Woke Up With Sudden Joint Pain? It Might Be Gout

Gout is a painful inflammatory arthritis that often shows up without warning, causing swelling, redness, and severe discomfort to the affected joint. While gout can affect any joint in the body, it is most common in the big toe (Hainer et al., 2014).

Gout develops when excess uric acid builds up in the body, forming sharp, needle-like crystals in the joints. These uric acid crystals trigger inflammation, swelling, and intense pain. Uric acid is produced through the digestion of certain foods, including:

• 🍖 High-purine foods like red meat and organ meats

• 🦐 Seafood such as shrimp and shellfish

• 🍺 Alcohol

• 🥤 Sugary drinks and high-fructose corn syrup

Genetic factors, certain medications, and obesity can also increase the chances of grout (Yip et al., 2021).

Gout is typically diagnosed through blood tests that measure uric acid levels, x-rays, or by analyzing fluid from an affected joint (Pittman et al., 1999).

The first gout flare-up can be sudden and very painful, often starting at night. Common early warning signs of gout include:

• Sudden, severe pain in one joint (often the big toe)

• Swelling and warmth around the joint

• Red or purple skin over the joint

• Tenderness to touch (even light pressure can cause pain)

• Limited range of motion and stiffness as swelling worsens

These symptoms may last a few days or longer and can come and go in episodes known as gout attacks (Pittman et al., 1999).

Speak to your doctor about medications for Gout Relief:

Lifestyle Tips to Manage and Prevent Gout:

• Cut back on or avoid alcohol and sugary drinks

• Limit foods high in purines (like red meat and shellfish)

• Drink plenty of water to flush uric acid from your system

• Exercise regularly

(Dubchak & Falasca, 2010; Mayo Cinic, 2022)

These lifestyle changes, paired with the proper medical support, can reduce flare-ups and lower uric acid levels over time.

Epicentre’s Arthritis & Inflammation Profile Package includes tests designed to detect, monitor, and help manage conditions like gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory disorders. This comprehensive panel tests for:

• Uric Acid Test – Measures uric acid levels in the blood to help diagnose gout and monitor uric acid buildup.

• C-Reactive Protein (CRP) – Detects CRP, a marker for acute inflammation, which can spike during a gout attack

• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) – Assesses how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube. A faster rate can signal inflammation.

• Full Blood Count (FBC) – Provides information on red and white blood cells to help identify signs of infection, anemia, or immune response.

• Kidney Function Tests (U&E, Creatinine) – Evaluates kidney health, which is important since impaired kidney function can contribute to uric acid buildup.

This package is ideal for those experiencing joint pain, unexplained inflammation, or symptoms consistent with gout or autoimmune conditions. Visit Epicentre’s website to learn more and book your test online, or walk into one of our labs. No referral is needed

If you’re feeling out of balance, a quick lab visit could help you find the cause. Our expert team at Epicentre will guide you every step of the way.

📍 Visit one of our Walk-In Labs in Cape Town, Durban, or Johannesburg—or contact us to book your test!

• Dubchak, N., & Falasca, G. F. (2010). New and improved strategies for the treatment of gout. International Journal of Nephrology and Renovascular Disease, 3, 145–166. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJNRD.S6048

• Hainer, B. L., Matheson, E., & Wilkes, R. T. (2014). Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of gout. American family physician, 90(12), 831–836.

• Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Gout: Symptoms and causes. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/symptoms-causes/syc-20372897

• Pittman, J. R., & Bross, M. H. (1999). Diagnosis and management of gout. American family physician, 59(7), 1799–1810.

• Yip K, Berman J. (2021) What Is Gout? JAMA.;326(24):2541. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19770