If you are suffering from swelling and pain, you might have gout. Some of the symptoms of gout are swelling and pain, but those are common symptoms for a number of health problems. The only way to truly know if you have gout is to have a few tests done. Family history will also play a role here. If you have relatives that suffer with gout it is a good chance you might also have it.

Did you wake up one morning and your big toe is swollen, but you haven’t done anything that would have caused it? You didn’t stub or hurt the toe so this is odd, but the pain is terrible. This is one of the symptoms of gout.

If you are having swelling in your ankle or maybe your knee and it’s warm and painful, then this is another sign of gout. It’s not always gout, but could be a symptom of gout being present in your body.

There are other symptoms, but these are the most common. These may go away for a week or so, but always return. If this happens you should contact your doctor to see if your doctor can run some tests to determine if this may be gout. Gout is very painful and the swelling almost leaves you unable to move for days.

The tests that are needed are pretty simple to see if gout is present in your body. The only problem is gout symptoms are similar to other problems and your doctor will have to run tests to narrow down the problem. The doctor will order blood work to see if there is high uric acid present. This is one way to test to see if you have gout. Your doctor may even insert a needle into an inflamed joint to get a sample of the fluid on your joints. The doctor will send the sample out to have it tested for uric acid. They will be able to see if there are uric acid crystals in the joint fluid. They will have the results in just a couple of days and if there is uric acid present, then the doctor will be able to get you started on a gout management plan to lowering your uric acid, which in general will improve your gout.

Your doctor may advise you to start watching what you eat. You will want to stay away from foods that are high in purines. The foods high in purines will make the uric acid levels go higher, which in fact will make your gout return. He will also advise you to stay away from alcohol. Alcohol isn’t good for your gout. He may prescribe you a pain medication that will help with the pain when your gout symptoms occur to help ease some of the pain you are dealing with.