You've got my sympathy Geo. When this stupid disease I now have first started, it was in my left foot and ankle, and extremely painful. I had a Land Rover in those days, and trying to work the clutch pedal was agony. The Doctor thought at first it was gout, but it turned out to be worse - Rheumatoid Arthritis, of the Severe, Progressive strain. It's now right through my body, including arms, shoulders, wrists, hands, knees and feet. Legs are bent like Long Bows, and hands look like claws, with only the right one having some use, the left being totally stiff.
I don't want to alarm you, but get it checked out properly - if the gout turns out to be RA, something can be done if it's caught early enough.