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Painful Swollen Toe Joint

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Posted 10/8/2009 10:25 AM (GMT 0)
Good Morning! Since yesterday morning my big toe joint has been really sore. Well I woke up this morning with sharp pain in the side of my toe joint and then when I went to assess the toe..I have this bump about the size of a little bouncy ball pretruding on the side of my foot where the toe joint meets the foot. It is red and warm to the touch and it is not very attrative looking. I remember reading on one of the side effects of my medications about swollen joints, especially in the big toe to call the doc. Well I don't remember what medication that was and I don't want to call the doc over a swollen big toe joint. LOL! Anyone have any suggestions of what this could be? My meds are in my signature. Thanks for your help
Posted 10/8/2009 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Amy. I can think of two things this might be. 1) the hallmark of gout is a painful big toe. When protein (such as meat) breaks down uric acid is a byproduct. Gout is a result of too much uric acid. I'm not sure why it always causes the big toe to ache so badly. 2) could it be a bunion? Regardless, I hope it's not a result of your meds. It's so hard enough to juggle the right med combo as it is. Keep us posted. Love, Butterflake

Posted 10/8/2009 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with butterflake. I'm a nurse and the first thing that comes to mind is gout. It's possible that one of your meds is causing an excess of uric acid. Don't hesitate to call your doctor. It's not silly. He knows what you're taking and will likely know the cause. Plus, if you devlop gout, he can put you on cholchisine sp? and it will go away. Great-more meds! Call your doctor. That's my advice. Goodluck!
Posted 10/8/2009 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
Your problem could be gout which can have a genetic as well as dietary cause.  Higher uric acid levels in the blood result in deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints.  It usually attacks the big toe because that is farthest from your heart...lowest blood pressure.  It can deposit in other joints.

You could also have arthritis but the pain is generally not as sudden or as severe as gout which can develop overnight.

See a doctor asap.  Both conditions are usually easily treated.  Gout is usually treated with a NSAID like indomethecine and then followed up with a maintenance med like allopurinol.

Bill

Posted 10/8/2009 4:09 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you Donna, Bill, and Jessica for your replies...

Oh Wow! I looked up gout in google images and that is exactly what it looks like! I will say that this by far is nothing like the pain I have experienced in the past. Its kind of like a toothache, I know its there and its persistant but not horrible. I am wearing shoes and doesnt seem to affect it.

I don't think the bunion is an option because it came up during the night. I know it wasnt there last night because I gave myself a manicure and would have noticed the massive buldge on my foot. I did call my nephrologist (he is the one that gave me the hydroclorathizide (SP) and that is the one that has gout as a side effect, rare but still listed. I am waiting to here back on what he has to say!

I have been avoiding high protein foods because of my kidneys but I broke down and had a big fat juicy steak on Tuesday (which was amazing), could that be what has caused this?

Posted 10/8/2009 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Diet is certainly a factor but doctors believe that hereditary factors are often more important.  If you take certain meds like diurectics that can also be a problem.  I would seriously doubt that eating a steak or even many of them triggered your gout...if that is what you have.  The pain you describe is typical...about 11 or 12 on a 1-10 scale.

See your doctor.  He will do a blood test and put you on something like indomethicin and then a maintenance drug and talk to you about diet if necessary.

In medieval times it was the disease of royalty...they ate meat and drank more than commoners.  How much of it was hereditary is conjecture as European royals are highly inbred.  If ignored, gout will destroy joints and can even lead to loss of limbs but that is unheard of in modern times.  It is usually a very easily treatable condition.

Bill

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