Gout / Pseudogout Quiz
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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!
What is Gout / Pseudogout?
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.
Typical Symptoms of Gout / Pseudogout
- Warm hands and feet
- Toe pain
- History of gout
- Fingers or toes red, swollen, and stiff
- Warmth in the joints
- Knee pain
- Redness in the affected area
- Pain when exerting physically e.g. climbing the stairs
Diagnostic Questions for Gout / Pseudogout
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have warm hands and feet?
- Are you experiencing toe pain?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with gout?
- Are your fingers or toes red, swollen, and stiff?
- Do you feel warmth in your joints?
Treatment of Gout / Pseudogout
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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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Pain in my toe
- Hot palms and feet
- Limbs feel hot
- Pain in the toes
- Warm hands and feet but no fever
- One or more joints feel warm
- Fever with hot hands and feet
- I have pain in my little toes on both feet
- Only hands and feet are hot
- I have a pain in my right big toe
- Knees hot, no pain
- My big toe hurts
- I have pain in my left toe
- I feel pain in my left toe joint
- Joint pain and redness
See full list
Symptoms Related to Gout / Pseudogout
Diseases Related to Gout / Pseudogout
FAQs
Q.
Sharp Big Toe Pain at Night: Is It Gout? Plus 10 Steps for Immediate Relief
A.
Sharp big toe pain at night is often gout when it starts suddenly with redness, warmth, swelling, and extreme tenderness, but pseudogout, osteoarthritis, injury, or infection can also be to blame. There are several factors to consider; see below for how to tell the difference, when to seek urgent care, and how doctors confirm it. For immediate relief, see below for the 10 steps, including rest, ice, elevation, hydration, avoiding alcohol and high-purine foods, safe OTC NSAIDs, loose footwear, protecting the toe from contact, and arranging a medical evaluation, plus long-term prevention options that could change your next steps.
References:
* FitzGerald JD, et al. 2020 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Gout: Part 1: Treatment of Acute Gouty Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 Jun;72(6):847-863. doi: 10.1002/art.41249. Epub 2020 May 29. PMID: 32398188.
* Khanna PP, et al. Diagnosis and Management of Gout: A Review. JAMA. 2019 Jan 22;321(3):304-305. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.20455. PMID: 30673079.
* Stamp LK. Acute monoarthritis: differential diagnosis and management. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2018 Dec;32(6):783-793. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2019.01.002. Epub 2019 Feb 14. PMID: 30885544.
* Richette P, et al. Practical management of gout: current concepts and future developments. Lancet. 2018 Jan 20;391(10118):367-376. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31668-3. Epub 2017 Dec 22. PMID: 29329707.
* Schlesinger N. Treating acute gout attacks. Arthritis Res Ther. 2016 Apr 5;18:96. doi: 10.1186/s13075-016-0970-1. PMID: 27047702; PMCID: PMC4823864.
Q.
What is Gout? Why Your Joint is Throbbing & Medical Next Steps
A.
Gout is a common, highly treatable inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystal buildup that leads to sudden throbbing pain, swelling, warmth, and redness, most often in the big toe. Early diagnosis and care can stop flares and protect joints and kidneys, and next steps may include anti inflammatory medicines for attacks, uric acid lowering therapy, and targeted lifestyle changes, but there are several factors to consider including pseudogout and urgent red flags, so see the complete details below before deciding what to do next.
References:
* Richette P, Bardin T, Doherty M. Gout: an update. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Dec 1;62(12):3739-3751. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead480. PMID: 37737299.
* Choi HK, Neogi T. Gout. N Engl J Med. 2023 Apr 27;388(17):1591-1601. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp2210212. PMID: 37100062.
* Bardin T, Richette P. Gout. Lancet. 2022 Mar 12;399(10329):1042-1052. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01033-6. PMID: 35279262.
* FitzGerald JD, et al. 2020 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Gout. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 Jun;72(6):877-894. doi: 10.1002/art.41198. PMID: 32391934.
* Richette P, et al. 2018 EULAR recommendations for the management of gout. Ann Rheum Dis. 2018 Jan;77(1):17-26. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-211665. PMID: 29074794.
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.
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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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Kumar, V., Pandit, H. G., Liddle, A. D., & ... (2017). Comparison of outcomes after UKA in patients with and without chondrocalcinosis: A matched cohort study. Knee Surgery …, 2017.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1007/s00167-015-3578-8Sullivan, J., Pillinger, M. H., & Toprover, M. (2021). Chondrocalcinosis: Advances in diagnostic imaging. Current Rheumatology Reports, 2021.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11926-021-01044-4Meyer, F., Dittmann, A., Kornak, U., Herbster, M., & ... (2021). Chondrocytes from osteoarthritic and chondrocalcinosis cartilage represent different phenotypes. Frontiers in Cell and …, 2021.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.622287/full