If it occurs suddenly but most frequently at night, it might be gout, which worsens with repeated bouts to cause gouty arthritis. This is the result of hyperuricemia, a condition where the body produces too much uric acid, causing it to build up in the form of crystals (namely, monosodium urate) in fluids, joints, and tissues. The prevalence of gout in men is far greater than in women. This happens because the estrogenic hormones in premenopausal women have a mild uricosuric effect.
Symptoms of Gout
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects one joint, usually the big toe joint, at a time. The affected joint is usually identified by redness, intense pain, swelling, and restricted movement.
When the symptoms start getting worse, the condition is referred to as flares — however, when there are no symptoms, it’s known as remission. While flares may last for a few days or weeks, remission periods tend to be longer (i.e., weeks, months, or even years).