Gout Treatment in Houston, TX
Gout often strikes without warning, waking you in the middle of the night with intense pain, swelling, and redness in the big toe. Even the weight of a bedsheet can feel unbearable. Dr. Ken Dennis provides fast relief for gout attacks and helps patients prevent future flare-ups that can damage the joint over time.
What Is Gout?
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the blood. When uric acid levels are too high, sharp crystals form in the joints, triggering sudden inflammation. The big toe joint is the most common location, but gout can also affect the ankle, midfoot, and knee.
Causes and Risk Factors
- Diets high in red meat, organ meats, and shellfish
- Alcohol, especially beer, and sugary drinks
- Family history of gout
- Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease
- Certain medications, such as diuretics
- Dehydration
Symptoms of a Gout Attack
- Sudden, severe joint pain, often starting at night
- Swelling and warmth in the affected joint
- Red or purplish skin over the joint
- Extreme tenderness to touch
- Limited motion as the attack subsides
Diagnosing Gout
Gout can resemble infection, injury, or other forms of arthritis. Dr. Dennis will examine the joint, review your history, and may order X-rays, blood tests, or joint fluid analysis to confirm the diagnosis.
Gout Treatment Options
- Anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain and swelling
- Prescription medications to calm acute attacks
- Corticosteroid injections
- Rest, elevation, and icing
- Diet and hydration guidance to reduce uric acid
- Coordination with your primary care physician for long-term uric acid management
Repeated attacks can damage the joint and lead to chronic arthritis or deposits called tophi. In advanced cases, surgery may be considered to remove deposits or repair joint damage.
Fast Relief for Gout in Houston
Don’t wait out a gout attack. Learn about other foot conditions we treat, including toe pain, ankle pain, and top of foot pain, as well as bunions that affect the same joint, or explore our podiatry services. Call Kenrick J. Dennis, DPM at (713) 465-8833.
Gout FAQs
Why does gout usually affect the big toe?
Uric acid crystals tend to form in cooler joints farther from the body’s core, and the big toe joint also bears a lot of pressure, making it the most common site.
How long does a gout attack last?
Without treatment, a gout attack can last a week or more. Prompt treatment can relieve pain within a day or two.
What foods trigger gout?
Red meat, organ meats, shellfish, beer, liquor, and sugary drinks are common triggers because they raise uric acid levels.
Can a podiatrist treat gout?
Yes. A podiatrist can diagnose gout, relieve acute attacks, and help prevent joint damage in the foot and ankle.
Can gout cause permanent damage?
Repeated, untreated attacks can damage the joint and lead to chronic arthritis and tophi deposits.
How can I prevent gout attacks?
Stay hydrated, limit alcohol and high-purine foods, maintain a healthy weight, and follow your doctor’s guidance on uric acid-lowering medications.