When it hurts,
keep it simple.
A calm, practical place to record what is happening and know when a hot swollen joint needs medical assessment.
Open the checklist ↓Four useful things to do.
Protect the joint
Reduce pressure on a severely painful joint and use your established flare plan.
Record the start
Note the date, affected joint, severity and whether this feels like your usual gout.
Follow prescribed advice
Use flare medicine only as it has been prescribed or advised for you.
Watch for red flags
Uncertainty, systemic illness or an unusual presentation deserves assessment.
Add this flare to your timeline.
Dates and severity are hard to remember months later. A simple record makes future appointments more useful.
Quick answers when your brain is elsewhere.
Yes. Serum urate can temporarily fall during an acute flare, so one result during an attack may not settle the diagnosis.
Understand uric acid →NICE lists an NSAID, colchicine or a short course of oral corticosteroid as first-line options, chosen around the individual clinical situation.
Explore treatments →A severely inflamed joint is often best protected rather than forced through painful loading. Return to activity progressively as symptoms settle.
Exercise & gout →