Not 100% sure if it has anything to do with the crystals. My joints tend to crack and I've always cracked my knuckles since a kid. I think it could lead to different kinds of arthritis though.
Update from my first gout attack - the pain lingered for about 3-4 weeks after the initial attack. Not as severe but there was always this discomfort on my big toe. Changed my diet a lot and have rarely eaten steaks
stuck to chicken and a little pork and so far so good. I do have an occasional bite of beef but that's about it.
Drinking a lot of water too nowadays and trying to always take those cherry pills.
When I look back at it before my attack, I felt like I was going to the washroom A LOT even without drinking a lot of water. I was thinking maybe this is a sign of the body trying to get rid of as much uric acid as possible?