Discussion
So had a foot pain weds night sore/tender around the Base of the big toe, assumed I'd bashed/sprained it and I'd rest it for a bit.. by Friday I couldnt walk without looking like a zombie or even drive without high pain every time I pushed the throttle /brake.
Went to doc, who says it's pressure on a nerve, use ibuprofen, a bunion sleeve and think about mbt type shoes. I've never had anything like this before and while the doc was nice enough there was a heavy accent barrier preventing finer understanding.
Is this likely to be a long term complaint? I wear steel toes for work - would more flexible footwear be better? If so what? I can go without steel toes, think they're over regulatory nonsense anyway but 99% of "work boots/shoes" have them as standard, something reasonably hard-wearing and comfortable for someone on their feet all day and clamouring over things etc
Any other tips much appreciated. I'm a firm believer in nipping stuff like this in the bud.
Went to doc, who says it's pressure on a nerve, use ibuprofen, a bunion sleeve and think about mbt type shoes. I've never had anything like this before and while the doc was nice enough there was a heavy accent barrier preventing finer understanding.
Is this likely to be a long term complaint? I wear steel toes for work - would more flexible footwear be better? If so what? I can go without steel toes, think they're over regulatory nonsense anyway but 99% of "work boots/shoes" have them as standard, something reasonably hard-wearing and comfortable for someone on their feet all day and clamouring over things etc
Any other tips much appreciated. I'm a firm believer in nipping stuff like this in the bud.
Go back to the doc and ask him about gout - you can have a simple blood test to confirm. I'm not saying it is, but it might well be. If it is, you can get colchicine tablets that will sort it in 3-4 days, and long term you can go on allopurinol.
Unbelievably painful and normally presents in the big toe joint the first time, but some unfortunates can get it in all their major joints. Normal painkillers are useless - but heavy duty NSAIDS and regular icing can help take the edge off.
Things like red meat, shellfish, sardines, mushrooms, even cauliflower can set it off. They all have high levels of purines in them which in certain people ( of any age) can cause uric acid crystals to form in their joints - basically like shards of glass in your joints - it feels like someone is hammering a nail into the joint and it gets red hot and inflamed all around.
Ask me how I know... Just coming out of the end of my third attack in two years
Unbelievably painful and normally presents in the big toe joint the first time, but some unfortunates can get it in all their major joints. Normal painkillers are useless - but heavy duty NSAIDS and regular icing can help take the edge off.
Things like red meat, shellfish, sardines, mushrooms, even cauliflower can set it off. They all have high levels of purines in them which in certain people ( of any age) can cause uric acid crystals to form in their joints - basically like shards of glass in your joints - it feels like someone is hammering a nail into the joint and it gets red hot and inflamed all around.
Ask me how I know... Just coming out of the end of my third attack in two years
Ouch that doesnt sound like fun. Thanks I'll look into that, I suppose at 38, carrying some success ballast and a rich diet puts me in the strike zone. Although I know its not impossible the gout sufferers I know are nearer twice my age.
Big toes now sensitive but numb with nothing in the way of visible swelling; it "just feels" to me like an issue specific to the foot though. But if nothing else it forces a dialogue with the doc.
Big toes now sensitive but numb with nothing in the way of visible swelling; it "just feels" to me like an issue specific to the foot though. But if nothing else it forces a dialogue with the doc.
Yeah, maybe it isn't gout, but I had a few previous early warnings over the years with random lower level aches in my feet that would come and go before I had the full fat version. Good excuse to go back to the doc as you say, if nothing else.
Not age related as it can come on at any time.
Not age related as it can come on at any time.
Right, so, doc no.2 listens to the story, takes one glance and with a frown asks why the doc 1 didnt mention gout. Prescribes naproxen and requests I get a blood test ASAP which can only be arranged via my gp. Hobble past blood dept on my way to pharmacy.
Ring gp, cant get past answerphone message that theyre shut for the bank holiday and wont reopen untill tuesday 8am. Great, only its tuesday 1:30pm. So have they all overslept or still drunk from the weekend, wtf? So now what, waste more time driving over there to see about getting an appointment for someone to tell me I can go get a blood test the hospital doc has already said I should get? Seriously I dont know what to do now.
All my leftylite friends are all "wah-wah dont let cameron privitise the nhs" (seems to okay if blair does it though) but seriously, will it get us a service that people who arent unemployed can use?
Ring gp, cant get past answerphone message that theyre shut for the bank holiday and wont reopen untill tuesday 8am. Great, only its tuesday 1:30pm. So have they all overslept or still drunk from the weekend, wtf? So now what, waste more time driving over there to see about getting an appointment for someone to tell me I can go get a blood test the hospital doc has already said I should get? Seriously I dont know what to do now.
All my leftylite friends are all "wah-wah dont let cameron privitise the nhs" (seems to okay if blair does it though) but seriously, will it get us a service that people who arent unemployed can use?
d thing in 2-3 days flat.
Forgot to say - if it is gout, then cherries are a natural antidote. Handful of morello cherries a day or a glass of cherry juice generally keeps it at bay to that the that I eat pretty much anything with no attacks.
I got too relaxed and stopped my morning glass of cherry juice about two months ago and then a summer of steaks and seafood did for me.
I got too relaxed and stopped my morning glass of cherry juice about two months ago and then a summer of steaks and seafood did for me.
Thanks thats usefull to know, although at this point I'm still unsure whether it is gout or not. Have booked a blood test. Hoping I can get test results direct.
These painkillers have worked for now.. Have given up on speaking to a quack... tried to register with new local surgery but jobsworths were more interested in satisfying finite paperwork requirements than helping unwell people and left as I was this close to coming out with things that the children present in the place shouldn't have to hear.
These painkillers have worked for now.. Have given up on speaking to a quack... tried to register with new local surgery but jobsworths were more interested in satisfying finite paperwork requirements than helping unwell people and left as I was this close to coming out with things that the children present in the place shouldn't have to hear.
If it was a bunion then likely to be swelling where there has been contact between the toe and the footwear. I had one removed, 4mm of bone shaved off, a couple of years ago. It had got so bad that once it was aggravated the pain would not subside for hours. Even at night. I had the blood tests first to rule out gout.
it might be gout, sounds similar, but I'm unsure about the bloods investigation. A joint fluid analysis (arthrocentesis) to see whether uric acid crystals are present, is the only certain way to diagnose gout. If it is decided to do one, do ask for a local before they get the needle out. Believe me, you'll need it.
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