Thank you for your response - I actually just found out last night that one of my neighbors also suffers from gout mainly in her fingers - so I'm not as strange as I thought! LOL
From what my neighbor says, treatment options are pretty much the same no matter where it affects you, however, as you said, you may notice the pain/swelling, etc., more in your hands because you use them so much.
Thanks again for your response.
My mom's hands appear to be more affected than her toes as well...so I'm guessing it's not too uncommon.
As for treatment...I would think it would be a little more difficult because you use your hands more...but I would have to double check that with my mom...sorry.