A painful and bothersome form of arthritis that many people suffer from is Gout. This kind of inflammation affects the peripheral joints or those joints that move the most, particularly those of the big toes, knees, elbows, thumbs, and fingers. People affected by the condition often find themselves disabled, unable to move because of the debilitating pain caused by uric acid crystals that are deposited in the space between the joints, causing these to “lock up” and swell.
Uric acid is formed either as a result of the breakdown of compounds called purines from food or as a by-product of several cellular processes within the body. People who have gout tend to either produce more uric acid or excrete less of it than normal, making its levels in the blood rise and later crystalizing and accumulating in the joints, causing pain and discomfort.
Read on to learn more about the signs and symptoms of gout.
1. Severe Joint Pain
Gouty arthritis or gout, results from the accumulation of uric acid crystal deposits in the joints such as those of the knees, elbows, wrists, fingers, and ankles but is more likely to affect the large joints of the big toes. Because of this, sufferers often complain of sudden, severe pain in the joint which usually occurs in the middle of the night or early in the morning. It is said to be most severe during the first four to 12 hours after onset and is likely to remain between 3 to 10 days after.
This intense pain is excruciating enough to debilitate a person, often times affecting his or her ability to function normally during the day.
