Is Joint Pain a Sign of Gout?

There are multiple reasons for joint pain, not all of which are caused by gout. Common causes of joint pain include injuries, infections, and diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Situations Not Related to Gout

1. Injuries: If a patient has recently experienced external force impacts or sprains, it may lead to soft tissue damage or even fractures, resulting in joint swelling and pain.

2. Infections: Both bacterial and viral infections can trigger inflammatory responses, stimulating surrounding nerve endings and causing pain in joint areas.

3. Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune disease often related to genetic factors, it affects local muscles and bones, primarily manifesting as morning stiffness, joint deformities, and, as the disease progresses, significant pain.

Situations Related to Gout

When uric acid levels in the body are excessively high, uric acid crystals can form and deposit in joints, triggering acute gouty arthritis. Typical symptoms include redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the first metatarsophalangeal joint. In severe cases, it can also affect other joints such as ankles, knees, wrists, elbows, and shoulders, as well as the auricle, Achilles tendon, and interphalangeal joints.

Diseases like bone hyperplasia, synovitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus may also lead to the aforementioned conditions. It is recommended to promptly visit a hospital for examination and receive targeted treatment after identifying the specific cause.