A complex form of arthritis that can affect anyone is known as gout. It is normal in nature and is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in the joints. It often occurs in the joint at the base of the big toe. There can be sudden attacks of gout and you may often wake up in the middle of the night with the feeling of burning in your big toe. There is a sensation of heat in the affected joint. The area is also swollen and extremely tender. The attacks of gout occur frequently and the symptoms and flares can be managed in different ways. For more information about this, come to a doctor clinic in Hooghly.

Symptoms

There can be sudden signs and symptoms of gout and they occur often at night. Some of them are:

  • Intense joint pain :

    Though gout can occur at any point, it usually affects the large joint of your big toe. The ankles, knees, elbows, wrists and fingers are the other commonly affected joints. Within the first four to 12 hours after the pain begins, it is likely to be most severe.

  • Lingering discomfort :

    Some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks after the most severe pain subsides. For a long time, the latter attacks last and affect more joints.

  • Inflammation and redness :

    The characteristics of the affected joint or joints are that they become swollen, tender, warm and red.

  • Limited range of motion :

    You may be unable to move your joints normally as gout progresses.

You should consult the best doctor in Uttarpara if you experience sudden, intense pain in a joint as the pain can worsen and the joint gets damaged if gout remains untreated. If you have a fever and a hot and inflamed joint, you must seek medical care as it can be a sign of infection.

Causes

In your joint, if there is the accumulation of urate crystals, gout occurs. When the levels of uric acid in your blood are high, urate crystals can form. When your body breaks down purines, which are naturally found in your body, uric acid is produced. There are certain foods in which purines are found. Uric acid normally passes through kidneys into your urine after getting dissolved in the blood. In some cases, too much uric acid is produced in your body or your kidneys excrete very little uric acid. That is when uric acid builds up in your body. The uric acid forms sharp, needle-like urate crystals form in a joint or surrounding tissue causing pain, inflammation and swelling.

Treatment

There are different medications for the treatment of gout. Changes in lifestyle and home remedies also prove useful.