Posted: 9/6/2006 5:44:53 PM EDT
| So I have been having pain in my right big toe on and off for about a year and a half. It is in the joint that adjoins my toe to my foot. I got online and researched gout and self diagnosed that Gout is what I had. When I woke up this morning, my toe hurt worse than normal, so I decided that I would have it checked out. I went to the doctor and they did lab work on me to test my uric acid levels. I was told that the normal levels for uric acid were 2-8.5 and that my uric acid was 4.8. I haven't talked to the doc since I got my results back, so i don't know what I will be told. Is there a chance that even though my uric acid levels are normal I still have gout? I don't know if I may have another form of arthiritis in my tow or what. It has never gotten to the point where I cannot walk on it or keep a shoe on. It is just a nagging pain in my toe sometimes. It seems to be worse when I am on my feet allday, or when I excercise. I am 32 years old and fit. I have no other health conditions. Any help is appreciated. |
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strong possibility that you have an inflammation of the joint or tendons that can never fully heal due to continued use. Do you have a history of injury at some point in the past? Has it ever been broken or dislocated? I would consider visitig an orthopedist for an in depth eval. |
Thanks for the response. I don't recall ever injuring the toe. Is there a chance that it is gout even though the tests came back normal? Thanks again. |
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IIRC Uric acid levels are normal in about 1/3 of patients with acute gout. See what the doctor says, you may be on the right track, it sounds consistent with gout,(be careful with trying to self-diagnose health conditions) but its something your doctor should diagnose and treat. and avoiding certain foods may also reduce attacks. Regardless, if that is what you have, attacks are usually treated with prescription meds, and avoiding certain foods may also reduce attacks. so see what your doc says. (also, I'm a pharmacist-- different kind of doc) DocD |
Is there point tenderness? In other words, is there a particular spot that if you press it hurts? Does it hurt all the time? Does the quality of the pain change? Is it sharp pain, or dull ache? Throbbing? Is it swollen? Does it get swollen and resolve? How is the range of motion? Does a particular movement hurt more or less? Does the pain change with the weather? Does the toe feel cold? Hot? What can you do to improve the pain? Does moist heat help? Advil? Does the nail bed look normal in color? Paler? Redder? These questions, and lots more, are what a typical podiatrist or orthopedist would evaluate prior to making a differential diagnosis, a "liklihood of this problem or that" opinion, and then they would likely get radiographs to gain even more info. My point is basically this. It is fine to get educated, but a good check is indicated. |
Thanks again. |
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Sarge, sorry I didn't get back to you last night. Anyway, your symptoms are not particularly consistant with Gout even though the metatarsal phalangeal joint is a classic location. Since you seem to be able to move it well, without excruciating pain, and you can put weight on it, gout is lower on the list. you definitely shoud have some x-rays to rule out arthritic changes, stress fractures, misalignment of the sesamoids and metatarsals, and any other bony abnormalities that can trigger pain. Until you get to the doc, try to keep the weight off it as much as possible, pay attention to what triggers the pain, maybe some ice and elevation, and some NSAID of your choice. Maybe AFARR has some more suggestions based on your responses. |