Preuss Podiatry provides gout treatment in Louisville, KY and Floyds Knobs, IN. Gout often strikes the big toe suddenly, sometimes overnight, and we can help relieve the pain and lower the chance of another attack.
What is gout?
Gout is a type of arthritis that in the majority of patients is caused by underexcretion of uric acid. When there is excess uric acid in the body, crystals begin to form near a joint. It can be extremely painful and often leave a joint of the foot red, hot and swollen.
Signs of a gout attack
- Sudden, severe pain, often in the big toe joint
- Redness, heat and swelling
- Pain so tender that even a bedsheet hurts
- Attacks that often start at night
Common gout triggers
- Red meat, organ meats and shellfish
- Alcohol, especially beer
- Sugary drinks
- Not drinking enough water
- Some medications
Gout treatment
The podiatrists at Preuss Podiatry can help alleviate your joint pain and create a plan to manage the gouty arthritis. The expert podiatrists can educate you on lifestyle changes, provide interventions and prescribe medications that can help to prevent further gout attacks. Without treatment, gout can be debilitating and greatly affect the quality of one’s daily life.
For other kinds of arthritis in the foot and ankle, see our arthritis and joint pain page.
When to call right away
A red, hot, swollen joint can also be an infection. Call us so we can confirm it is gout and rule out an infection. A hot, swollen joint with a fever needs urgent care.
Schedule an appointment
If you have a painful, swollen joint in your foot, call Preuss Podiatry to schedule an appointment at one of our Louisville, KY or Floyds Knobs, IN locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does gout usually affect the big toe?
Uric acid crystals tend to form in cooler joints farther from the heart, and the big toe joint is the most common spot.
Is gout in the foot an emergency?
It is not usually an emergency, but it is very painful and should be seen quickly. A hot, swollen joint with fever needs urgent care.
Can gout come back?
Yes. Attacks often return without treatment. Medication and lifestyle changes can lower the chance of another attack.
