Gout Care & Treatment in Lakewood and Anaheim, CA
Gout causes sharp yet painful crystals to form in your joints. These can lead to sudden episodes of intense pain known as flares. Our main goal in treating gout is to relieve pain during attacks, prevent future issues, and reduce long-term joint damage. If you have a similar condition or facing other ankle problems, call us at (657) 441-1484 to book your appointment for gout prevention.
What Causes Gout?
Gout happens when there is too much uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is a waste product your body normally gets rid of through the kidneys. When your body either makes too much uric acid or cannot remove enough of it.
The extra uric acid forms sharp crystals in the joints. These crystals cause sudden pain, redness, swelling, and warmth. You need to know that gout is not caused by foot. Diet can play an important role, but genetics, kidney problems, and other health conditions can also increase risk.
It helps patients understand that gout is a medical condition, not a lifestyle mistake.
What Are The Symptoms of Gout
When you have gout, you get pain in the affected joint. Most people get gout in one of their big toes, but it can also affect their other joints in the body. Gout flares usually start at night, and you experience intense ankle pain that is bad enough to prevent you from standing up. Your joint feels red, warm, or even swollen.
The condition can be triggered by alcohol, medications, foods, physical trauma, or various illnesses. Flares can go away within a week or two, and you may not even experience any symptoms. Some people get frequent flares, but others don’t get them for years. However, these can happen frequently and last longer if you don’t treat them.
Most patients we see at Care Podiatry usually have tophi. Tophi are firm, chalky deposits of uric acid crystals that accumulate under the skin in people with long-standing or poorly controlled gout. They commonly form around joints such as the toes, ankles, fingers, elbows, and ears. The condition can develop when you ignore the symptoms for too long. It starts as painless, but over time, it can become painful and cause bone and soft tissue damage. Some people with gout develop other conditions, especially with the heart and kidneys. Common conditions include obesity, diabetes, severe kidney diseases, hypertension, heart attack, kidney stones, or even heart failure.
How Do We Diagnose Gout
Patients often worry about how doctors know it’s gout. Diagnosis usually involves –
- A physical exam
- Blood tests to check uric acid levels
- Imaging tests
- In some cases, removing a small sample of joint fluid to look for uric acid crystals.
What Treatment Options Do We Provide
When a gout flare begins, the priority is to reduce pain and swelling quickly. We provide medication that targets gout pain. These can be taken by mouth or injected directly into the affected joints.
Along with medications, we recommend applying ice or resting the joint. It can calm symptoms and make you comfortable during an attack.
Lifestyle and Diet Changes
Mostly diet and lifestyle changes can support your gout treatment and reduce the chance of future attacks. Eating a balanced diet, losing excess weight, staying hydrated, and reducing alcohol intake are all useful measures. Foods high in purines can increase uric acid levels, so limiting these can reduce gout risk.
A diet rich in vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and water can help lower urate levels and support overall health.
When Should You Visit Us
Most people can treat their gout with their regular doctor. However, when your gout is frequent, severe, or not responding well to treatment, you need to see our podiatrist. Call our experts at (657) 441-1484 to request an appointment in Lakewood and Anaheim, CA.
Other Common Ankle Problems We Treat
What Our Patients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Stop Gout Pain At Night?
You need to raise the affected joints. These can help reduce gout pain at night by reducing blood flow and minimizing swelling in the area.
Does Gout Mean My Kidneys Are Failing?
High-levels of uric acid can harm your kidneys and cause kidney disease or kidney failure.
What Organ is Related to Gout?
Gout is linked to your kidneys and joints. You need to keep your body functioning and maintain low uric acid levels to prevent joint damage and continue an active life.