Not just for Kings!

The sudden onset of pain and swelling in the foot is often… Gout! Yes, gout! Even if you’ve never had it, you can get it. The big toe joint area is where gout attacks most. It can also occur in other places in the foot, ankle or knee. Neither ice nor heat lessens the pain and swelling. The best home remedy is to take ibuprofen or Aleve if your health allows it. This remedy doesn’t always work. Usually, a stronger medication prescribed by a doctor relieves the pain and swelling. There are many reasons why a person can get gout. Certain foods can be the culprit, but not always. (Gout was once called a King’s disease because of how they gorged themselves with certain foods.) The specific cause isn’t always easy to find. If a person gets frequent gout attacks, I recommend taking a medication that can prevent them from occurring. If you have the onset of intense pain and swelling in your foot, think gout. We can sometimes relieve the intense pain of gout before you even walk out of our office. Turning grimaces into smiles is what we enjoy most.