answersLogoWhite

0


The classic picture is of excruciating, sudden, unexpected, burning pain, swelling, redness, warmness and stiffness in the joint. Low-grade fever may also be present. The patient usually suffers from two sources of pain. The crystals inside the joint cause intense pain whenever the affected area is moved. The inflammation of the tissues around the joint also causes the skin to be swollen, tender and sore if it is even slightly touched. For example, a blanket or even the lightest sheet draping over the affected area could cause extreme pain. Gout usually attacks the big toe (approximately 75% of first attacks), however it can also affect other joints such as the ankle, heel, instep, knee, wrist, elbow, fingers, and spine. In some cases the condition may appear in the joints of the small toes which have become immobile due to impact injury earlier in life, causing poor blood circulation that leads to gout. Patients with longstanding hyperuricemia can have uric acid crystal deposits called tophi (singular: tophus) in other tissues e.g. the helix of the ear. Uric acid stones can form as one kind of kidney stone in some occasions.[1]



1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gout


User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?