A red, swollen, painful big toe joint is often assumed to be gout, but it is not always. In one primary care study, GPs diagnosed gout in 98% of people with an inflamed big toe joint, yet only 77% turned out to have it. A uric acid blood test cannot settle the question on its own, and repeated gout attacks can leave lasting arthritis in the joint. This guide explains how to tell gout and arthritis apart, which tests actually help, and when big toe pain needs to be seen the same day. Read the full guide: Big Toe Pain: Is It Gout or Arthritis?
