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Gout

Gout
Gout is on the rise in the United States and now affects more than 8 million people. The painful arthritis can affect any joint, but frequently causes inflammation, pain, and swelling of the joint in your big toe. The experienced team at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers, including David Kaplansky, DPM and Anthony Cozzolino, DPM, provides diagnosis and treatment for acute symptoms of gout at their offices in Columbus and Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and can help relieve your pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is gout?

Gout is a form of arthritis that develops from an accumulation of urate crystals in the joints, which develop when you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. Your body creates uric acids from the breakdown of purines, which is a substance naturally found in your body and also found in certain types of foods. Normally your kidneys help get rid of uric acid from your blood. However, if you’re producing too much uric acid or your kidneys can’t get rid of it fast enough, it accumulates in your blood and forms into spike-like crystals that settle into your joints, leading to inflammation, swelling, and pain. With gout, any of your joints can be affected. However, the urate crystals most often settle in the joint of your big toe. You can also experience the painful arthritic condition in your ankles.

With gout, the pain comes on quickly and can be severe. During a gout attack, you may experience intense pain that lasts up to 12 hours. Your joint may also be red, swollen, and tender to the touch.

After the severe pain subsides, you may experience lingering pain that can remain for a few days to a few weeks. Your joint may also lose some of its mobility.

Your specialist at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers conducts a comprehensive examination to determine if your joint pain is due to gout. During your evaluation, your specialist reviews your symptoms, conducts a physical exam, and examines the affected joint. To confirm a diagnosis, your specialist may withdraw fluid from your joint and have it analyzed for urate crystals. They may also recommend blood tests and X-rays.

Your specialist at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers creates an individualized treatment plan to help manage your acute gout attack to reduce your pain, as well as a plan to prevent a recurrence. For your acute pain, your specialist may recommend:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Corticosteroid
  • Colchicine

In addition to the pain relievers, your specialist may also recommend medications to prevent gout attacks in the future. These medications work by either preventing uric acid production or increasing uric acid removal.