Gout is one of those illnesses that most people never consider, yet it’s distressingly common. Figuring out if you have gout, though, can be difficult. It does share symptoms with several other conditions and it takes professional help to get a diagnosis. If you’re concerned that you might have gout, though, it helps to look at the basic symptoms. According to Dr. Pedram Aslmand, these are some of the more common gout symptoms in the foot.

Painful Big Toe

 The go-to symptom when discussing gout is a pain in your big toe. When your body is unable to properly break down uric acid, it can lead to a buildup of the substance in your blood and eventually to the buildup of uric acid crystals around your joints. When you have gout, there’s a very good chance that these crystals will have made their way all the way down to the joint of your big toe. It’s important to note that the pain from gout isn’t a simple ache or even a brief stab – even having the area lightly touched can be excruciating.

Lumps and Bumps

When gout occurs, it’s due to the buildup of urate in your blood. In some cases, this buildup can also lead to the formation of crystalized uric acid near your joints. These mounds of crystals have the appearance of strange lumps or bumps on the skin, which are called tophi. The good news is that tophi aren’t permanent and can go away once you get treatment. The bad news, though, is that tophi are a sign that your gout has progressed significantly and they tend to accompany other, more painful symptoms.

Swelling Joints

This is another one of those gout symptoms in the foot that is both a tell-tale sign of gout and that is often ignored by those who have little experience with the condition. It’s very common for uric acid to build up in the area around the joint, leading to significant swelling. This is often seen around the big toe, but it can also occur at other joints. If you experience significant swelling around your joints in addition to the other symptoms listed here, there is a very good chance that you have gout.

Pain in your big toe, the appearance of tophi, and swelling in your joints are all signs that you might have gout. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to meet with a physician. Gout is a very treatable illness, but it isn’t something with which you can deal on your own. If you think that you might have gout, make sure that you seek out medical treatment today.