Managing Gout in Your Ankle

What is gout?

Gout is a painful form of inflammatory arthritis that usually affects the big toe, but can develop in any joint, including the ankle. It forms when your body has high levels of uric acid. This acid forms sharp crystals that cause sudden bouts of pain, swelling, and tenderness. 

When gout affects the ankle, it can make everyday movements, especially going up and down stairs, painful or uncomfortable. While there’s no cure for gout, there are several treatments that can help to prevent flare-ups and control painful symptoms.

Read on to learn more about gout and how it can affect your ankle.

What are the symptoms of gout in the ankle?

The main symptom of gout in the ankle is pain and discomfort in the surrounding area. Keep in mind that gout is often unpredictable, regardless of the joint it’s affecting. You might go weeks or even months without any symptoms, only to wake up with a burning pain in your ankle.

In some cases, gout starts out in one of your big toes before moving on to other areas, such as your ankle. Over time, these flare-ups may last longer than they previously did.

Other symptoms you might feel from gout in your ankle include:

• tenderness
• swelling
• redness
• warmth to the touch
• stiffness and limited range of motion

What are the causes and triggers of gout in the ankle?

The buildup of uric acid in the body is known as hyperuricemia. Your body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines. These are compounds found in all your cells. You can also find purines in several types of food, especially red meat and some seafood, as well as alcohol and some sugar-sweetened drinks.

Usually, uric acid passes through your kidneys, which help to eliminate extra uric acid in your urine. But sometimes there’s too much uric acid for your kidneys to handle. In other cases, the kidneys can’t process a typical amount of uric acid due to an underlying condition.

As a result, more uric acid circulates throughout your body, ending up in your ankle as uric acid crystals.

Who gets gout in the ankle?

Gout affects about 4 percent Trusted Source of adults in the United States. It tends to be more common in men because women usually have lower levels of uric acid. But after menopause, women start to have higher uric acid levels. As a result, women tend to develop gout at an older age than men do.

Experts aren’t sure why some people produce more uric acid or have trouble processing it. But there’s evidence that the condition is often genetic.

Other things that may increase your risk of developing gout include:

• consuming a lot of high-purine foods
• consuming foods and drinks, especially alcohol, that increase uric acid production
• being overweight

Having high blood pressure or heart failure can also put you at a higher risk of developing gout. Diuretics, which are sometimes used to treat these conditions, can also increase your risk.

How is gout in the ankle diagnosed?

If you think you might have gout but haven’t been diagnosed, try to see a doctor while you’re having symptoms. Gout is easier to diagnose when you’re in the middle of a flare-up that’s causing swelling, redness, and other visible symptoms.

During your appointment, your doctor will likely ask you several questions about your diet, any medications you take, and whether you have a family history of gout. This can help to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms, including an infection or rheumatoid arthritis.

Your doctor may also order a blood test to check your uric acid levels. But some people have high levels of uric acid and don’t develop gout. Others have typical uric acid levels but still develop gout. As a result, they’ll want to do some other tests as well.

An X-ray, MRI, or CT scan of your ankle can also help to eliminate other possible causes of joint inflammation. Depending on your exam, they may also order an ultrasound to check for the presence of crystals in your ankle.

Finally, they might do a joint fluid test. This involves taking a small sample of joint fluid from your ankle with a small needle and looking at it under a microscope for any uric acid crystals.

Based on the results of your exam and tests, they may refer you to an inflammatory arthritis specialist called a rheumatologist for treatment.

How is gout in the ankle treated?

There’s no cure for gout, but a combination of medications and home treatments can help to manage ankle pain and reduce the number of flare-ups you have.

Home remedies

One of the most effective ways to manage gout is to limit your intake of purine-rich foods and drinks. Remember, your body produces uric acid when it breaks down purine.

That means consuming less:

• red meat
• organ meats, such as liver
• seafood, particularly tuna, scallops, sardines, and trout
• alcohol
• sugary drinks
• Cutting some of these out may also contribute to weight loss, which can be an added bonus if you’re carrying some extra weight, which is a risk factor for gout. This is especially true if you swap out these foods for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Learn more about what to eat and what to avoid when you have gout.
• There are some other home treatments you can try, but these haven’t been adequately studied to know whether they’re effective. Still, they may offer some relief. Here’s how to try them out for yourself.

Source: healthline

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