A gout attack can cause intense pain. If an individual has been diagnosed with gout, the attacks can range from minimal to intense discomfort in the affected joint.
What are the possible causes?
The initial gout attack experienced by an individual usually follows years of asymptomatic hyperuricemia. This simply means that a gout attack takes place once extra uric acid builds up in the body and accumulates as crystals within and around the joints.
The big toe is frequently the first joint in the body that is affected. On the other hand, the exact trigger for an attack in this setting is still unknown.
Who are at risk?
Both men and women can experience gout attacks. When it comes to men, the initial gout attack usually occurs between 40-69 years old. Women are older when the first gout attack occurs but there are contributing factors that play a role such as the use of thiazide diuretics and age of menopause. Other vital risk factors include prescription medications, genetics and the diet.
Why pain occurs during a gout attack?
The pain intensifies from a minimal twinge to intense pain over 8-12 hours in a usual attack. In most cases, a single joint is affected during an attack, but it is possible that several joints are affected.
In most cases, the big toe is involved initially but the midfoot, heels, and ankles are also involved early on. In common cases, the fingers, wrists and elbows are involved in a gout attack.
Other symptoms during a gout attack
Aside from the joint pain, an attack can trigger inflammation of the tissues close to the joint such as the skin and tendon and even lead to body wide symptoms which includes malaise, chills and fever.
Expected duration and frequency of the attacks
If left untreated, the attacks can range from minor to severe. Early on, it might be years between the attacks, but over time, the attacks usually become frequent, last longer and affect several joints. The condition of the individual can progress from an acute intermittent gout to chronic inflammation of the tophaceous gout.