Health – A pain in the … toe!

I’ve just worked out that it is only 10 weeks until Christmas. No, I am not an early shopper (although every year, I swear I will be more prepared) but I was planning our staff Christmas party. So here comes the eating, drinking and being merry season, which for some is a pain in the …. big toe, otherwise known as gout.

The big toe is the part of the body that is most often affected by gout, but other joints can also be involved. Gout is a form of arthritis and a gout ‘attack’ usually comes on very quickly, often overnight, with extreme pain and swelling in the joint. The skin over the joint can become hot, red and shiny. Without treatment, the pain will go away – usually in about a week to ten days. Left untreated, however, over time ‘attacks’ can become more frequent and more severe. Eventually, permanent damage to the joints can occur and there can be painful disability. Untreated gout can also lead to kidney damage. Gout is a condition that needs to be taken seriously, and not left untreated.

So, what causes gout? The protein in our diet is broken-down to produce a chemical called uric acid. If the body produces too much uric acid or if the kidneys are unable to remove the uric acid, then uric acid levels will rise. Small crystals form in the joints and swelling and pain result. Gout ‘attacks’ can be triggered by an excess of certain foods such as large quantities of red meat, shellfish, offal or legumes.

Drinking lots of alcohol, especially beer, can also bring on gout so it is best to cut right down and instead drink plenty of water. Soft drinks should also be avoided. Certain medicines can also trigger gout, as can being overweight.

The pain of an acute attack can be relieved with medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. There are also other types of medicine available to prevent gout long-term. These need to be taken on a regular basis, even when you don’t have gout symptoms. These may be prescribed for you by your doctor. With gout, prevention really is better than trying to cure it.

So, don’t dismiss that bad pain in your big toe, or any other joint for that matter! Talk with your local pharmacist, or your doctor.