Help! Is That Pain In My Toe Gout?

Content

• Surgery
• Health & Wellness
• Medications To Treat Gout Attacks
• Immediate Relief, Expert Care

And, the more gout flares you experience, the longer it takes for pain to go away. Anyone who has experienced a gout attack knows it can be painful. Gout can make walking or even wearing shoes uncomfortable. This is why the board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists at Preston Surgery Center offer advanced solutions for this form of arthritis.

Most people say the pain is so intense that the bed sheets hurt when they touch the skin. So be mindful of ‘healthier’ choices at the end of your holiday meal, as well. If bunion surgery is needed for both feet, just one foot is done at a time, as many procedures require prolonged periods of being off the foot, sometimes in a splint or cast. With simple modifications, like wearing wider shoes or toe spacers, the bunion may not hurt at all. Whether there is pain or not, once a bunion forms, it is permanent unless it is removed by surgery to relieve symptoms or correct the deformity. If bunions are ignored, they can cause difficulty when walking.

Surgery

When taken by mouth, colchicine can cause diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramps. If side effects occur, stop taking the drug and notify your doctor. To prevent future episodes, you may have to continue taking a small dose of colchicine after the attack has cleared. This class of drugs works quickly to relieve pain and is a cost-effective option. The data do not suggest, however, that these medications are better than any other treatment option for gout attacks.

The excess acid forms urate crystals, and these tiny, sharp formations accumulate in the joint where the big toe joins your foot. As the crystals poke and prod the tissue during movement, it becomes irritated and inflammation sets in. Pain from the slightest bump, weight, or movement can be excruciating—like being poked with hot needles.

Health & Wellness

This common office procedure is performed with topical local anesthesia. Using sterile technique, fluid is withdrawn from the inflamed joint with a syringe and needle. Untreated gout may cause deposits of urate crystals to form under the skin in nodules called tophi (TOE-fie). Tophi can develop in several areas, such as your fingers, hands, feet, elbows or Achilles tendons along the backs of your ankles. Tophi usually aren't painful, but they can become swollen and tender during gout attacks. Gout can easily be identified by redness and inflammation of the big toe and the surrounding areas of the foot.

If you are also running a fever, you may have an infection. Many people with gout are also diabetic and are at greater risk for infection. Being overweight and drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk for gout.

The Pain And Swelling Of Gout Can Be Easily Treated

Other commonly affected joints include the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, and fingers. The pain is likely to be more severe within the first four to 12 hours after it begins. To diagnose gout, the foot and ankle surgeon will ask questions about your personal and family medical history, followed by an examination of the affected joint.

Medications To Treat Gout Attacks

If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911. As with most foot and ankle problems, maintaining a healthy weight is extremely important. The fewer pounds pushing down on your lower extremities, the less pressure. There are a number of minerals and spices that can help to reduce inflammation and gout pain, found right in your kitchen cabinets or as supplements at your local pharmacy. Other high-purine substances include all alcoholic beverages, especially beer. Those with frequent gout flare-ups should consider changing their diet if they heavily consume any of these foods and drinks.

What Are The Symptoms Of Gout?

The initial treatment goal is to reduce pain and inflammation quickly and safely. Gout occurs most commonly in the big toe because uric acid is sensitive to temperature changes. At cooler temperatures, uric acid turns into crystals. Since the toe is the part of the body that is farthest from the heart, it’s also the coolest part of the body – and, thus, the most likely target of gout.

When you think of foot doctors, you think about broken bones, torn ligaments or tendons, and pulled muscles, so why would we discuss an internal disease like gout? Because the main body part affected is your big toe, and because it can be severely painful, and we want to do everything we can to keep your feet from hurting. As with all medications, you should report any side effects to your doctor right away. Watch for skin rashes, itching, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or other new symptoms not present before taking the serum uric acid medications. Gout cannot be cured, but it can be very successfully treated.