GOUT
WHAT CAUSES GOUT?
Gout occurs when high levels of urate (uric acid) build up in your body. Uric acid is typically a waste product found in the blood. When the body produces too much or the kidneys excrete too little, it forms sharp, needle-like urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue.
These crystals cause the intense inflammation and pain associated with a gout attack.
Common triggers include:
- Diet: High intake of red meat, shellfish, and sugary beverages (fructose).
- Alcohol: particularly beer, is a known trigger.
- Medical Conditions: Untreated high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease.
- Dehydration: Not drinking enough water can increase uric acid concentration.
SIGNS YOU MAY BE EXPERIENCING GOUT
Gout is often mistaken for a severe infection or a bunion flare-up due to the visual similarities. Key symptoms include:
- Intense Joint Pain: The pain is usually most severe within the first 4 to 12 hours.
- Lingering Discomfort: After the sharpest pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last for a few days to a few weeks.
- Inflammation and Redness: The affected joint becomes swollen, tender, warm, and red.
- Limited Range of Motion: As gout progresses, you may not be able to move your joints normally.
HOW WE TREAT GOUT AT FOOTCARE ORTHOTICS
While Gout is a metabolic condition that often requires medication (prescribed by a GP) to manage uric acid levels, the mechanical management of the foot is crucial for pain relief and mobility.
At Footcare Orthotics, we play a vital role in your recovery and long-term comfort. Simply treating the chemical imbalance isn’t enough if you cannot walk without pain.
Our specialized approach includes:
- Differentiation Diagnosis: We help confirm if your pain is truly gout or another condition like a bunion, fracture, or infection.
- Pressure Offloading: During a flare-up, walking is agonizing. We can provide specialized padding or modify footwear to remove pressure from the painful joint, allowing you to stay mobile.
- Custom Orthotics: For chronic sufferers, gout can damage the joint over time. Our custom insoles can limit the motion of the big toe joint, reducing pain and preventing further joint degeneration.
- Footwear Education: We advise on shoes with a “rocker sole” or wider toe box to minimize bending of the irritated toe.
Don’t let Gout keep you off your feet. With the right medical and mechanical management, we can get you back to walking comfortably.