Use of certain medicines, diuretics and aspirin. During a
physical exam, your doctor will: Take your temperature. Fever
may accompany gout attacks. the skin over the painful joint to
see whether it is warm, tender, red, or Check the skin over the
affected joint for cuts that may be a source of infection. Feel
the joint to assess Check the range of motion of the affected
Examine your hands, elbows, feet, ankles, knees, and earlobes
for gritty, chalky clumps of uric acid crystals called If your
medical history and physical exam clearly suggest that you have
gout, further testing may be postponed until treatment relieves
pain and swelling or until subsequent attacks occur. If the
diagnosis remains unclear after the history and physical exam,
your doctor may order a blood test to measure the level of uric
acid in your blood. He or she may also order a joint fluid
aspiration test to examine joint fluid for uric acid crystals.
Primary Medical Reviewer Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Revie