Stage I hyperuricemia period
People in this period do not show clinical symptoms of gout, except for elevated blood uric acid. Many cases are discovered incidentally during a physical examination.
It is important for people to understand that not all elevated uric acid will develop into gout. About one in ten patients with hyperuricemia will eventually develop gout.
However, it is important not to take any chances and ignore the dangers of high uric acid, as persistent hyperuricemia can greatly increase the risk of gout.
Early stage of gout
A persistent increase in blood uric acid can lead to a sudden attack of acute gouty arthritis. The most typical conditions of a gout attack are as follows.
Time of attack
The vast majority of people wake up in their sleep after experiencing pain that feels like a knife cut.
Site of involvement
The initial site of involvement is often the big toe.
Typical symptoms
Redness and swelling of the joint, burning and swelling, inability to touch or even cover the toe, and immediate pain from even the slightest breeze or movement of the toe.
Duration
The pain usually comes and goes like the wind and disappears in a matter of days or weeks.
During the period of remission, the patient may look like a normal person, but in fact, uric acid crystals will continue to act up in your body and over time, the joints will become swollen and stiff, making it difficult to bend and straighten them.
The third stage of gout middle stage
When gout first starts, often only one joint is involved, and this ‘unlucky’ joint is usually the thumb joint of the foot.
Over time, the pain gradually spreads to the joints of the fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, knees, and other joints throughout the body, and the surrounding soft tissues and bones are then damaged and dysfunctional to varying degrees.
Uric acid crystals are deposited and slowly form stone like “gout nodules”.
The appearance of gout nodules is a warning sign that the disease has entered a serious state.
If you have already developed “gout nodules”, the first question you should consider is not whether the nodules can be removed surgically, but whether you should go to a specialist (rheumatology or endocrinology) in a regular hospital as soon as possible and get regular treatment according to the uric acid level.
The fourth stage of advanced gout
The patient’s joint deformity becomes increasingly serious, and the gout nodules appear on more parts of the body, increase in size, and easily break down and flow out white urate crystals.
The permanent deformity of the joints causes dysfunction and affects daily study, work and life, causing great physical and mental pain to the patient.
In addition, uric acid salts are deposited into the kidneys and form kidney stones.
Clinically, these conditions may occur as follows.
Swelling of lower limbs ;
Oliguria, proteinuria, increased nocturia;
Hypertension ;
Anemia, etc.
If you have the above symptoms, it may indicate that your gout is gradually damaging your kidney function. At this time, if you do not pay attention to it, the condition will probably develop further, and even kidney failure which is not easily reversible and life-threatening.