Persistent pain in your big toes is never comfortable. In Pleasanton and Universal City, Texas, Next Step Foot & Ankle Clinic offers relief for foot pain stemming from gout. Dr. Darren Silvester and Dr. Gregory Larsen provide treatment and recommendations on avoiding future gout and managing symptoms. Book your appointment online at one of the two San Antonio-area offices or call the clinic to schedule your appointment.
What is gout?
Gout is a common yet complicated form of arthritis. Arthritis causes pain in your joints from swelling and tenderness. With gout, the symptoms of arthritis are centered in your feet and toes.
Gout pain isn’t usually persistent and comes on suddenly. A gout attack can be so severe, it can wake you from sleep with intense pain.
What is the main cause of gout?
An increase in uric acid in your body causes gout pain. Normally, your kidneys filter out your body’s uric acid. If your body produces too much uric acid, or if the strain on your kidneys causes the acid to build up, it forms sharp, needle-like crystals between your joints.
If you have enough buildup, the soft areas of your foot and toe become inflamed and irritated. Excess uric acid builds from your diet and physical health, but affects your toes and feet more than other areas.
What are the symptoms of gout?
During a gout attack, you’ll likely notice the following symptoms:
- Redness
- Soreness
- Inflammation
- Intense joint pain
- Limited range of motion
- Lingering discomfort
Seek treatment if you believe you might have gout. If left untreated, the symptoms and pain can worsen, causing damage to your joints.
What triggers a gout attack?
A healthy diet and staying hydrated help keep uric acid levels low. Some known triggers of gout are:
- A diet high in meat and seafood
- An excess of sugar-sweetened drinks
- Alcohol and beer consumption
- Being overweight
- Untreated high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease
- Some medications
A family history of gout, a recent trauma, or aging increase your chances of gout. Managing your symptoms and avoiding your triggers prevents unnecessary discomfort.
How can I stop gout pain?
Over-the-counter medications relieve pain during an attack. Your doctor may recommend a prescribed pain reliever. Corticosteroids in pill form or injection reduce the swelling and inflammation from a gout attack and are available at Next Step Foot & Ankle Clinic.
If you have frequent attacks and changes to your diet and lifestyle aren’t helping, your doctor may suggest other medications that reduce or block uric acid production.
Get gout diagnosis and treatment with the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Next Step Foot & Ankle Clinic in Universal City and Pleasanton, Texas, conveniently located near San Antonio. Use the online booking tool or call the clinic to make an appointment.
