I've suffered gout over a 20 year period, although suffered each episode I can hardly claim to suffer, as in that period I've probably had single figures in attacks.
It has only ever manifested itself in the ball of my big toe in one foot, and each occurrence has been a bit worse than the previous.
The first time it started one evening and although at its most intense I couldn't put weight on it or even touch the area affected, it had completely gone by the morning.
The last episode a few years back lasted several days, but tablets from my GP seem to have improved from those prescribed years ago.
The affected toe is permanently swollen on the side of the foot, I guess over time it never fully recovers.
But I've read the possible triggers and avoiding them may work for some, but with such infrequent attacks, maybe 8, I can't remember, over 20 years, and eating many of the trigger foods as I do, it's impossible to pin any of these as the cause.
Being so infrequent it obviously doesn't affect my activities, but I certainly couldn't go walking whilst going through an attack, I couldn't even get a sock on or have a bed sheet touch it.
I know of some that suffer it in various joints so can only imagine the pain from that.
I can also understand that it's generally put in the scale of pain, along with childbirth (sorry ladies, just what I read
), and being stabbed, but I've not experienced either, so I can't compare