What Are The Warning Signs?
Gout symptoms almost always come on suddenly -- often at night -- and rarely with warning. Among these symptoms, Mayo Clinic outlines that patients suffering from gout will experience:
Joint Pain
Gout most commonly affects the large joint of the big toe on either foot. It also might affect feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. The pain from an attack of gout is typically most severe within the first 12 hours after the attack starts and may be so excruciating that even the slightest pressure is unbearable. Many times, gout sufferers are woken from sleep because of this pain. A gout attack may peak as long as 24 to 48 hours after the symptoms first appear, and then goes away after five to seven days. While some attacks last only hours, others may go on for several weeks.
Discomfort
After the initial 12-hour period in the first attack of gout, the pain typically subsides but leaves lingering joint discomfort that can last from days to weeks. Subsequent attacks are more likely to be longer and affect multiple joints.
Inflammation
People suffering from an attack of gout have joints that become hot, swollen, tender and red. Often, the first symptom of gout is swelling of the big toe, accompanied by excruciating pain. In subsequent attacks, the swelling may affect other joints, primarily in the foot and knee.