So does a person with gout always need crutches?

Rarely: It is rare that a person with gout will need crutches. At times during the acute attack, especially involving the great toe or knee the joint is so painful that it is impossible to bear weight. This is usually treated with different medications or local cortisone injections. It is, therefore, possible that during the most acute part of an attack, within the first 24 hours, crutches may be used.

Need more therapy: If this is happening your gout needs more intense therapy. Gout is due to a build up of urate crystals in the tissue in the body including the joints. The reason the urate crystals are in the tissue is that the uric acid in the body remains in the blood in what is called a supersaturated state. Events can cause the uric acid to precipitate as a monosodium urate: this needs suppression.