When To Call a Doctor

Call or see your doctor right away if you have:

• Severe pain in a single joint that comes on very quickly.
• Swollen, tender joints with warm, red skin over them.

It's important to see your doctor even if the pain from gout has stopped. The uric acid buildup that caused your gout attack may still be irritating your joints and could eventually cause serious damage. Your doctor can prescribe medicines that will prevent and even reverse the uric acid buildup.

Who to see

The following health professionals can diagnose and prescribe treatment for gout:

• Family medicine doctor
• Physician assistant
• Nurse practitioner
• Internist
• Rheumatologist
• Orthopedist

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

Exams and Tests

Exams and tests that may help with diagnosis and treatment of gout include:

• A joint fluid analysis (arthrocentesis) to see whether uric acid crystals are present. This is the only certain way to diagnose gout.
• A medical history and physical exam.
• A test to measure levels of uric acid in blood. This may be done if your doctor cannot safely get fluid from the affected joint.
• A test to measure levels of uric acid in urine.

While X-rays of extremities (hands and feet) are sometimes useful in the late stages of the disease, X-rays aren't usually helpful in the early diagnosis. Pain often causes people to seek medical attention before any long-term changes can be seen on an X-ray. But X-rays may help to rule out other causes of arthritis.

Your doctor may evaluate you for lead poisoning if you have been exposed to lead in your job or through hobbies.