Leg pain symptom

In its first onslaught, gout usually attacks the big toe. In fact, approximately 90% of people who develop gout develop gout symptoms in their big toe. However, it is possible for gout to affect other joints. Whether it occurs in the initial attack or in later recurrences, gout can also be present in the:

- Instep
- Heel
- Ankle
- Knee
- Finger
- Wrist
- Elbow

Why does gout affect other joints? Gout occurs in other parts of the body for the same reason as it occurs in the big toe. Essentially, the body has a build up of too much uric acid. The excess uric acid develops into crystals that are often deposited into joints.

Regardless of what joint gout affects, the first attack almost always strikes at night and the infected area becomes inflamed, red, swollen and incredibly tender and painful. Most initial gout attacks clear up with in 3 – 10 days and more than half of the people, who have experienced an acute attack of gout, will have another attack within the year. If action isn’t taken to prevent gout, over time, the recurrence of gout may become more frequent, last for longer periods of time and affect more joints.

For those gout sufferers who experience frequent lingering attacks, their gout condition will eventually become chronic. Chronic cases of gout involve more joints, and the constant presence of uric acid crystal deposits within the joint, and the soft tissues that surround it, leads to persistent inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a sign that destructive changes have occurred within the joint.