Did you wake up with sudden pain in your foot and are not sure of what it could be? Well, it could very well be gout! For many patients first attack of gout occurs in the big toe.
Gout is a form of arthritis that can affect anyone. It is caused by excess uric acid build up in blood. Men and post-menopausal women are more likely to get gout. Some of the other risk factors of gout are drinking excess alcohol, being overweight or eating too much red meat and fish. Any food that is high in chemical called purine can cause gout. Medicine such as diuretics (water pills) can cause gout as well.
The symptoms of gout are sudden. The most common ones are night time attack of intense pain, swelling, redness in the joints. Gout can become severe if left untreated. Gout can advance to its severe form by causing deposits of urate crystals (also called tophi) to form under the skin Untreated gout can also lead to kidney stones.
So, if you experience sudden intense pain in your feet, don’t delay treatment. Call and make an appointment with Dr. Patel at 732-297-9535
