Go to the doctor. Like wrr said. They will put you on allopurinol to control your uric acid. This acid is ruining your joints even when you don't have a flare up. If you have a flare up after taking allopurinol, they will prescribe indomethicin and it will stop the pain completely overnight. I have joints that will never be 100% again because I was too stubborn to go to the doctor for years. It effects all your joints, not just your big toe, even though that is the most common place for the flare ups. What I thought was arthritis in my fingers was actually related to gout, I have a couple fingers I can barely use now.