Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
Menu
  • Home
  • Staff
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Testimonials
  • Patient Education
    • Bone/Joint/Tendon
      • Accessory Navicular Syndrome
      • Achilles Tendon Rupture
      • Ankle
        • Ankle Arthritis
        • Ankle Fractures
        • Ankle Pain
        • Ankle Sprain
        • Swollen Ankles
        • Tarsal Coalition
        • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
        • Weak Ankles
      • Arch Pain
      • Arch Supports
      • Bone Healing
      • Bone Infection
      • Bone Tumors in the Foot
      • Brachymetatarsia
      • Bunions (Hallux Abducto Valgus)
      • Bursitis
      • Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever's Disease)
      • Calf Pain
      • Capsulitis of the Second Toe
      • Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)
      • Charcot Foot
      • Chronic Ankle Instability
      • Clubfoot
      • Cold Feet
      • Common Disorders of the Achilles Tendon
      • Drop Foot
      • DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
      • Extra Bones
      • Fallen Arches
      • Fifth Metatarsal Fracture
      • Flatfoot
        • Flatfoot-Adult Acquired
        • Flatfoot-Flexible
        • Flatfoot-Pediatric
      • Foot Arthritis
      • Foot Drop
      • Fracture
        • Foot Fracture
        • Fracture-Ankle
        • Fracture-Foot
        • Fractures of the Calcaneus (Heel Bone Fractures)
        • Fractures of the Fifth Metatarsal
        • Fracture-Toe
        • Jones Fracture
        • Stress Fracture in the Foot
        • Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes)
      • Gangrene
      • Gout
      • Haglund's Deformity
      • Hallux Rigidus
      • Hammertoes
      • Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
      • High-Arched Foot
      • Intermetatarsal Neuroma
      • Intoeing
      • Joint Pain in the Foot
      • Joint Swelling in the Foot
      • Lisfranc Injuries
      • Os Trigonum Syndrome
      • Osteoarthritis of the Foot and Ankle
      • Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)
      • Osteopenia
      • Osteoporosis
      • Peroneal Tendon Injuries
      • Pigeon-toes
      • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
      • R.I.C.E Protocol
      • Restless Legs
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Foot and Ankle
      • Sesamoid Injuries in the Foot
      • Shin Splints
      • Swollen Feet
      • Synovitis
      • Tailor's Bunion
      • Talar Dome Lesion
      • Tingly Feet
      • Tired Feet
      • Toe Walking
      • Turf Toe
      • Varicose Veins
      • Webbed Toes
    • Nails and Skin
      • Athlete's Foot
      • Black Toenails
      • Callus
      • Contact Dermatitis
      • Corns
      • Cracked Heels
      • Dermatitis
      • Dry Heels
      • Eczema of the Foot
      • Foot Bumps
      • Foot Lumps
      • Foot Odor
      • Foot Rash
      • Frostbite
      • Fungal Nails
      • Ganglion Cyst
      • Heel Fissures
      • Inflammation: Acute
      • Ingrown Toenails
      • Malignant Melanoma of the Foot
      • Plantar Fibroma
      • Plantar Wart (Verruca Plantaris)
      • Pump Bump (Hallux Rigidus)
      • Puncture Wounds
      • Rash
      • Raynauds Phenomenon
      • Skin Cancer of the Foot and Ankle
      • Smelly Feet
      • Sweaty Feet
      • Thick Toenails
      • Warts
      • White Toenails
      • Wounds/Ulcers
      • Wounds-Puncture
      • Yellow Toenails
    • Diabetic Health
      • Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention
      • Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines
      • Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
      • Diabetic Shoes
      • MRSA Infection of the Foot
      • Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.)
      • Soft Tissue Biopsy
    • Fitness and Your Feet
      • Baseball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Basketball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Field Hockey Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Football Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Golf Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Lacrosse Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Rugby Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Running and Track Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Soccer Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Softball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Tennis Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Volleyball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Orthotics and Footwear
      • Custom Orthotic Devices
      • Orthotics
      • Shoe Inserts
    • Compartment Syndrome
    • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
    • Equinus
    • Instructions for Using Crutches
    • Staph Infections of the Foot
  • E-Store
logo

(877) 393-3348

Our Locations
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Foot Problems >
  • Diseases of the Foot >
  • Gout

Gout

  • Created in Foot Problems, Diseases of the Foot

Gout

What is Gout?

Classified as a type of metabolic arthritis, gout is one of several common types of arthritis that cause severe inflammation, pain, and swelling in the joints it affects. Gout occurs due to deposits of uric acid crystals in joints around the body—most commonly joints in the big toe and other lower half extremities such as the knees, ankles, and feet.

Patients who experience frequent onsets of gout are often diagnosed with gouty arthritis, which is a more severe and pronounced form of gout, resulting in worsening symptoms and duration.

What Are the Causes of Gout?

A buildup of uric acid in the body is the main cause of gout. A byproduct of the breakdown of purines—organic chemical compounds present in food and various tissues and cells throughout the body—uric acid is typically excreted from the body in the form of urine. A buildup, however, occurs when the body is unable to dispose of all the uric acid. This condition is known as hyperuricemia and results in the formation of uric acid crystals—monosodium urate—in the affected joints.

For some patients, this can lead to the symptoms of gout, i.e., inflammation, pain, swelling, and loss of movement in the joints. These symptoms are often severe in intensity. However, for some patients, hyperuricemia may not lead to the onset of gout, and treatment, in this case, is not necessary.

Adults over the age of 40, in particular men, are more likely to experience gout symptoms. Studies show that the disease also affects patients with the following conditions or lifestyles:

  • high blood pressure, especially those that use diuretics
  • organ transplants
  • post-menopausal women
  • diabetes
  • kidney diseases
  • a diet high in foods containing purines, fructose, and alcohol
  • surgery
  • dehydration

The chances of you experiencing gout also increase greatly if other members of your family have previously had the disease.

What Are the Symptoms of Gout?

Gout typically only affects a singular joint at a time. Most patients will typically experience the symptoms of gout in their big toe; however, some may also experience gout in their ankles, knees, and many of the joints of the feet.

The onset of gout flares is often immediate, and for many patients, symptoms can last days or even weeks. Most will experience symptoms at night or early in the morning. The remission period between flare-ups can be long—months or years for some—and depends on a patient's ability to effectively manage and treat the disease.

The common symptoms of gout include:

  • extreme pain in the affected joint
  • swelling
  • redness
  • joint often feels hot to the touch

As gout more often than not affects joints in the feet, patients may find it difficult to put weight on their feet for the duration of their flareup. For some patients, the continuous buildup of uric acid crystals in affected feet joints can result in the formation of tophi, lumps under the skin. If left untreated can lead to the erosion of bone and cartilage.

What to Expect During a Gout Diagnosis and Treatment Appointment

If this is your first time being diagnosed with gout, you might be wondering what to expect during your initial appointment at the podiatrist. As the symptoms of gout are common to other forms of inflammatory diseases and arthritis, diagnosis may be difficult unless you are experiencing a flare-up. A trained podiatrist will begin by asking you a comprehensive set of questions to determine your current health, including your lifestyle and dietary choices.

For an accurate gout diagnosis, a trained podiatric physician will:

  • physically examine your affected joints
  • carry out imaging tests such as x-rays
  • order a blood test to determine the concentration of uric acid in the blood

While gout is not currently curable, patients who have appropriate individualized forms of treatment can effectively manage their symptoms and decrease the occurrence of their flare-ups. Treatment of gout will depend on the severity of a patient's symptoms, as well as their current lifestyle and diet. Some common forms of gout treatment include:

  • prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help treat pain and inflammation associated with an ongoing gout flare
  • steroid injections to treat inflammation
  • changes to diet—avoiding purine-rich foods and alcohol
  • changes in medications that may lead to hyperuricemia
  • increase in physical activity levels to reduce the onset of chronic diseases such as heart or kidney disease that may in turn cause gout
  • Podiatry Education Library
    • What is a Podiatrist?
    • When To Call a Doctor
    • Foot Anatomy
    • Overview of Foot and Ankle Problems
    • Basic Foot Care Guidelines
    • Foot Problems
      • Achilles Problems
      • Ankle Problems
      • Arch and Ball Problems
      • Common Foot Injuries
      • Deformities
      • Diseases of the Foot
      • Fungus Problems
      • Heel Problems
      • Nail Problems
      • Skin Problems
      • Toe Problems
      • Vascular/Nerve Problems
    • Medical Care
      • Diagnostic Procedures
      • Pain Management
      • Surgical Procedures
      • Therapies
    • Fitness and Your Feet
      • Sports and Your Feet
    • Foot Care
      • Women's Feet
      • Fungus Problems
      • Foot Odor and Smelly Feet
    • Shoes
    • Links

Contact Us

Send Us an Email

Our Location

Find us on the map

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Primary Location

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Secondary Location

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map