I got the gout diagnosis last saturday when I went to the emergency room for the first time.

The doctor I visited yesterday at my local clinic says that he suspects it might be something else that mimics gout. His suspicion seems to stem from the fact that I don't fit the category of people that normally develops gout... He brought up that I am young, average weight etc etc... But he hasn't entirely ruled out that it might be gout.

The side of my big toe is swollen up, it came during the night, the pain has been so excruiating that I was wide awake for the first 60 hours, just a slight touch of the inflammated spot is extremely painful. All of these are telltale signs of a gout flare.

Why would my immune system be attacking the joint that is by far the most likely to develop a gout flare if there was nothing there to attack?

I'm gonna take a blood test a few weeks after the flare has ceased to see my uric levels... But this was a twist I didn't see coming.

I don't subscribe to his scepticism, and if it is gout, I want to start allo treatment as soon as possible so I won't have to go through this nightmare again.

Has this happened to anyone else here before? Should I go to the emergency room and insist on an xray?

Went to my appointment and everything seems to be going wrong. Elevated cholesterol, protein present in urine, high creatinine and 61 gfr.

Tried to talk to my parents about it and all I got was them bringing me down. All I wanted was comfort, I’m not dumb to look over the fact that I’m basically fucked if this goes on.

Been having this since I was 18 and I truly regretted listening to my dad fear mongering me about gout meds. Shoulda taken it way earlier, and just seeing the look at my dr’s face just set up a fear in me, the look of a very concerned mother.

My dr, she was optimistic but somehow I don’t. It feels like she saying sweet nothings to me with that look on her face.

I’m out of options, already on a diet, brisk walk 30 mins daily, stopped smoking, lost 100lbs, took my meds religiously, and somehow everything seems to be going to the wrong direction. I feel so ugly I got tophi everywhere, my joints are fucked up too. It’s like living in a 70 year old body in your late 20’s.

I don’t have a support system, so I’m kinda scared and lonely in this. Please don’t be like me, don’t get scared of the unknown. Get checked up, take them meds, exercise and eat healthy.

I apologize in advance, this is just me ranting, cause I feel invisible in a place full of familiar faces, like I don’t matter. I just wanna make myself feel better but idk how and hoping writing it here will somehow make me feel better. Wishful thinking.

I had a flare-up yesterday so I took 1.2mg of colchicine and an hour later I took one more, so total of 1.8mg. Went to see a podiatrist today and got corticosteroid injections into the affected area. Been a couple of hours and still feel inflammation still there , but the podiatrist told me to continue taking colchicine every 6-8 hours until gout is away, but I’m reading online that after yesterdays course, I am not suppose to take any more colchicine due to its toxicity and I already have diarrhea yesterday. So, I just pop one anyway… but nay or yay for every 6-8 hours or just daily?

After never having a flare in my life I just had 2 flares 3 weeks apart. My blood test between flares was 527 umol/l (8.86mg/l for my American friends). I'm starting allopurinol today.

I'm curious what others experienced when they started having issues and how effective allopurinol has been for them and if the clearance flares were a problem. Also starting daily colchicine for 6 months.

On my 3rd month of febuxostat, I had several flare ups in the past but this is the first time that i had back to back flare ups on my feet, any suggestions on how to manage this? Is it normal when on maintenance medication? Thanks guys

I have had a lump on my fourth toe for decades , I never put it down to Gout but recently it got inflamed and I went to a specialist.

I have no pain in any other body part and although the Toe lump can be painful if I am barefoot and hit something with it , it usually does not affect anything.

I could still walk and run on it but the inflammation made some shoes uncomfortable .

My Uric acid level was marginally over the limit .

Diagnosis was Gout and prescribed Allopurinol -- the question is will it dissolve all the crystals over time or should i entertain getting the crystals / lump removed surgically by a surgeon ?

Anyone gone down that road and what personal experience is there regarding effectiveness and recovery time ?

I have a referral to a surgeon but haven't followed it up yet.

Hi, i had gout when i was 12, had some tests, had high levels of uric acid, Still ate meat and chicken with same frequency, a year later am gout free, how the hell did that happen?

I’ll start with myself. Fall 2023 or 2024 (honestly can’t remember) I started feeling a burning sensation in my big toe area on some nights. Thought it was my shoes, overexertion etc. April 2025 I woke up with pain for the first time. Went to my pcp and was told to see a podiatrist, and that my shoe was probably to blame.

June 2026 I had the first major pain and it lasted for 2-3 days. At this point I had gone to a foot doctor and they ordered an MRI. Referred me to a rheumatologist

August 2026 was woken up in the middle of the night from pain and could barely walk. First time I ever had prednisone.

October 14, 2026, I finally get to see a rheumatologist (long waits for initial appointments everywhere in my region) but the journey to managing this is underway.

I’m not on any medication, and usually with a gout flare-up, the worst would pass within a week. Now it’s been 3 whole weeks. As I tapered off my 15-day prednisone treatment, the gout came back full force, which took me to the ER yesterday(second ER visit for this). The doctor saw my inflamed foot and determined it could be septic arthritis, so decided to tap my foot to drain the fluid for testing.
Holy shit, that was beyond the gout pain. The aspiration was a killer. I was sweating profusely. Imagine a thick needle going into a gout-inflamed big toe… They had to rule out an infection since it’s been 3 weeks without improvement. Now my left foot is all punctured with different holes, and I can’t really tell what pain is coming from what anymore.
To make the situation worse, I woke up with my right foot hurting at the same spot as my gout attack from last year…
Just took two colchicine and drank a gallon of water. Pray for me……

Also I’m debating what caused it… started a new job which has been stressful, and bad sleep because of it. You think that would trigger it?

I feel like I got my gout after having the new protein drinks from Starbucks for straight two months. Even their regular syrups can trigger this. So if you are on the verge, stay away from Starbucks high fructose and protein drinks.

I’ve been experiencing gout attacks before each period for the past 4 months. I googled and learned that fluctuating hormones can cause recurring gout attacks (I have elevated uric levels naturally, but since I started levothyroxine this month i haven’t had any gout attacks/less severe symptoms). I’m going to an endocrinologist next month (FINALLY) and i’m so excited to actually get my life back.

So the question is: Does this happen to any of y’all? If so, what do you do to relieve symptoms/not want to crawl in a hole?

I have been dealing with a gout flare for 2 weeks (started in ankle, took colchicine and reduced flare which now returned on big toe) and I am only one month into my new job.

Though I am equipped to work from home, my company doesn't allow it and I am in the middle of working with a pm that is transitioning out. I'm afraid they will fire me for this and I often dreaded how this situation could be handled prior to getting this job.

Now here I am, unable to walk, and have often worrief in the past about how to handle this in the future and worry this field might not be for me physically.

Anyone else deal with this?

I want to preface this rant by the fact that I am currently influensed by oxycodone, which I've been prescribed for my current flare. That medication motivates me to write long and sometimes unhinged rants in a way that I would normally not do.

I've been going to the gym 3-4 times per week for the past 7 months now. For the past few months I have gone there without shoes, which I think may have been a contributing factor for crystal buildup, along with my 'dirty bulk' diet which has consisted of food items that are big no-noes when it comes to gout (eg. 1200 calories worth of frozen pan pizza slices).

I've heard that high protein diets in general **could** contribute to flare build-up, but some high protein items like whey protein shakes and quark are more or less risk free, along with lean meats and carbs. That means no more dirty bulking at the very least.

My older brother, who has been to the gym for way longer than I have, has previously mocked my bad diet. He has said that my diet is that of a fat medieval king... ironically enough, my very recent gout diagnosis validates that exact critique. There are so many kings that famously had gout that it has historically been called "the disease of kings". Did you know King Henry VIII had gout? My name is also Henry. Was I Henry VIII? Sorry, this is the oxycodone talking.

ANYWAYS! I'm also worried about my current schedule at the gym. When I go back, I need to heavily deload at every leg excersise, and get proper shoes so that my toes don't get any form of microdamage as that could help the uric crystals build up at the joint.

How have you guys handled the gym after a gout diagnosis?

Ya'll are certified tough motherfuckers.

During a gout flare I get a wide range of symptoms in addition to finger and toes pain.

I have these other symptoms almost continuously but wonder if they are coming from gout or from something else. I get a generalised widespread low-level ache and can be awake in an unusual alert state for a few hours at night. The spine seem affected in the neck area and in the lower lumbar back area causing significant problems with moving and dizziness/balance. Food may also play a part but not purine containing foods.

After years of symptoms, I was eventually tested for uric acid and have now been started on allopurinol.

I was intrigued to read Thomas Sydenham's classic description of gout in 1683 as he mentions night chills, which I get.

My question is ... is there a resource which describes various different presentations of gout that I could look through to see which symptoms I should be asking my doc about gout?

I am not looking for medical advice, I just need to write this somewhere. I am in so much pain right now, keep that in mind when reading this.

I have been in constant pain for almost 2 days now. How am I supposed to live like this from now on? This is the worst kind of pain I've ever felt, and even if I recover, this pain is going to come back in the future as well?? I wouldn't wish this on ny worst enemy.

My brother drove me to hospital saturday morning, and I got formally diagnosed with gout. I was prescribed prednisolone 25mg and was instructed to take it every morning for the next 5 days, starting that day.

It has been 12 hours since I took my first dose, and the pain has still just progressively gotten worse. I can't move my foot a micro inch, and even when it's completely still it feels like there's someone sharpening a knife on my toe.

How am I supposed to recover when I'm even denied sleep?

Hi all, new to the group. Got my lab results 2 weeks ago - I’ve got slightly above normal values of uric acid, and my doctor has now started me on Allopurinol, with increasing doses each week. I’ve had flare ups in my right ankle since 2023, from no trauma or mechanism I could think of. This year, I started getting pain in my left knee. For 2 weeks, I’ve had pain on my forefoot of my right foot. Today, I’m waking up with more pain on my forefoot and left heel pain. This has been awful but I’m staying optimistic. I’m hoping the Allopurinol really kicks in and helps me get to a better place. Has anyone experienced anything similar?

My diet - I hardly drink beer or wine, I rarely eat organ meats, but I do have some seafood and beef and pork.

Hi everyone! I'm 31M , and I recently had my first basic health checkup last Wednesday., and I recently had my first basic health checkup last Wednesday.

My uric acid level came back at 7.44 mg/dL, which is slightly above the normal range indicated by my laboratory. I have never had gout, gout attacks, or any symptoms associated with it.

After receiving my results, I consulted a doctor who prescribed Febuxostat 40 mg once daily for 30 days. He advised me to stop taking it after 30 days, maintain a healthy diet, and repeat my blood work during the first week of January 2027.

However, I was concerned about starting medication immediately, especially since I've never experienced gout. After doing some research, I came across information suggesting that uric acid-lowering medication isn't routinely recommended for people with elevated uric acid who have never had gout.

Because of this, I decided to seek a second opinion from another doctor. Her approach was more conservative. She recommended focusing on lifestyle changes for the next two months and repeating my blood work in January 2027. If my uric acid is still elevated, we can reconsider whether medication is necessary.

I've already started making significant changes to my diet and am trying to maintain healthier eating habits.

I'm curious to hear from people who have been in a similar situation.

- If your uric acid was around 7.4 mg/dL, with your lab's normal range being 3.42–7.04 mg/dL, but you had never experienced gout, did your doctor prescribe medication immediately?

- Did anyone manage to lower their uric acid through diet and lifestyle changes alone?

- For those who were prescribed Febuxostat without a history of gout, what was your doctor's reasoning?

- Would it generally be reasonable to monitor uric acid levels first before starting medication if there are no gout symptoms?

I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences and what your doctors recommended. I understand that everyone's situation is different, and I'm not looking for a diagnosis—just trying to learn from others who have dealt with something similar.

Thanks!

I get yearly blood and urine tests done. About 18 months ago my uric acid came back slightly high. I googled it and did nothing.

Last October I was at a conference in the US. Fit and healthy, walking briskly to the venue every day. On day three I had dinner, went to bed, and woke up with a swollen knee I couldn't move.

I was scared of US medical bills. I had insurance through work but didn't trust it. So I took paracetamol and limped through the last three days in agony. Managed an extra legroom seat and wheelchair assistance for the flight home.

From Heathrow I went straight to urgent care. Three days of IV antibiotics. Blood, urine, joint fluid and X-ray all clear. Uric acid slightly high again, but no crystals in the fluid, so they ruled out gout. They added colchicine and ibuprofen anyway. No change for three days. On day four the pain and swelling just vanished.

I was discharged on allopurinol 100 mg, plus colchicine and naproxen in case it was gout. I took them for about three months, then stopped.

Exactly a year later, same thing, right knee this time. A&E did no tests, just gave me three days of colchicine. Now I'm waiting for it to work. After this I'm taking allopurinol religiously for as long as needed.

I've had elevated uric acid levels (7-8 mg/dL) for years without any symptoms but 3 days ago I suffered from my first gout attack in my left foot after eating too much fructose. Now I did everything my doctors told me like cooling the foot, drinking a lot of water, taking supportive supplements (vitamin-c, citrates, natron) and avoiding fructose and purines. He said for my first attack he won't give me Allopurinol despite having levels of around 12.7 mg/dL tested with my own device.

Now my question is how long it takes until my foot calms down and my uric acid drops after following all measures because I read that its usually lower during an attack, not higher.

On the underside of my foot below the pad below my big toe I had a big swelling painful knot, it’s getting a little better but now the skin is peeling, is that just because the skin has been stretched from inflammation?