Gout in Matawan NJ

Gout is a form of painful, inflammatory arthritis. It often affects the joint at the base of your big toe. There’s no cure for the disease and gout symptoms may come and go. Getting treated from the providers at Central Jersey Ankle & Foot Care Specialists helps you manage unpleasant symptoms and ease pain.

The following signs and symptoms may indicate you have gout:

• Severe joint pain, usually near the base of your big toe
• Pain that lasts a few days or weeks
• Joint redness
• Joint inflammation
• Limited range of motion in joints

In addition to affecting your big toe, gout can also occur in your knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, or finger joints. Gout symptoms can appear suddenly, especially at night.

Gout occurs when urate crystals, which form from uric acid buildup in your joints, cause swelling, intense pain, and inflammation. Factors that increase your risk of developing gout include:

• Family history of gout
• Obesity
• Being a man
• Untreated high blood pressure
• Diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease
• Taking certain medications
• Recent surgery or trauma
• Eating a diet rich in meat and seafood
• Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages
• Alcohol consumption, especially beer

Kidney stones are a complication of untreated gout. Making dietary changes, avoiding alcohol, controlling high blood pressure and diabetes, and achieving or maintaining a healthy weight are ways you can lower your risk of gout flare-ups.

After reviewing your medical history and ordering blood, joint fluid, or imaging tests if necessary, your podiatrist lets you know which gout treatment is right for you. They might recommend:

Medications
Your doctor may prescribe medications to help prevent gout flare-ups, reduce inflammation, prevent complications, or manage pain associated with gout.

Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes help prevent gout attacks or reduce their severity. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to stay hydrated. Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages containing high-fructose corn syrup, limit or avoid alcohol (especially beer), exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy body weight.

To help prevent future gout flare-ups, limit your intake of fish, poultry, and meat, and consume protein from low-fat dairy foods instead. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and ask your doctor about drinking coffee to lower uric acid levels.

Orthotics
To reduce pain associated with gout, your podiatrist might recommend wearing comfortable shoes with orthotics (shoe inserts) to take pressure off painful joints when you walk.