What Treatments Provide Gout Relief?

As the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in the U.S., gout affects nearly 4% of adults. Caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals, gout flare-ups may affect one joint, such as the big toe. Or a gout flare-up may be more widespread, affecting joints in the ankles and feet.  Unfortunately, repeated flare-ups of gout can cause severe damage to the joints. Thankfully, there are a variety of nonsurgical treatments that your podiatrist can prescribe to provide gout relief. Surgery is only required for severe cases when all other treatments have failed to provide gout relief.

How is Gout Diagnosed?

Gout is often diagnosed after patients experience a sudden onset of pain, swelling, or redness in any of the joints in the feet or toes. The pain may be severe enough to wake you from sleeping and linger for days or weeks. 

Your podiatrist may diagnose gout based on a visual examination, a review of your symptoms, or one of several imaging tests, which may include ultrasound, X-rays, or a CT scan. Upon confirmation of a gout diagnosis, your podiatrist will prepare a custom treatment plan to provide gout relief.

Treatments that May Provide Gout Relief

No two patients are the same. To that end, one or more treatments may be prescribed, along with lifestyle medications, to provide gout relief. 

Lifestyle changes

• Your podiatrist may advise you to reduce red meat, organ meat, and certain types of seafood and shellfish.
• You may be advised to limit alcohol
• You may be advised to reduce beverages with high fructose
• Your podiatrist may recommend that you lose weight if you are obese

Medications 

Your podiatrist may prescribe one of several types of medications to provide relief from painful gout symptoms.

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
• Colchicine (anti-inflammatory medication)
• Corticosteroid medications 
• Xanthine oxidase inhibitors
• Uricosurics 

Surgery

Most people do not need surgery to treat gout. However, if severe gout has led to hard deposits (tophi) developing on your joints, you may need surgery to remove the deposits or to fuse the small joints to reduce pain and stabilize the joints.

Am I At Risk of Developing Gout?

Anyone may be affected by gout, but there are certain risk factors that may make you more likely to develop gout. They include:

• Assigned male at birth
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• Diabetes
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Family history of gout
• High animal-protein diet (red meat, organ meats, shellfish, certain kinds of seafood)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Obesity
• Older age
• Sleep apnea
• Smoking
• Thyroid disorders
• Use of certain prescription medications such as diuretics or immunosuppressants

Get Relief from Gout Pain in Lane County

At Eugene Foot & Ankle, our Board-Certified podiatrists and podiatric surgeons are highly experienced and successful in providing treatments that result in gout relief. Conservative treatments work for most patients, our team of expert podiatric surgeons will employ the least invasive techniques available if surgery is required. To book an appointment for suspected gout or other podiatric problems, including sports injuries, bunions, or heel pain, call 541-683-3351. If you prefer, send us a message, and our staff will contact you to schedule your appointment.