Gout Diagnosis and Treatment Care

What You Need To Know About Gout

Learn how gout develops, why it targets the big toe, and when to seek care.

Understanding Gout and Your Treatment Options

Gout is a common type of arthritis that most often affects the joint at the base of your big toe. It is a disorder that results from the buildup of uric acid in the tissues or a joint. While gout is more common among those over 30, people of any age can be affected, and while both men and women can develop gout, it is more common in men.

Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid in the blood. Normally, a slightly elevated level of uric acid is not harmful, but when the levels become too high, the acid may form hard crystals in the joint. This can cause severe burning pain, swelling, and stiffness. Gout commonly affects the big toe because uric acid crystallizes at cooler temperatures, and because your toe is farthest from the heart, it is the coolest part of the body.

Attacks of gout come on suddenly and can be miserable, causing symptoms such as intense joint pain that occurs abruptly (often in the middle of the night or upon waking), lingering discomfort that lasts a few days to weeks after the most severe pain fades, inflammation with redness, swelling, warmth, and tenderness, and restricted range of motion.

Without treatment, gout can lead to increased pain and joint damage. You should schedule an appointment with us right away if you experience sudden, intense joint pain. First, our providers review your symptoms and medical history and examine the affected joint. You may need tests, such as blood work or an on-site digital X-ray, to confirm a diagnosis of gout, and then we will recommend the best treatment for your specific needs.

Managing and Preventing Gout Flare-Ups

Initial treatment of a gout attack typically includes prescription medications or injections to treat the pain, swelling, and inflammation. Your provider may also recommend dietary restrictions, since foods and beverages high in purines are converted in the body to uric acid. Drinking plenty of water each day is important, while avoiding alcoholic beverages that cause dehydration.

During an active flare, immobilize and elevate the foot. Avoid standing and walking to give your foot a rest, and elevate your foot level with or slightly above the heart to help reduce swelling. Symptoms and the inflammatory process usually resolve in three to ten days with treatment.

Certain factors may increase your risk for gout, including a family history of the condition, high blood pressure, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and kidney disease. Being overweight, drinks sweetened with fructose, prolonged use of diuretics, and recent trauma or surgery can also trigger attacks.

You may reduce your chances of a gout attack by limiting shellfish, organ meats such as kidney and liver, red wine, beer, and red meat. If symptoms continue or repeated attacks occur, maintenance treatment involving daily medication may be needed to protect the joint from long-term damage. Our doctors are well-versed in this condition and can develop an effective treatment course to get you back in action as soon as possible.