Gout is best known as a type of arthritis. It mainly causes a sudden burning pain, swelling and stiffness in joints of the body. Although it affects many joints in the body, it mainly affects the feet.
As soon as you experience sharp pain in your foot joints, it’s recommended to seek immediate medical attention of a podiatrist. Untreated gout is known to cause long-term pain and possible joint damage.
What causes gout in the feet?
Gout develops when urate crystals build up in joints, particularly the joints of the feet. When that happens, it causes the joints to develop inflammation and, subsequently, intense pain.
Urate crystals commonly form when there’s high uric acid levels within the blood. The body produces uric acid after breaking down purines, a substance naturally found in the body and in foods like organ meats and mushrooms.
When uric acid builds up, it forms sharp, needle-like crystals within joints and/or surrounding tissue. That’s what causes the characteristic sharp, burning pain and swelling.
Treatments for gout of the feet
Most treatment options for foot gout involve medications. Gout medications are used to treat sudden attacks and prevent future attacks, while reducing the risk of contracting complications from gout.
Most medications used to treat gout include:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which helps control inflammation and sudden pain. Over the counter options include ibuprofen and naproxen, while prescription options include indomethacin.
Colchicine is a type of pain reliever commonly prescribed for treating most cases of foot gout. Although it’s incredibly effective for getting rid of gout pain, it might cause milder side effects like nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
Although medications are a tried and true way to treat foot gout, making lifestyle changes also help. Drinking as much as 16 cups (almost 4 liters) of fluid like water helps flush out the body of uric acid and other impurities.
Eating enough protein like low-fat or fat-free dairy and eggs also helps. You should also limit your daily meat intake to about 4 to 6 ounces. Sometimes, food and drink like coffee and cherries may play a role in lowering uric acid levels. Alternative treatments like medication and deep breathing also help take your mind off the pain when in recovery.
Dr. Ian S. Goldbaum is a Podiatric Physician and Surgeon serving patients in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.
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