What is Foot Gout?
Foot gout is a medical condition that is unknown by most people. It generally occurs in the foot or the big toe. However, it’s also known to move to other parts of the body, too. Doctors consider gout as a type of inflammatory arthritis, and although it can affect anyone, it’s more likely to happen in men than women.
Causes of Foot Gout
Generally speaking, all of us have uric acid in our bodies. It’s starts in our bloodstream and is then sent through the kidneys, and it is eliminated through our urine. If we eat too many foods that are greasy, spicy and rich, we can develop foot gout.
Foot gout is usually caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. By the time most people notice symptoms of gout, the uric acid has already built up in the blood over a period of time and it has been accumulating within the joints.
Symptoms of Foot Gout
- Extreme pain in the foot area that last more than a few days
- A swollen or painful big toe can be a tell-tale sign of foot gout
- A high fever and overall feeling of fatigue can also be a sign of foot gout, but it could also be a more serious infection
- Your big toe cannot withstand any weight, including that of you bed sheets
What is the Treatment for Foot Gout?
Here are some treatments for foot gout:
- Eliminate Foods High in Purine – Foods that contain a high amount of purine are one of the main causes of gout. Try eliminating mackerel, sardines, organ meat, and some beans and lentils.
- Anti-Inflammatory Medication – Using anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce inflammation and pain. You should talk to your foot doctor and see if it’s possible to prescribe any anti-inflammatory medicine if the pain and swelling doesn’t subside.
- See Your Podiatrist – Your podiatrist can run tests to see if you actually have gout. It’s possible to extract fluid from your joins and have it tested for uric acid.
You should remember that foot gout can be prevented, treated and cured. Live a healthy lifestyle and eat a balanced diet to help prevent foot gout. However, if you are still battling foot gout, you need to see a podiatrist. For an excellent podiatrist in the Chandler, Arizona area, contact Advanced Foot Care today! Call (480) 917-2300
Gout affects approximately 1–2% of Americans at some point in their lives, and it has increased in frequency in recent decades. The recent increase is thought to be related, at least in part, to changes in the way we eat. Historically, gout was known as the “Disease of kings” or “Rich Man’s Disease” as the wealthy were the only people who could afford to excessively eat the foods that triggered gout attacks like seafood, red meat and wine. Today they are readily available in a typical American diet, and while these foods are not the only cause of gout, they play a role in causing significant pain in over 3 million Americans. Continue reading 'Gout: The Disease of Kings'»
A low-arched foot type is not something commonly associated with an inflammatory disease process. On the contrary, like fingerprints, people tend to think of foot shape and walking patterns as innate characteristics which are unique to an individual and are more or less permanent. However, the foot and ankle are dynamically complex structures which can in fact change shape over time due to age, disease, and other factors. A perfect example of this is when one of the major tendons of the ankle becomes inflamed, damaged, and dysfunctional. The end result is a condition commonly referred to as adult acquired flatfoot.
The force that allows you to roll your heel inwards or step up on your toes is generated by a major tendon which runs along the inside of your ankle behind the bump or “malleolus” on your inner ankle. This tendon runs under and across the sole into the underside of the ball area of the foot. Not only is this tendon responsible for performing those basic maneuvers, but it also plays a major role in maintaining the arch of the foot. As one might guess, when this tendon becomes inflamed or damaged, not only is weakness a possible outcome, but the arch and thus the entire foot structure are subject to change.
The exact causes behind the tendon breakdown and weakness haven’t been fully described yet but there are many associated factors. Gout, psoriasis, diabetes, smoking, RA, and high blood pressure among others have all been linked to this disorder. Patients typically present walking on a collapsed mid-foot with both the heel and toes rotated outward away from their normal positions, and pain indicated on both the inside and outside of the ankle and mid-foot.
Cases of adult acquired flatfoot with tendon dysfunction are first managed with a thorough clinical evaluation. Following this, your foot doctor may want to order one or more diagnostic exams such as an X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound. These findings will be helpful in determining the extent of the injury as well as which treatment options are most appropriate. These treatments may include anything from casting and physical therapy to surgical procedures to repair the tendon or even fuse several bones of the foot.
In many cases, the arch of the foot doesn’t necessarily need to be collapsed for the disease process to be well underway. This condition is ranked in progressive stages which may only be able to be determined clinically or with radiographs. Therefore, even if you only notice mild pain and tenderness along the arch of your foot, or weakness when standing and performing other activities, it’s certainly not a bad idea to contact your podiatrist in Chandler. Tendon inflammation along the inner ankle can be treated much more easily when caught earlier- before structural changes begin to take place.
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What is Foot Gout?
