WARNING: The Embarrassing Bodies website contains images of an explicit medical nature and nudity in a medical context.

Conditions

Gout

Inflammation and swelling of a foot joint (Photo courtesy of Jerry Lawrence - Uncle Jerry - flickr)

Nineteenth century American humorist, Ambrose Bierce, defined gout in his Devil’s Dictionary as: “A physician’s name for the rheumatism of a rich patient.” Gout is a form of rheumatic arthritis characterised by recurrent episodes of joint inflammation, but it affects approximately one in 200 adults – most frequently men between 40-60 years of age – whether they are moneyed or not! At any rate, it’s painful. Sufferers have described the pain of an attack as “worse than childbirth” and like being jabbed with a “million tiny white-hot needles.” The pain and swelling of gout are caused by uric acid crystals that deposit in some joints, most notably the big toe, but can also strike the knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist and elbow. No longer just a “disease of kings”, people who are overweight, have high blood pressure, eat diets rich in protein and consume vast quantities of alcohol have an increased risk of developing gout. And it’s no laughing matter.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

Can Gout be treated?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

i worry that i have something wrong like prostate 'C' or something as quite often i have no pressure when peeing, should i be worried ????? its a worry





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

i get gout it is quite crippling 30 years of it. i am from new zealand where i was prescribed "colchicine" to be taken when i felt the early signes of a gout attack and it realy does work stops it in its tracks, allows me to carry on working and living without the total pain of fully blown gout, very hard to get prescribed in england it is as if the doctors here have not heard of this as a measure for gout, trust me it works !!!!! have you not heard of it ????





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

i have been suffering from gout over 20 years it is under control sum times it flares up but this is not my problem , i have cists on my ear lobes ive been lead to beleive this is due to uric acid , if so is there cure for this condition





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I am in my mid thirties & I have had gout in my big toe about three times & once in my Knee. It really is quite excruciatingly painful. I thought I had kicked the bed/wall in my sleep & broken my toe the first time. I couldn't wiggle it & it was very red/hot to the extent where I couldn't sleep or stand even my sock against it. It took about six weeks to heal the first time and I ended up hurting my other foot by over-compensating when walking(At half my usual pace). When I had it in my knee for a couple of days I eventually went to my Doctor & was prescribed Dicoflex & sent for an x-ray (Presumably to discount other causes of pain). The symptoms had already reduced by then thanks to taking Ibuprofen which I think helped more than the Dicoflex which caused nausea. Thankfully I have not had it for a while.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hi, im 14 yrs old and i got told i had gout at the age 13, like a typical teenager i love skateboarding, my councler said it doesn't help, whats your opinion?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi i am 20 years old,i have i swolen little toe-it gets realy itchy on a night and along the bottom of my foot on the side please can u help!!!





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi Kayleigh I have the same thing but only on my left foot. I have complex regional pain syndrome in my right foot and thought it had something to do with it but I think it's something else. Can't find anything on it on the net. I am 25 and a healthy weight. I am convinced it has to do with nerve damage but then I'm not a doc! You aren't the only one out there!

Hi my 18 year old son sounds exactly like you. They suspect CRPS but i think it might be gout. He is of average weight and used to be in the army training to be a para. This problem started in the ball of his foot then spread to his heel then now knees.He has tried all the pain killers.they don't really work. the only thing that makes a difference is cherry juice and apple cider vinegar. Have they diagnosed you with complex regional pain syndrome. Liz

hi i am 21yrs and i get achy pains in my back hips and im legs and right knee, my gp says there is nothing wrong and my blood tests come back normal i wonder if you could tell me what it could be!





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

my right foot has a burning sensation . It gets really hot underneath my right foot and some time my toes get hot > can you please advise what I can do





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I have this 2 I was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome, yours may not be but look it up to see if you have any of the other symptoms

Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/

I have gout and it is not always put down to drink it also passed down by generation and ill health but also doctors do know not enough or how to treat this. I have asked many of time for something that treats this but because of mental health problems carnt have it. I also have many more health issues not dealt with.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.



Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.



Please don't swear or be rude in your questions, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting questions. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines


Important Notice

The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.


If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here


More Information

  1. Breasts

    In Episodes - In this second of four specials, the Embarrassing Illnesses doctors…

  2. Men

    In Episodes - The EI Docs go in search of the most elusive creature in the doctor…

  3. Vaginas

    In Episodes - The EI team roll into Norwich to setup a clinic in one of the count…

  4. Consultation: Breast Realignment

    In Videos - Dr McKenna examines a patient who has reached the end of her tether…

  5. Teens Below the Belt

    In Episodes - Episode 4 of Embarrassing Teenage Bodies tackles conditions includi…

  6. Boys, Boys, Boys

    In Episodes - Episode 3 of Embarrassing Teenage Bodies takes a closer look at bin…

  7. Consultation: Painful Penis

    In Videos - Dr Jessen treats a patient whose pleasures in life have been severe…

  8. Consultation: Breast Reduction

    In Videos - A patient comes to see Dr Harper with enormous 36JJ Breasts that ar…

  9. Am I Normal?

    In Episodes - Episode 2 of Embarrassing Teenage Bodies looks at conditions includ…

  10. Consultation: Prostate Cancer

    In Videos - Dr Jessen treats a patient whose Prostate Cancer has worsened in re…

  11. Consultation: Gynaecomastia

    In Videos - Dr Jessen treats a man who's rapid weight loss has left him with fo…

  12. Consultation: Second Adult Circumcision

    In Videos - Dr Jessen examines a patient in need of a new circumcision

  13. Dr James Russell

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr James Russell.

  14. Dr Priya Manickavasagar

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Priya.

  15. Consultation: Soreness on the Penis

    In Videos - A patient is examined for soreness around his penis


More Information

Content supplied by NHS Choices

It is difficult to predict when an attack of gout will occur. Symptoms can develop rapidly over a few hours, and will usually last for between 3-10 days. After this time, the joint will start to feel normal again, and any pain or discomfort should eventually disappear completely. Read More »

Be On Embarrassing Bodies

If you have a medical condition that you’d like the doctors to look at then please contact the team on 0121 224 8395.
Apply for the show here >