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Symptoms of gout in the foot and in the heel


Symptoms of gout

Symptoms of gout in the foot

Symptoms of gout in the foot are varied. A gout is a form of arthritis and it leads to foot pain.


Gout develops when there are high levels of uric acid in the body.


High levels of uric acid are likely to develop when your body breaks down purines, which are found in foods such as red meat, as well as in some medications and naturally in the human body, especially with increased fat stores.


Most of the time, the body can effectively manage uric acid levels by eliminating uric acid in the kidneys where it is excreted as urine.


However, if your uric acid levels become too high, your kidneys may struggle, and uric acid may persist in your bloodstream, causing inflammation, pain, and swelling as it crystallizes in your foot joints. some gout symptoms in the foot Gout is commonly associated with significant joint pain in the big toe.


some symptoms of gout in the foot

Gout typically causes severe joint pain in the big toe. However, it can occur in any joint such as the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, and fingers. The pain is likely to be most severe during the first 4-12 hours of an attack.

  1. Discomfort after the severe pain subsides: You may continue to feel discomfort around the affected finger joint even after the severe pain attacks subside. this feeling may continue for several weeks, and new seizures may appear at other joints in the body.
  1. Inflammation and redness: The joints around the affected finger or joints become swollen, tender, warm, and red in color.

  1. Limited motion range: Gout can make it difficult to move your foot, ankle, or any other joint normally as the disease progresses.


Gout symptoms may develop rapidly over a few hours and an attack usually lasts from three to ten days, but it can also last longer.



Gout in the heel of the foot symptoms

Anyone can develop gout, although it is more common in individuals who have risk factors (such as heavy alcohol use, or a diet that includes a lot of red meat).


The symptoms of heel gout are slightly different from the symptoms of plantar fasciitis in the heel, so they are often confused.


Symptoms of gout in the heel

But heel gout can be distinguished by the following symptoms:


  • Redness, swelling, and pain appear at the point where the heel meets the ankle. You may also notice symptoms at the base of the big toe.
  • During your heels, your heels will feel hot and sore, especially to the touch wearing socks can be painful
  • The pain remains, but it is less severe after the end of the “gout attack”
  • Increased difficulty moving the joint.


Heel gout can occur in any heel or even both at once which can sometimes make diagnosing gout correctly very difficult.


Seeing needle-shaped crystals under a microscope or removing synovial fluid from the affected joint to check for gout crystals can help the doctor determine whether the patient has plantar fasciitis.


Symptoms of gout in the soles of the feet

Gout usually occurs in the areas of the joints, where any joint can be affected by gout.

It usually affects the joints towards the ends of the extremities, such as the toes, ankles, knees, and fingers, so its symptoms may not appear in the soles of the feet.

But it may cause severe pain in the toe joint or ankle joint with heat.

Some may feel the heat in the middle of the foot due to the pain, and it may also cause redness and softness in the skin around the joints.

Gout treatment

The majority of cases of gout-related heel pain can be successfully treated with minimal medical intervention and modifications to diet and lifestyle.


If you have gout, treatment is available from your GP Gout treatments include:

Relief of symptoms during an attack


This can be done by using ice packs on the joints and taking medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Tylenol and ibuprofen to relieve pain

Preventing further seizures


Through a combination of lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or changing your diet, and taking medications that lower uric acid levels, such as allopurinol


And reduce the intake of foods that increase seizures, such as:


  • Red meat
  • anchovies
  • oysters
  • Sardines
  • tuna
  • Sugary foods and drinks
  • Sweetened fruit juices

On the other hand, there is evidence that some foods help reduce gout attacks, including:

  • Vitamin C supplements
  • coffee
  • Cherry, fresh fruits, and vegetables
  • Potatoes, rice, bread, and pasta
  • Drinking plenty of fluids is essential for a gout patient, ideally 8-16 glasses of water per day.

And the gout patient should be keen to wear comfortable shoes or put medical pads in the shoes to reduce the feeling of discomfort.


Many people can reduce their uric acid levels to the point where it dissolves the gout crystals, resulting in fewer episodes of pain. Treatment and lifelong lifestyle modification, on the other hand, are frequently required.



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