I had similar symptoms weeks ago, went to a and e as it was so bad one night, it felt like a bout of gout but more painful, i have had one experience of gout only, on my big toe, about ten years ago, i am 64, and felt like they'd been beaten, they didn't know what it was as there was no swelling or redness, and it felt easier on my feet if I walked on them! I was told to take painkillers but I think he thought I was making it up. My doctor afterwards thought it may have been lack of potassium as I had had diarrhoea before for 6 days due to a side effect of Omeprazole, a PPI. I think it was a side effect of that and statins which I stopped taking immediately and it wore off in a few days. But the medical profession won't agree it had anything to do with statins! Just realised that post was 2009, wonder what the outcome was? I would like replies to my post.