Early signs of gout

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis caused by urate crystal deposits in and around a joint. The pain can develop quickly, and even light contact may feel uncomfortable. Joint swelling may make the skin look tight or shiny. Gout can affect the foot, ankle, knee, wrist or fingers, and attacks may settle before returning. Chronic kidney disease and some medicines can affect urate handling, while body weight and diet are only parts of a wider picture. A painful swollen joint can also have other causes.

Rest the affected joint, raise it when possible, and use a covered cold pack for short periods if that feels soothing. Drink normally unless a clinician has given you fluid restrictions. Do not start, stop or change urate-lowering treatment without medical advice. Arrange an assessment, particularly for a first attack; a clinician may use the history, examination and sometimes joint-fluid testing to distinguish gout from infection or another arthritis.

Get urgent medical help for a hot swollen joint with fever, chills, marked weakness or rapidly worsening pain, because a joint infection can look similar to gout. Seek prompt advice if you cannot bear weight, the swelling follows an injury, or symptoms are not improving. Repeated attacks deserve review to protect joint function and check factors that influence urate levels.

Could this be gout or another cause of joint inflammation? Do I need joint-fluid testing? Could my kidney health or medicines affect urate? How should I manage a future flare and prevent more attacks?