Medically Reviewed by Dr. Rachel N. Verville
October 5, 2017
Even though gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis, many patients may not know what is causing the excruciating and often immobilizing pain they experience. Gout can be mistaken for a sprained ankle and it can sometimes even be misdiagnosed as cellulitis. In this blog post we’ll look at the unique symptoms and the cause of gout. Frisco patients that are experiencing any of these problems should call Dr. Verville today at (214) 385-8822. While there is no cure for gout, Dr. Verville has years of experience helping patients manage gout and continue to live a healthy life. Make sure you check out our Review page to read more about what our patients have to say about working with Dr. Verville.
What is Gout?
Frisco patients that suffer from gout often are not aware of what the root cause of it is. This can sometimes lead to them continuing in behaviors that exacerbate the problem. Here’s how gout works.
- Arthritis family – First, gout is a type of arthritis. Like other forms of arthritis, gout impacts the joints of the body.
- Uric acid – Our bodies produce something called uric acid when we digest certain foods like red meat, alcohol, and high-fructose corn syrup. Usually, we’re able to expel the uric acid in urine. But in the case of gout sufferers, the uric acid starts to build up in the body.
- Crystals – Eventually, the uric acid will start to form needle-like crystals. These crystals most commonly collect in the joints.
With gout, Frisco patients most often report the pain in the joints of the big toe. But gout can also impact the ankles and other joints as well.
Symptoms of Gout
Frisco patients that have gout will experience a variety of symptoms. Here are the most common.
- Redness – One of the hallmark signs of gout is bright red skin around the affected area. It can sometimes be purple.
- Warm – The red areas will also be very warm to the touch. Many patients also say that the skin can become shiny.
- Stiffness – Patients will often experience joint stiffness in the affected areas.
- Pain – Of course gout also produces intense and often immobilizing pain. Usually, the pain will start at night.
Now, a gout attack may last 12 hours or longer for a mild attack. More severe ones can last several days or even a week. After the first attack, many patients will experience another attack within 6 months or 2 years. However, some gout sufferers will go several years without an attack. One of the best ways to ensure your gout attacks are as infrequent as possible is to get treatment.
Why Patients Work with Dr. Verville for Gout
Patients that work with Dr. Verville get world-class treatment for gout. As a podiatrist, Dr. Verville has over 10 years of experience treating a wide range of foot and ankle ailments, including gout. She’s also performed over 1,500 foot and ankle surgeries. But on top of that, our patients love how gentle and caring Dr. Verville is. She works hard to develop strong and open relationships with all of her patients.
If you’re struggling with gout, make sure that you get in contact with Dr. Verville in Frisco today at (214) 385-8822. We would love to learn more about how we can help.
