i googled gout and saw that they look for uric acid crystals, that seems to be the definitive test.
i wish i remembered better why the last rheumy thought maybe gout and was going to do blood work (not sure of the blood test), but ruled gout out based on my history.....i think for me it was because its much more tendons and SI and he realized that when he heard my history....
if you only have symptoms similar to what happened to your finger, its possible its gout....if you have lots of other symptoms too....then it would probably be ruled out like it was for me.
sue
