What should you know about tophi gout?

A tophus may look or feel like a pale, firm nodule beneath the skin. It can occur at the toes, fingers, knuckles, elbows, ankles, knees, or outer ear. Some deposits remain quiet, while others cause stiffness, joint pain, joint swelling, pressure from shoes, or reduced grip and movement. A deposit can occasionally open and release a chalky material. Gout is the underlying condition, but not every lump is a tophus; examination is needed when the appearance or location is uncertain.

Arrange a review if a lump is new, enlarging, tender, or interfering with walking, footwear, work, or sleep. Keep gout treatment reviews, take prescribed medicines as directed, and protect the skin from rubbing. Record which joints flare and how long symptoms last. Avoid squeezing or puncturing a deposit at home. A clinician may use examination, tests, imaging, or a sample to distinguish a tophus from infection or another lump.

Get prompt help for a hot red joint with fever, rapidly spreading redness, pus, a deep wound, or severe pain. Seek urgent assessment for new weakness, numbness, or inability to use the limb. A known history of gout does not rule out infection, injury, or another cause of swelling, especially when symptoms change suddenly.

Ask whether the deposit is affecting the joint or nearby tendon, whether your gout control needs adjustment, and how kidney health affects the plan. Discuss footwear, movement exercises, wound care, and referral if the tophus is limiting function or repeatedly breaking the skin.