Podagra gout is a type of gout that causes pain in the big toe joint. It results from a buildup of uric acid in the joints. Medications are available for treatment, but making lifestyle and dietary changes can greatly reduce flares.
Podagra (Greek for “foot trap”) is a type of gout that affects the joint at the top of your big toe, where it meets the foot joints. This is also called the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint.
Gout happens when uric acid builds up to high levels in your joints. Podagra gout can be especially painful because you use your big toe to support a lot of your weight.
Read on to learn more about the symptoms of podagra gout, what causes and risk factors you should watch out for, and how doctors diagnose and treat podagra gout.
What are podagra gout symptoms?
The most common symptom of podagra gout is pain in the first MTP joint , where your big toe meets your foot joints.
People often call flares of sudden, severe gout symptoms “attacks,” and these are most common at night. Podagra gout pain usually lasts up to 3 days , but it can last as long as 10 days without treatment.
Other symptoms of a podagra gout flare can include:
- joint swelling
- redness or discoloration around the joint
- a feeling of heat or burning in your foot
- difficulty moving your toe joint
- hard nodules ( tophi ) appearing near the joint
- fatigue
- fever and chills during severe flares
What causes podagra gout?
Like other types of gout , podagra gout results from having high levels of uric acid in your blood over a long period.
Uric acid often builds up when your body breaks down lots of gout-producing purines in foods and beverages. It can also build up in your blood when you have a condition that affects how well your body can metabolize foods, such as diabetes or kidney disease.
Frequent dehydration can also increase your chance of uric acid buildup.
Podagra gout risk factors
Some of the most common risk factors for developing podagra gout include:
- having inherited genes or gene mutations that increase your likelihood of gout
- having previously gone through menopause
- drinking a lot of alcohol
- eating a lot of red meats or fish
- having a very high protein diet
- eating or drinking a lot of high fructose corn syrup
- taking medications that affect the levels of urate in your blood, like diuretics
- having diabetes
- having obesity
- fasting for long periods of time
- having kidney disease
What foods could lead to podagra gout?
Foods that are high in purines are most likely to lead to podagra gout, especially if you’re already at risk of gout due to your family history or other medical conditions.
High purine foods include:
- red meats
- organ meats
- fish and shellfish, like cod, salmon, and scallops
- alcohol
- soda
- high sugar juices
Alcohol is especially risky for people with gout. It contains a lot of purines and can also keep your body from processing uric acid properly, causing it to build up to high levels.
The low purine diet
Some of the best low purine foods to eat to help reduce your chance of gout include:
- low fat dairy products, like milk, yogurt, and cheese
- foods high in magnesium, such as avocado and almonds
- black coffee
- eggs
- whole produce, such as cherries , celery, and ginger
- potatoes
- nuts
- apple cider vinegar
- teas with dandelion , nettle , or milk thistle
How do doctors diagnose podagra gout?
A doctor may be able to diagnose podagra gout by reviewing your medical history and performing a physical exam to check for symptoms like discoloration or swelling.
The doctor may ask you about the following:
- how you describe your joint pain
- how often you have joint pain
- how intense your pain is when you experience it
A doctor can also use a urine test or blood test to check your uric acid levels. An X-ray of the MTP joint can also show any damage or complications in your joint related to gout or other conditions.
Is there a treatment for podagra gout?
There are many treatments for podagra gout that can address both your symptoms and the underlying buildup of uric acid.
Medications that help treat podagra gout pain from swelling and inflammation include:
Drugs that can reduce podagra gout flares include xanthine oxidase inhibitors like allopurinol (Lopurin) as well as probenecid (Probalan).
Severe podagra gout may require surgery . Some possible podagra gout surgeries include:
- surgery to remove tophi
- joint fusion surgery
- joint replacement surgery
You can also help reduce your likelihood of podagra gout attacks by making some lifestyle changes, including:
- losing any excess weight to reduce the pressure on your feet
- following a low purine diet to reduce your exposure to podagra gout triggers
- getting regular exercise
- drinking enough water every day
- drinking less or no alcohol
- reducing or quitting smoking
Takeaway
Podagra gout is a type of gout that affects the MTP joint, where the big toe meets the foot joints.
As with other types of gout, it’s possible to treat and prevent podagra gout through dietary, lifestyle, and medical treatments.
You can also help reduce podagra gout flares by managing other medical conditions that might trigger gout flares.
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