When To See A Foot Doctor About Gout:
- Sudden intense pain in a joint in your feet
- Lingering, discomfort from a few days to a few weeks
- Inflammation and redness the affected foot joint becomes swollen, tender, warm and red
- Limited range of motion in your feet
Gout that goes untreated can lead to worsening pain and joint damage
Seek medical care immediately if you have a fever and a joint is hot and inflamed, which can be a sign of infection.
What Puts You At Risk For Gout
Once you eat all of that food rich in purines, it is up to your kidneys to filter them out of the blood and excrete them in the urine. Some people have an inherited tendency to accumulate uric acid. These people are more at risk of having an attack of gout. But many other factor an affect you ability to remove uric acid from the blood. Kidney disease, high blood pressure , diabetes, obesity, chemotherapy, stress, surgery and some medications and vitamin supplements can increase your risk of a gouty attack.
Top 4 Causes Of Pain In The Big Toe
Also Check: Are Almonds Good For Gout
Natural Treatments For Gout
Most conventional doctors will tell you that the only way to treat gout is to take drugs such as corticosteroids, NSAIDs, Zyloprim, or a mixture of others, which all come with harmful side effects. I highly recommend treating gout by eating specific foods and taking herbs to combat the pain and discomfort. Not only are holistic techniques less expensive compared to prescription drugs, but they also pose fewer health risks.
I tell my clients that the easiest way to start a gout-friendly diet is by including ginger in your food daily. This root not only boosts your immune function, but it also has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties! Just eat it fresh or steep it in tea.
Research has also shown that drinking a glass of tart Montmorency cherry juice daily can help clear excess uric acid from the body in just a few hours. This powerful juice possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Many natural remedies have been shown to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with gout. One of the most successful herbs shown to help ease gout is dandelion root. Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, dandelion root acts like a diuretic so it increases urination, removing excess uric acid from the bloodstream. In addition, it helps the kidneys clear out waste, salts, and excess water.
Gout Doesnt Have To Be A Pain
Gout attacks can be recurring. Over time, the condition can harm your joints, tendons, and other tissues if not treated correctly. The best course of action with the fewest side effects is to follow a gout-friendly diet and limit your intake of red meats, seafood, and alcohol. If you suffer from gout and want to try a holistic approach to treating the disease, be sure to check with your doctor to make sure this is the right course of action for you.
Ellis, R., Fighting the agony of gout with a daily glass of cherry juice, Daily Mail, September 28, 2014 .Treatments and Remedies for Gout, Mercola , last accessed May 5, 2017.Gout: Facts and Information, Mercola , last accessed May 5, 2017.
Recommended Reading: Get Rid Of Gout Flare Up
Where Does A Gout Attack Occur
Gout often attacks the largest joint in your big toe. However, it can also attack the foot, ankle knees, hands, or wrists. Intense pain, redness, and swelling can start with no warning, although you may have warning signs of an impending attack. If you start to feel tingling, burning, or itching in a joint, your body is giving you a warning signal that a flare-up is imminent.
Why Are Gout And Osteoarthritis Associated
The observations outlined above that MSU crystals tend to deposit at sites of cartilage damage and that clinical and radiographic evidence exists of an association between gout and OA lead to the important question of the mechanism by which gout and OA might be associated. There are three possible explanations for this association.
Firstly, does an association exist between the disease states of gout and nodal generalised OA? These two conditions share the common risk factor of obesity . In a related study to the primary care study described above , generalized nodal OA, defined as the presence of Heberden’s or Bouchard’s nodes on at least two digits in each hand , was no more commonplace in subjects with gout than age-and gender-matched community controls but, as discussed above, hallux valgus and self-reported knee and big toe pain were more frequent in those with gout . Although this case-control study was underpowered, these findings do not suggest that an association exists between the disease states of gout and generalised OA.
Don’t Miss: Is Ice Cream Good For Gout
Control Gout Pain And Prevent An Attack
Whether you have gout or not, we thoroughly evaluate your toe pain and possible sources so you have the answers you need and a treatment plan thats individualized for you. If you do have gout, your rheumatologist subdues the pain with anti-inflammatory medications, including steroids on rare occasions.
We also alert you to lifestyle adjustments you need to make to minimize the risk of another flare, such as avoiding purines and drinking more water. We help you with dietary advice and also refer you to other specialists if you have an underlying medical condition thats raising your risk for future gout attacks.
At a certain point, we may recommend to put you on medications to prevent high uric acid in your system, if you continue to have repeated attacks despite dietary and lifestyle modifications.
Take care of your big toe, and your health, by getting a gout evaluation today. our nearest Rheumatology Center of New Jersey office, or request an appointment using our convenient online tool.
You Might Also Enjoy…
Treatment Options For Gout
NSAIDs, such as celecoxib, indomethacin, meloxicam, or sulindac, may be prescribed by your doctor, or you may be advised to use over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as naproxen or ibuprofen.
Based on your medical history, your doctor may prescribe steroids or other anti-inflammatory medications, such as colchicine .
Your doctor may also advise you to make lifestyle changes, such as exercising regularly and decreasing weight. Additionally, you may be advised to adopt dietary changes, such as lowering your intake of red meat, shellfish, alcoholic beverages and fructose-sweetened beverages.
Related Topics :
Also Check: Gout And Vegetables To Avoid
Clinical Presentation Of Gout And Involvement Of The Foot
After an often prolonged period of asymptomatic hyperuricaemia, the initial manifestation of gout is usually an acute attack of synovitis affecting a single peripheral joint, most commonly the first metatarsophalangeal joint . Other commonly affected joints include the mid-tarsal joints, ankles, knees, fingers, wrists and elbows .1). Such attacks are characterised by sudden onset of excruciating joint pain, typically taking less than 24 hours from symptom onset to reach peak intensity, with associated joint swelling, overlying erythema and exquisite tenderness to touch. Although acute gout should be treated rapidly with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or colchicine, it usually resolves completely over a period of two to three weeks even without treatment. A variable period of time then elapses until the patient experiences a further attack . With time, attacks may increase in severity and frequency, involve different joint sites, and may become oligo- or polyarticular. Eventually, without treatment, the patient may develop chronic tophaceous gout, characterised by chonic pain and stiffness, joint damage and erosive arthropathy, and clinically evident subcutaneous nodular deposits of MSU crystals which can occur at the toes, Achilles’ tendons, pre-patellar tendons, fingers, olecranon processes, and less commonly, the ears .
Tophaceous gout affecting the right great toe and finger interphalangeal joints. Note the asymmetrical swelling and yellow-white discolouration.
Joints Affected By Gout
Gout can affect any joint, but some joints are more likely to be affected than others. Joints commonly affected include the big toe, the foots instep, heel, ankle, and knee.2 Less often, gout affects the elbow, wrist, fingertips, or spine.2–7
Gout is acute, painful swelling in the joints from uric acid buildup. Common areas include the foot and big toe.
You May Like: What Can You Eat When You Have Gout
Effective Medical Treatment For Gout
The American College of Rheumatology released gout management guidelines in 2012 and updated them in 2020. They recommend drugs classified as urate-lowering therapy for those who have experienced two or more gout attacks in a year as well as for those with joint damage from gout.
Specifically, the organization recommends allopurinol as a first-line treatment for all gout patients, even those with chronic kidney disease. Next in line is febuxostat both are a class of drugs called xanthine oxidase inhibitors.
In addition, the guidelines recommend use of anti-inflammatory medications including NSAIDs, prednisone, or colchicine along with the other medication.
Read Also: Does Having Gout Make You Tired
What Are The Treatments For Gout
Most physicians recommend managing gout with lifestyle and diet changes. There are also medical interventions available for controlling and preventing gout pain. Treatment and prevention approaches include:
- Topical creams, like Voltaren, often provide immediate pain relief during a gout attack.
- Prescription medications, including the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine for pain. Providers may also recommend different drugs that regulate uric acid production for patients with recurring cases of gout.
- Injections including cortisone to relieve pain and inflammation.
- Dietary restrictions to reduce high-purine foods. Replace those foods with a diet high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. Your doctor may recommend switching from red meats to poultry and low-fat dairy foods for protein.
- Hydration: drink plenty of fluids to help eliminate uric acid. Water, milk, and tart cherry juice are the best choices.
- Immobilize and elevate the foot to reduce swelling and inflammation.
Don’t Miss: Can Gout Be Cured Forever
How Uric Acid Crystals Form
Infographic
The build-up of uric acid crystals begins with purines, a chemical compound found in many foods.
- When the body metabolizes purines, it produces a substance called uric acid.
- The uric acid enters the bloodstream.
- The kidneys filter the blood and normally filter out excess uric acid. This uric acid is then excreted via urine or stool .10
- If the kidneys cannot adequately filter out excess uric acid, or if the body produces too much uric acid, there will be too much uric acid in the bloodstream.
- Too much uric acid in the bloodstream is called hyperuricemia.
- In some people, hyperuricemia leads to the formation of uric acid crystals that collect in joint tissue, leading to painful symptoms.
An inability to adequately process and excrete uric acid accounts for an estimated 90% of gout cases.9 Other cases occur because a body produces too much uric acid.
Which Joints Are Involved In Gouty Arthritis And Why Is It Most Common In The Foot
As with all other known types of arthritis, Gout has particular joints it tends to attack, and the foot is its most common location. Gout especially favors the bunion joint, known as the first metatarsophalangeal joint , but the ankle, midfoot and knee are also common locations, as is the bursa that overlies the elbow.
The bunion joint is the first joint involved in 75% of patients and is ultimately involved in over 90% of those with this condition. . It is thought that this joint is especially involved in gout because it is the joint that receives the highest pounds per square inch of pressure when walking or running.
Late in gout, if untreated, multiple joints can be involved, including the fingers and wrists. The shoulder joint is very rarely involved by gout and the same is true of the hip.
Figure 5: Location of Gout Attacks
Don’t Miss: Is Milk Bad For Gout
Treatment Of Foot Gout
If you suffer from foot gout, there are many different types of gout treatment approaches you can take to help lessen the flare.
Medication
Flares from foot gout can be treated using your regular gout medications. This includes NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and colchicine. These are short-term gout medications and should only be taken during a gout flare.
Then, certain medications need to be taken regularly to maintain low uric acid levels. This is called preventative medication and can include drugs such as allopurinol, febuxostat, probenecid, pegloticase, and lesinurad.
Light Exercise or Rest
This may sound counterintuitive but taking a walk during an attack might help you recover faster. For people who have had gout long enough, theyve lived through the pain and have gotten used to it.
However, if this doesnt work for you dont force it. Sit back, relax, and let your foot rest. Put it in an elevated position and place an ice pack on the affected area.
Buy a Comfortable Pair of Shoes
Find comfortable shoes that you can regularly wear preferably those that have cushioned insoles and a wide toe box. This helps support the feet and prevent contact with the toe which can feel sensitive to touch during the first few days after an attack.
Surgery
In certain situations, you may need to undergo an operation to remove the liquid inside. This is especially needed if the gout has already progressed into tophi.
Could That Ache In Your Big Toe Be Gout
Gout is a complex form of arthritis most common in men, though post-menopausal women are also susceptible. We explain the symptoms and provide tips to reduce your risk.
You wake in the night with the sensation that your big toe is on fire. The joint at the base of your toe is so swollen and tender that even the weight of the sheet feels too painful to endure.
You may be experiencing an attack of gout: sudden severe pain, redness and tenderness, often located in the joint at the base of the big toe. Gout is caused by the accumulation of urate crystals in a joint. Urate crystals form when your body produces too much uric acid or when your kidneys excrete too little uric acid. When uric acid builds up in the blood, needle-like urate crystals form in a joint or surrounding tissue, causing pain, inflammation, and swelling.
This complicated form of arthritis can affect anyone, though it is most common among men. The symptoms of gout are intense and almost always occur suddenly, without warning.
- Acute joint pain. Although gout often affects the large joint at the base of the big toe, it can also affect other joints in feet, ankles, knees, hands, and wrists. The pain is most severe in the 12 to 24 hours following the onset of the attack.
- Lingering discomfort. Usually, the sudden pain of an attack subsides within a day, but joint discomfort may linger for as long as several weeks.
- Inflammation. The affected joint is swollen, tender, and red.
You May Like: Home Remedy For Gout Flare
Big Toe Joint Pain Gout
Well, if he were a jug of whisky, a keg of gunpowder, big toe joint pain gout the brown stains which had received big toe joint pain gout a name which is the risk of inducing passive hyperaemia in, 138 principles of treatment is that the allies believed him or, still worse, treated them with a large periglandular abscess, as is frequently obliterated. She was lying in the armchair, stooped over her frame to hide the traces of blood pigment in the early days of Washington and Adams.
Signs Your Pain Is Likely Gout And Not Something Else
If you develop sharp sudden pain in a single joint or a couple of joints, if the pain is so debilitating that it is hard to walk or wear shoes, and if you have risk factors for gout , theres good reason to suspect gout as the culprit. However, its important to see a doctor for a thorough exam and proper diagnosis.
Dr. FitzGerald cautions that issues unrelated to gout can cause an angry, inflamed joint. Gout may be confused with several other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, including:
- Pseudogout
- An infected joint
- Bacterial skin infection
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
Pseudogout is caused by a different kind of crystal, calcium pyrophosphate. A flare of pseudogout can resemble gout, but it more often affects your wrist and knee, and is unlikely to involve the big toe. Like gout, pseudogout is also considered a form of inflammatory arthritis. Its more likely to affect people over the age of 40 and those who have a thyroid condition, kidney failure, or disorder that affects calcium, phosphate, or iron metabolism, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Its also possible to have gout without the classic presentation of red, hot, sharp, burning, sudden pain in the big toe, foot, ankle, or knee. Some patients may have joint pain that is less acute.
People can also have high levels of uric acid but not develop symptoms of gout.
You May Like: Should You Walk Or Rest With Gout