what to do for gout pain in big toe

Overview

What is gout?

Doctors place gout nether the umbrella term "arthritis" — a broad range of joint diseases and joint pain. Some forms of arthritis inflame joints, while others don't. Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis. It's due to a crystal called uric acrid.

Gout causes hurting and swelling in one or more joints. It typically affects the big toe. But information technology's also constitute in other joints, including the knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist and elbow.

Who is afflicted by gout?

Gout can affect anyone. It usually occurs earlier in men than women. It by and large occurs after menopause in women. Men can be three times more probable than women to get information technology considering they have higher levels of uric acid most of their lives. Women attain these uric acid levels after menopause.

People are more than likely to get gout if they have:

Obesity, or a lot of actress weight.
Congestive heart failure.
Diabetes.
Family unit history of gout.
Hypertension (loftier claret pressure).
Kidney disease.

Y'all are besides more likely to develop gout if you:

Consume a diet loftier in animal proteins
Consume a significant amount of alcohol
Are on water pills (diuretics).

Symptoms and Causes

What causes gout?

The human body makes uric acid during the breakdown of chemicals called purines plant in certain nutrient and drinks. This normal byproduct goes through the kidneys and exits the torso when y'all pee.

Sometimes the body produces too much uric acid. Or the kidneys can't do a good job treatment it. When the body has high levels of uric acrid, or hyperuricemia, uric acrid crystals can concentrate in the joints. The sharp, needle-similar crystals cause gout. However, many people with higher uric acid levels never become gout.

What are the symptoms of gout?

An episode of gout is called a gout attack. Gout attacks are very painful and tin can happen quite suddenly, often overnight. During a gout set on, symptoms in the afflicted joint(s) may include:

Intense pain.
Redness.
Stiffness.
Swelling.
Tenderness, even to lite impact, such as from a bedsheet.
Warmth, or a feeling like the joint is "on fire."
How long does a gout attack terminal?

A gout attack can final a week or 2. Betwixt gout attacks, yous may take no symptoms at all.

How often practise gout attacks happen?

Some people have gout attacks frequently, while others go years between episodes. If gout isn't treated, attacks may get more frequent and last longer. Gout attacks can happen over and over once more in the same joint or affect different joints.

Diagnosis and Tests

How does a doctor diagnose gout?

If you have sudden or severe pain in a joint, you should talk to your chief intendance provider (PCP). Your PCP may transport you to a rheumatologist, a md who specializes in gout and other kinds of arthritis.

Healthcare providers consider several things when confirming gout:

Symptoms: The provider will enquire you to describe your symptoms, how often they happen and how long they last.
Physical examination: Your provider will examine the afflicted joint(s) to look for swelling, redness and warmth.
Blood piece of work: A examination tin can measure out the corporeality of uric acid in your claret.
Imaging tests: You may take pictures taken of the affected articulation(south) with X-rays, an ultrasound or MRI.
Aspiration: The provider may use a needle to pull fluid from the articulation. Using a microscope, a team fellow member tin look for uric acid crystals (confirming gout) or a different problem (such every bit bacteria with infection or other type of crystal).

Management and Treatment

How is gout treated?

Your healthcare provider may prescribe certain medications to care for gout.

Some drugs help control symptoms:

NSAIDs tin can reduce hurting and swelling. Some people with kidney illness, stomach ulcers and other health problems are unable to take NSAIDs.
Colchicine can reduce inflammation and hurting if you have it inside 24 hours of a gout assault. It's given by mouth.
Corticosteroids can relieve hurting and swelling. Yous take steroids by mouth or with an injection.

Drugs that help lower levels of uric acid in your body to prevent or reduce future episodes of gout attacks:

Allopurinol, taken as a pill.
Febuxostat, taken equally a pill.
Pegloticase, given as an intravenous (in the vein) infusion.
Probenecid, taken as a pill.

Prevention

Can I prevent gout?

Yous tin can make certain lifestyle changes to assist preclude gout:

Drink plenty of water to aid your kidneys function meliorate and avoid dehydration.
Exercise regularly to stay at a good for you weight. Extra weight increases uric acrid in your trunk and puts more stress on joints.

Do your best to limit the purines in your body, since these chemicals tin trigger uric acid buildup. Foods and drinks containing loftier purine levels include:

Alcohol.
Ruby-red meat and organ meats (liver, for case).
Shellfish.
Gravy.
Drinks and foods high in fructose (fruit carbohydrate).
Protein from animal sources. All protein from animal flesh tin potentially lead to elevated uric acid levels.

Sure medications tin lead to elevated uric acid levels. These medications include:

Diuretics, also known as "water pills."
Immunosuppressants, or drugs used to slow the immune system (common in organ transplants, for example).

Outlook / Prognosis

When should I call my healthcare provider virtually gout symptoms?

If you lot experience sudden, intense pain in a articulation, call a healthcare provider right away. If the articulation is hot and inflamed, yous might have gout — or you might have another problem similar an infection.

What's the outlook for people with gout?

Untreated gout tin can lead to permanent articulation damage. The buildup of uric acid in the joints and soft tissue is called tophus. Some people with gout can also develop other health problems, such as severe arthritis, kidney stones and centre disease. It'southward important to hash out your symptoms with a healthcare provider.

Living With

How can I manage a gout attack?

When you have a gout assail, you tin can manage your symptoms past:

Avoiding booze and sweetness drinks.
Drinking plenty of fluids.
Elevating the joint(south).
Putting ice on the joint(s).
Limiting whatever stress on the joint(s).

What else should I ask my healthcare provider about gout?

Consider request your healthcare provider:

What is causing the gout?
Practise I have any joint damage?
What can I do to forbid hereafter attacks?
Tin can any gout medications assistance me?
How long will I demand to take gout medications?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Gout is a painful form of arthritis. Extra uric acid in your body creates abrupt crystals in the joints, leading to swelling and extreme tenderness. Gout ordinarily starts in the big toe but can affect other joints. Gout is a treatable condition, and the uric acid level can be decreased past medication and lifestyle changes. Talk to your healthcare provider almost medications that can reduce uric acid levels. They can likewise talk over changes you can make to your diet and lifestyle to prevent and reduce gout attacks.

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Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4755-gout