Gout

I had gout in a big toe joint many years ago when I was pregnant. Because I was pregnant, the GP did not want to prescribe anti-inflammatories or allopurinol so sent me to see a Consultant who injected my big toe joint with cortisone. Whether that was the right thing to do or not, it worked. Apparently localised cortisone injections are safe during pregnancy. Such a relief as the pain was quite unbearable sometimes.

If you want good advice re Gout, check out Facebook "Gout Support Group" lots of excellent advice available. Well worth a read.

It's interesting that gout occurs in post-menopausal women and in post-pubertal men.
It is also inherited - my mother, my nephew, my son, me...
And, yes, it is a form of arthritis and can occur in any of the joints from big toes to shoulders. My worst attack was in a little toe, on the same foot and at the same time as plantar fascitis! not fun.

My nephew was diagnosed with gout and treated for it for years. He eventually saw a specialist and was told it's not gout but a form of arthritis. Now has effective treatment which has enabled him to return to work and be able to walk, run etc again. It will progress but he's been mostly pain free for years now. Worth asking your GP if it could be arthritis.

Cut out foods high in purines.

Definitely Allopurinol, DH has very painful gout in his big toes until he was given this medication and hasn't had a recurrence since.

Uric

Gout= too much Uris acid in the blood.Cut out strawberries as well.Take Allopurinol.

Are you on furosemide? This is well known to induce gout.
Colchicine for flare ups, Allopurinol to maintain your uric acid level within normal range.
If gout flare ups become an issue ask GP to prescribe ‘ just in case’ colchicine so that you can take as soon as you get symptoms, so much easier to treat them rather than waiting for surgery to open etc.

I get gout in my left foot, I cannot walk on it when it happens. Seems to be prompted by stress and not food. I take Allopurinol everyday, Colchicine has worked in the past for a flare-up but now causing stomach issues. So prednisolone will be issued for the next episode.

Gel slippers! That seems a good idea.
Maybe diet isn't the answer, Grantanow.

My husband has some gel slippers which can be put in the fridge or microwave (and stored in a special bag!). Cold is quite soothing in this weather.

Both big toe joints from time to time. Colchicine is effective after a few days. My GP gives me a spare box to use if I feel it coming on. Now recommended allopurinol which I'll start after holiday ( in case of side effects). Although it's caused by purines food usually only accounts for about 25%, the other 75% originate in the body.

I had gout in my hand a few years ago so yes, it can occur in other places. It is very painful. I can’t remember what meds I was given.

Red meat is always a trigger for my Son.

Good luck with it srn63 - it is a painful and nasty event to suffer. Hope you manage to crack it. I did read somewhere that shell fish and port wine are really bad for gout but I have no medical qualifications and there is a lot of misinformation about.

I was surprised that gout can be in joints other than the big toe and like you, IWasFirstClarinet, I wonder if peope are mistaking arthritis for gout, although it is a form of arthritis. I've started the Cholchicine now and had a cherry drink and it possibly does feel a bit better. It's so nice to read of other's experiences, it makes me feel that what I am experiencing is common. Regarding Allopurinol, I am to have blood tests in 6 weeks, so I suppose they will decide then.

My S has it in both of his feet and one knee.
Again Allopurinol and Naproxen if it flares , plus Lansoprazole for the stomach protection.

DH is taking Allopurinol plus he takes 2 cherry active capsules every day, his gout was in his knee.

Gout was/is in my left big toe.

I was diagnosed with gout several years ago. I tried for a couple of years without medication and cut out the danger foods - oily fish, shellfish, mushrooms etc, it didn’t really work so in 2017 I was put on allopurinol for the rest of my life! I make sure I drink plenty, especially when it’s hot.

I had gout diagnosed many years ago. Went the Naproxen route but had to stop because of stomach issues. I too find that drinking sour cherry concentrated juice once a day helps. I stopped this for two weeks when on holiday and the gout returned. I then restarted the juice and bingo! Goodbye gout!
You mentioned that you did not want medical advice but that is my diet advice.
The shortage of responses may be because a lot of people are unaware that one can get gout in joints other than the toes. I suspect that some people who think they have arthritis in the fingers may actually have gout.

Thanks very much for the couple of replies, very helpful. I did think gout was more common than the number of replies would suggest.

I used to get it in my foot roughly every three months and then got it in my knee (which swelled to three times its normal size and I had to go to the minor injury clinic).

They prescribed Allopurinol that I take every day and have never had another problem.

When I had an attack in my foot I used to find Naproxen worked really effectively as a pain killer and to take the swelling down. It's extremely bad for your stomach lining though and can cause ulcers.

I have gout. It feels like having been trodden on by an elephant!
Colchicine is for “emergencies”, to stop the pain asap. You should then be given allopurinol as prophylactic.
Among foods to avoid are mushrooms, asparagus and too much parsley. Red wines too.