Gout is a kind of arthritis that “flares” periodically—so the pain of gout is experienced as an attack. Gout attacks usually appear with no warning and leave sufferers in severe pain. In fact, gout is one of the most painful medical conditions. It's been compared with childbirth and bone fractures. Gout attacks usually last from 3 to 10 days and can cause knife-like pain, tenderness, redness, heat, and swelling in an affected joint. These are all signs of “inflammation,” so gout is sometimes called an inflammatory arthritis.
Even though a gout attack may come on suddenly—like a volcano erupting—its underlying cause may always be there bubbling below the surface. The underlying cause is an excess of a waste product in your blood called uric acid. Many people have excess uric acid—and most of them do not get gout. But if you have periodic gout attacks, research has shown that your risk of having future episodes goes up with the level of uric acid in your blood.
You experience the pain of gout when the excess uric acid forms needle-like crystals that deposit in your joints, causing your body to respond with inflammation (and pain) in these areas. If you have gout, you might have attacks as long as there are uric acid crystals remaining in your body. Also, if left untreated, uric acid crystals may form large deposits—called tophi (TOE-fi)—in and around joints. These tophi may cause long-term joint damage. However, with proper treatment, most people with gout are able to control their symptoms. By lowering your uric acid level, and keeping it low, you may be able to stop crystals from forming and protect yourself against attacks.