The Different Stages Of Gout Attack


Defined Tag: Gout Attack.

Acute Gout

An acute attack of gout will normally come on suddenly and swiftly, generally overnight. The affected area will start to feel hot and the skin will become red and appear shiny. Within an hour or so, it may become so painful that even touching the bed sheet will cause you to scream out loud. In many cases, the person may also develop a mild fever.

The duration of the gout attack depends on its severity, with a mild attack settling in a few days but a severe attack persisting for several weeks. Taking anti-inflammatory medication early in the attack will often reduce its duration. As the attack subsides, the joint gradually returns completely to its normal state and a complete remission of joint inflammation occurs – very characteristic of gout joint symptoms.

Recurrent acute gout

After an initial acute attack of gout subsides, further attacks are likely to occur, usually after a long interval without symptoms. The second attack may not occur for one of two years but will almost certainly happen if the causative factors continue. Recurrences may involve either the same of a different joint. In such a case, the gout joint symptoms are similar to the acute gout attack, such as sudden onset and local inflammation of the joints. After subsidence, a further gout attack is again likely to occur, but the interval between attacks usually becomes shorter as more acute attacks occur. Other joint symptoms of gout will start to show up on the tip of the elbow between the tendons around the knee, or the Achilles tendon (behind the heel).

Chronic Gout

As more attacks of acute gout occur, remission is likely to be incomplete. At this stage, the following joint symptoms will be observed - urate crystal deposits within the joints are likely to damage the cartilage lining of the joints, interfering with joint function and minimizing the opportunity for repair between acute attacks. By this time, the patient may be in a state of recurrent acute gout attacks with very little in the way of remissions. In such a situation, inflammation may only be controlled by the constant consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs which limit the response of the inflammatory cells to the crystals. While this may control some joint symptoms, there remains the risk of an extremely severe attack involving many joints (polyarticular gout) unless the underlying cause of the gout attack is corrected.

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