Thanks Emily, that was an interesting read. Gout definitley is an issue to be concerned about for me it seems, since it states that excess comsumption of alchohol(ME!) could contribute to it as well. But from reading the symptoms and warning signs of gout, I can be pretty confident that is not the cause of last night's pains.

Mostly based on - it was all 4 of my joints at once. The odds that these uric acid crystals built up in all four of my joints at the same time to trigger pain in the same evening is too much of a stretch. From what I read, gout usually presents itself in 1 joint first(usually, but not always, the big toe). Then perhaps spreading or getting worse in other joints throughout time without treatment.

I dunno. I'm thinking it must be withdrawal still, but I have no real basis for that opinion. I appreciate the article though. All information is great. Arms me for the future!