How long does a gout attack usually last?

Gout can cause severe pain to patients. After suffering from gout, we should seek timely treatment to avoid worsening of the condition. Exercise can effectively prevent gout, but exercising when you have gout will make the condition worse. So, how long will a gout attack last?

When gouty arthritis occurs, the duration varies and is not exactly the same between patients. Generally speaking, the attack lasts an average of 3-5 days, but the shortest is only 1-2 days, and the longest can last more than 2 months before the joint inflammation gradually subsides. When gouty arthritis strikes, it will go away on its own even without effective medication. The redness, swelling, heat and pain disappear, and the symptoms of fever and general discomfort also subside, and the clinical condition enters an intermittent period. The interval can be as short as a few months or as long as a few years, but most patients will experience another attack within a year. There are also a small number of patients who, after an acute attack of gouty arthritis, may not suffer from another attack for decades, or even for the rest of their lives.

If effective treatment is given at the beginning of an acute attack of arthritis, the duration of the attack can be greatly shortened. On the contrary, if no treatment measures are taken when arthritis occurs, the attack will last significantly longer than if timely treatment is given. If you insist on taking preventive medication and other effective treatment measures during the interval, the interval can be greatly extended and the number of attacks can be significantly reduced. Without proper preventive and therapeutic measures, the frequency of attacks will gradually increase and the pain will become more severe each time. The first attack of gouty arthritis is often limited to one joint, but after repeated attacks, two or three joints may become inflamed at the same time.

Warm reminder: The longer the arthritis attack lasts, the more serious the damage to the joints. Gout patients should pay attention to appropriate prevention in time. I wish you a speedy recovery.