Patient's question:
A few days ago, my right big toe was hurting extremely badly. It hurt for many days. In the past two days, the pain has stopped, but suddenly it started hurting on the left side again. It's extremely, extremely painful, and it's also a bit swollen. Usually, I wear slippers at home while taking care of the children and haven't stubbed it. Sometimes I fall asleep at night, but I get woken up by the pain.Doctor's answer:
There is a disease called gout, which is caused by consuming foods high in purines. Gout patients have poor purine metabolism, leading to the formation of uric acid crystals. These crystals typically deposit in the joints, causing acute synovitis and resulting in redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the affected area. The second metatarsophalangeal joint is the most common site, followed by the ankle joint and then the knee joint. It is important to avoid a high-purine diet. After an attack, allopurinol and colchicine can be taken.