Attacks occur most frequently at night or in the early morning hours.
While the severity of gout symptoms can vary, it tends to progress in stages and worsens over time.
If left untreated, recurrent attacks can lead to joint deformity and the progressive restriction of movement.
Verywell
This article details the symptoms of gout, along with some complications of the disease.
Verywell
Frequent Gout Symptoms
Signs of gout can vary by the stage of the disease.
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Gout symptoms can often occur in clusters of attacks, when uric acid levels are persistently elevated.
This condition is known as hyperuricemia.
Will Gout Go Away by Itself?
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Gout symptoms typically peak within the first 24 hours after they start.
Over time, the joint can become deformed and interfere with mobility and movement.
In some cases, they can penetrate the skin and cause crusty, chalk-like nodules.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Gout Complications
The joints and skin are not the only organs that can be affected by gout.
Long-term, untreated hyperuricemia can cause crystals to form in the kidneys, leading to the development ofkidney stones.
Diabetes, kidney disease, or high blood pressureare among the conditions that may raise your risk for gout.
People with gout will sometimes think that a prolonged absence of symptoms means that the disease has spontaneously disappeared.
This is usually not true.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Diagnosis
You should see a healthcare provider to determine agout diagnosisor the progression of the disease.
This is especially true if:
A diagnosis will include a physical exam and a history of your health.
It also may include tests that are used to determine the cause of gout symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gout causes joint swelling and redness.
Gout pain is severe and strikes suddenly.
The pain intensifies across the first day before gradually resolving.
A gout flare-up can last a few hours to weeks.
Attacks are more likely to occur at night or early in the morning.
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Choi HK, Niu J, Neogi T, et al.Nocturnal risk of gout attacks.Arthritis Rheumatol.
2015;67(2):555-62. doi:10.1002/art.38917
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Symptoms and diagnosis of gout.
2018;7(16):e009328.
