Gout and Patient care in Orange County.

Let’s learn about Gout. It’s a common and complex form of arthritis that can affect anyone. It’s characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in one or more joints, very often in the big toe and big toe joint. It can be mild or very debilitating.

Inflammatory Arthritis

Gout causes severe pain and swelling in one or more of your joints. These attacks happen suddenly when there’s a buildup of uric acid, a chemical found naturally in your body’s tissues. It’s also in many foods, such as meat and shellfish.

Gout Pain - OCFA

An attack of gout can occur suddenly, often waking you up in the middle of the night with the sensation that your big toe is on fire. The affected joint is hot, swollen and so tender that even the weight of the bedsheet on it may seem intolerable.

Gout Pain - OCFA

Gout symptoms come and go. There are ways to manage symptoms and prevent flareup’s.

Symptoms of Gout

For Gout patients in Orange County. Gout is actually a type of arthritis that happens due to hyperuricemia, a condition where blood uric acid level increases more than the normal level.

The signs and symptoms of gout almost always occur suddenly, and often at night. They include:

  • Intense joint pain. Gout usually affects the big toe, but it can occur in any joint. Other commonly affected joints include the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists and fingers. The pain is likely to be most severe within the first four to 12 hours after it begins.
  • Lingering discomfort. After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks. Later attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints.
  • Inflammation and redness. The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender, warm and red.
  • Limited range of motion. As gout progresses, you may not be able to move your joints normally.

  • Overproduction of uric acid. One of the most common reasons for overproduction is when we increasingly intake food rich in purines. These foods are processed foods like cookies, bread, and ice cream, it also includes food from animal sources like red meat especially seafood.

Gout Pain - OCFA

Management of Gout

Gout sufferers should strictly restrict the intake of food rich in purine as purine promotes the production of purine in the body. Broadly it includes processed food and food from animal sources, especially seafood. So, here is the list of food you should avoid and recommended food:

Uric acid food that you can lower intake on, and/or avoid:

  • Red meats
  • Fast food products such as: hamburgers and Pizzas
  • Processed bread products such as cookies & cakes
  • Shellfish

Recommended foods:

  • Milk and dairy
  • Green vegetables
  • Fruit
  • Salads

You don’t have to always cut foods completely out of your diet, just eat cautiously and resist your desire to overindulge. Seek an appointment with us at Orange County Foot & Ankle to discuss your case and possible options today at: 714-888-6860.