Gout is one of the most painful types of arthritic conditions. It shows up as an inflammation or swelling of certain joints that causes severe pain and stiffness.
Excess uric acid forms crystals in the joints. When these crystals build up past a certain point, the joints become inflamed and the pain that we feel is what is referred to as a ‘gout attack’.
Gout and its related condition, pseudogout, can affect many different joints, however gout is most commonly found to affect the big toe, while pseudogout tends to appear in the knee or wrist more often than in other joints.
See individual articles in the Gout Articles list on this site for information about the specific appects of gout.