA, et al. Diagnosis and management of gout: a review. JAMA. 2022 Jun 21;327(23):2343-2356. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.9551. PMID: 35727289.
* Abhishek A, et al. Gout: pathophysiology, diagnosis and management. BMJ. 2021 Jun 22;373:n1743. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n1743. PMID: 34158223.
* FitzGerald JD, et al. 2020 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Gout. Part 2: Therapy for Acute and Prophylaxis of Intercritical Gout. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 Jun;72(6):847-862. doi: 10.1002/art.41168. PMID: 31923049.
* Bardin T, et al. Gout management: an update. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Feb 1;62(2):503-516. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac392. PMID: 36728362.
* Kim SC, et al. Management of Gout: A Narrative Review. Ann Intern Med. 2023 Feb 21;176(2):ITV16766. doi: 10.7326/AITC220025. PMID: 36812239.
Q.
Gout in Women: Symptoms, 30-45 Risks & Your Relief Action Plan
A.
Gout in women ages 30 to 45 is real but often missed, with sudden severe joint pain, redness, and swelling that may affect ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, or the midfoot. Risk rises with perimenopausal estrogen changes, family history, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, PCOS, diuretics, alcohol, and sugary drinks. Relief starts with prompt medical evaluation to distinguish gout from infection or pseudogout, swift flare treatment with NSAIDs, colchicine, or steroids, and long term uric acid lowering plus sustainable diet, weight, and medication adjustments; there are several factors to consider, including red flags and prevention steps that could change your next moves, see below.
References:
* Chinchilla-Barril, D., & Vargas-Hitos, J. A. (2023). Gout in Women: An Update on the Clinical Picture, Treatment, and Gender-Specific Characteristics. *Journal of Clinical Medicine*, 12(11), 3855. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37298634/
* Jeganathan, S., & Haroon, M. (2018). Gout in women: a review of presentation, diagnosis and management. *Rheumatology*, 57(9), 1546-1555. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29788075/
* Kuo, C. F., et al. (2015). Gout in women: an update on risk factors and specific clinical aspects. *Arthritis Research & Therapy*, 17(1), 329. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26597711/
* Kim, Y. T., et al. (2022). Incidence of gout according to age and sex: a nationwide study in South Korea. *Scientific Reports*, 12(1), 1618. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35105953/
* FitzGerald, J. D., et al. (2020). 2020 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Gout: Part 1: Systemic Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Therapeutic Approaches to Hyperuricemia. *Arthritis Care & Research*, 72(6), 744-762. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32390232/
Q.
What foods should I avoid if I have gout?
A.
You want to avoid foods high in purines because they get broken down into uric acid which can then lead to a gout flare as the uric acid crystals build up in your joints.
References:
Li R, Yu K, Li C. Dietary factors and risk of gout and hyperuricemia: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2018;27(6):1344-1356. doi: 10.6133/apjcn.201811_27(6).0022. PMID: 30485934.
Zhang Y, Chen S, Yuan M, Xu Y, Xu H. Gout and Diet: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms and Management. Nutrients. 2022 Aug 26;14(17):3525. doi: 10.3390/nu14173525. PMID: 36079783; PMCID: PMC9459802.
Schlesinger N. Dietary factors and hyperuricaemia. Curr Pharm Des. 2005;11(32):4133-8. doi: 10.2174/138161205774913273. PMID: 16375734.
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