Gout Attacking Your Big Toe? These Home Remedies Can Help!

Did you get jolted awake with severe 10 out of 10 pain in your big toe joint? If so, there's a good chance you're experiencing a gout attack.
My name is Dr. Andrew Schneider, I'm a podiatrist in Houston, TX. Gout can lead to extreme pain in your foot. It becomes very swollen, very red, and very warm. but there are ways to get through the pain

Gout isn't dangerous. Certainly not your first attack. If you get recurrent gout attacks, it can cause problems with the joint. But in no way, is gout a life-threatening condition. But it hurts a lot and it can ruin your day or even your week if you don't address it.

First of all, what is gout? Gout is the increased concentration of a substance called Uric Acid. Uric acid is a byproduct of protein digestion. It's normal. Usually, we're just able to excrete the uric acid without a problem. So how is there such a buildup that causes gout? Some people under-excrete uric acid. That means the uric acid isn't removed from the urine.

Most of the time, people overproduce uric acid. This can be because of increased weight, poor blood flow, compromised, kidney function, alcohol use, and dehydration. Dehydration is a huge factor here in Houston, where we're often hot and humid. We dehydrate and don't even realize it. That increases the concentration of uric acid in the body.

Excess uric acid forms, crystals, and deposits in a joint. Commonly the great toe joint. Your feet have less circulation coming into them and are a colder part of your body. Uric acid is sensitive to temperature changes and crystallizes where temperatures are cooler. The big toe is the furthest point from your heart and is cooler, which makes it the ideal place for uric acid crystals to form.

How is gout diagnosed? The foot is so red and swollen. You look so miserable from the pain. It's clear to me that you're suffering from gout. Yes, I'll take an x-ray to make sure it's nothing else. We'll get a blood test to check uric acid levels.

Here's what you can do at home. The pain from gout is due to inflammation of the joint. So we'll treat it like any other inflammation. Start by putting ice on your foot for 15 - 20 minutes. Also, elevate your foot as high as you can and do that while you're applying the ice.

Next, it's time to hit your medicine cabinet. You're looking for anti-inflammatory medication. The most common ones you'll have are ibuprofen, which is Advil, or Motrin, or Naproxen, which is Aleve. If you're able to take these medications, they'll be helpful to reduce inflammation and resolve the pain. Another option is Acetaminophen or Tylenol. This
isn't an anti-inflammatory, but it's a pain reliever. You can take it along with an anti-inflammatory to help with more pain relief.

There are other medications you can take, but you need a prescription for them. These include medications like indomethacin or colchicine, which worked to reduce the pain and swelling pretty quickly. I sometimes will use a steroid to also calm the inflammation and pain. Steroids work quickly.

But if that's the case, how do you stop gout attacks from happening? This is important because multiple attacks can wear down the joint. The uric acid crystals can also form lesions called tophi, which can be painful. If we don't prevent these situations, they often require surgery to resolve them.

The first thing you need to consider is your diet. Uric acid is a byproduct of protein digestion. So, you'll often experience an attack after a rich meal of shellfish and red meat that can be made worse by dehydration. Alcohol is dehydrating. In fact, drinking water and staying hydrated is so important to limit gout attacks. If you're overweight, getting yourself healthy by losing weight will also help to reduce the chances of developing a gout attack.

If you've done this, but still are suffering regular gout attacks, then we can talk about medication. The most common medication is allopurinol, which
helps you excrete uric acid. It works great at a relatively low dose for those who need it. I don't prescribe it after your first attack. It might just be a one-and-done situation. But if you have multiple attacks a year, this is a good way to prevent them. If you follow this plan, your pain should be
relieved within 24 hours. The most important thing is to treat it as quickly as possible. The sooner you treat it, even with ice and elevation, while you're waiting to come in the faster your pain will go away.

#gout #homeremediesforgout #paininmybigtoe

00:00 Introduction
00:53 What a gout attack feels like
01:30 What is gout?
01:51 What causes gout?
02:28 Why gout affects the great toe joint
02:56 How is gout diagnosed?
03:44 Home remedies for gout
05:15 How do you stop gout attacks from happening?
07:02 How to connect with Houston podiatrist Dr. Andrew Schneider

[karmagreedyslumlords]

Gout isn't only in the toe. I got it there first (didn't know what it was at first.) That subsided, with no remedy by me.
Then later, it moved to my left thumb. Just suddenly appeared. I still didn't know what it was, I assumed I'd injured my thumb somehow. So I just got a wrist splint & it helped kind of. Then it went away. About 2 weeks later, I got a SEVERE case of gout in my right elbow. At first I thought it was tennis elbow. It got progressively worse in the next few days. Ibuprofen (1600 mg/day) eventualy stopped helping. I also couldn't bear ice or heat, or elevation.. It was pure hell. But it got so severe that I went to urgent care!! The doctor took 1 glance & told me it was gout!!!! Anyway, now I'm on colchicine & indomethacin. Just been on it a few days, but it REALLY is helping. Pain went from 10 to 5.5. Just wanted people to know that gout isn't only in the toes!

[noluck]

I see one big problem, too many differences on which foods are good and which are bad. I have over 50 food charts and none of them agree on the good and bad foods!

[kennymorelandiii]

Suffering from what I'm pretty sure is my first Gout attack and holy hell it's no joke and extremely painful. I appreciate the video though as it was informative!

[WHITE.KNIGHT.]

Ice will make more Cristals like salt and sugar in cold water heat will desove the Cristals

[snakemansnakes]

I had gout for years and Ibuprofen never helped me. My doctor tried everything in modern meds at his disposal, none of the various types helped. Allopurinol never worked either. Eventually he tried colchicine this was a winner in my case. So I was using colchicine as a pain reliever only, but the gout kept coming. Then my doctor decided to put me on colchicine permanently, as a prophylaxis. I now take two colchicine pills per day, one in the morning one in the evening and the effect has been miraculous. No more gout since this regime started a few years back.l keep well hydrated and l got my life back.

[daijo]

I just had my first gout attack in 69 years and the pain is unbearable. Gout is in my family history but never thought I'll have it since I'm careful with what I eat but not lately. I drink green tea with ACV. However, I've been negligent lately and has eaten meat for 5 days straight and some sweets and I couldn't believe this flare up. It's been 4 days since this started and has been putting ice on my foot, drinking lots of water, taking ibuprofen, elevating my foot, eating healthy again and the pain/swelling has gone down. Your video is very informative and helpful.

[harishchet]

Everytime I get a pain, I use to wonder why this pain and I have not hit my toes anywhere...Now I understand what is the source...Excellent video and thank you very much Doctor...

[CrankyPantss]

Gout sounds like a terrible affliction. Thanks for sharing this with us, Doc.

[ARE.]

My rheumatologist drew fluid from my toe joint. It hurt, but I still speak to him.

[Craigstew]

I used to get Gout so regularly, not just in my feet, but also my wrists. I researched and found out about Tart Cherry. I have been taking Tart Cherry capsules ever since and I have have not had a gout attack in 5 years. I eat what I like and still no gout.

[lyoncat]

I put 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drank it. It knocked my gout out for a few years.

[shoncarter]

Thank you!!!! You just gave me the push to stay hydrated and get this extra weight off of me. This pain is something I don't want to go through again. I can barely walk. I thought it was turf toe.

[oakpineranch]

Just had my first got attacked three days ago. Thanks for the info. I did get the medication I needed. But I wanted more info and you explain it better than the doctor did.

[popeantichrist]

Taking MSM and psyllium seed powder I have been gout free for 1 year 6 months. I also take cordyceps and my kidney function went from 46 to 117. Just 3 months after taking psyllium seed powder everyday religiously my uric acid levels went from 9.6 to 6.4. I used to get gout attacks every 3 to 6 months and it would last for months at a time. It seems like a miracle to now be gout free for a year and a half.

[Rob_]

This is a great video. Yes, I woke up with severe pain, red and swollen big toe. I’m a walker so I always had a littler discomfort in that area, thinking it was a bunion. So now after a few years, all hell broke loose. I’m doing intermittent fasting so I can’t take ibuprofen on an empty stomach. But now I know better. It’s a holiday weekend so couldn’t get in to see the doctor till Tuesday. He prescribed colchicine and to do lab work. It’s Wednesday and feeling much better. I really don’t know what set it off, nothing eating unusual and I don’t drink.

[roberth]

The best home remedy I have found that actually works is drinking baking soda in water. I don't do every glass but about every third . I just put enough in to give it a slightly cloudy look.

[marciakipp]

It also helps to soak your foot in warm water with epsom salts! Very soothing.Then rub on a gentle arthritis cream.Clean socks . Applying an extra sock can also help.

[stacyrosa]

It took 30 years from my first gout attack until I finally got an accurate diagnosis of gout.

[georgediamond]

I've had gout attacks for years. Recently he ad it for 5 months, doctors and specialists said they have Never Seen anything like it. It has forced me into retirement and can't hardly walk as I have arthritis from it in my ankle and knee. Ruined my life .
The gout now is under control with Allpurinol.
But the damage is done. Make NO mistake it can ruin your life.

[ecombiz]

This is what I do when my gout flares up. I take 3 ibuprofen every 5 hours for 3 days my gout goes away for a long time. I hope this helps it is the easiest solution I have ever experienced. Hope this helps you stopping the gout pain.