Gout Treatment in Bellevue

Gout is a form of arthritis that causes sudden, severe attacks of joint pain, most often in the big toe. The attacks can be intense enough to make walking difficult, and they tend to recur. If you are in the middle of an attack, we offer same-day and urgent care appointments.

Symptoms of a gout attack

A gout attack tends to come on quickly, often overnight. Common signs include:

• Sudden, severe pain in a joint, most often the big toe.
• Redness and warmth over the joint.
• Swelling and tenderness, sometimes with tight, shiny skin.
• Pain that starts at night and peaks within hours.
• A joint so tender that even a bedsheet is uncomfortable.
• Trouble bearing weight or wearing a shoe during the attack.

What causes gout

Gout is caused by high uric acid in the blood, which can come from several sources. Common contributors include:

• A diet high in red meat, shellfish, or organ meats.
• Alcohol, especially beer, and sugary drinks.
• Dehydration, illness, or injury to a joint.
• Certain medications, including some diuretics.
• Family history, kidney problems, or being overweight.
• A sudden change in eating, drinking, or activity that raises uric acid quickly.

Gout and the big toe

Gout has a strong preference for the joint at the base of the big toe, a presentation so common it has its own name, podagra. The joint becomes red, hot, swollen, and exquisitely painful, often within a few hours. Because many foot problems can cause big toe pain, confirming that it is gout, and not an infection, a fracture, or another type of arthritis, is an important first step before treatment.

Our approach at CarePlus

When you come in with an attack, Dr. Lee first confirms that it is gout and rules out look-alikes such as a joint infection, then works to calm the inflammation and relieve the pain with rest, ice, elevation, and appropriate anti-inflammatory medication. He protects and offloads the joint while it settles. Because gout is driven by uric acid throughout the body, long-term control, including diet and any urate-lowering medication, is coordinated with your primary care provider or rheumatologist, while Dr. Lee cares for the foot and helps prevent future attacks.

When to see a podiatrist

Gout is worth professional attention, both to treat the attack and to prevent the next one. Consider an evaluation when:

• You have a first gout attack and want it confirmed and treated.
• Attacks keep coming back, or are becoming more frequent.
• A joint stays painful or swollen between attacks.
• You notice lumps forming under the skin near a joint.
• A hot, swollen joint comes with fever, which needs prompt care to rule out infection.

Why choose CarePlus for gout

A gout attack in the foot is painful and easy to confuse with other problems, so an accurate diagnosis matters. Dr. Hubert Lee is a board-certified, fellowship-trained podiatrist with more than 15 years of experience, and he treats the attack, protects the joint, and coordinates the bigger picture with your medical team. Patients across Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Sammamish, and the greater Seattle area come to CarePlus for that care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gout

Why does my big toe suddenly hurt so badly?

A big toe that becomes suddenly and intensely painful, red, swollen, and warm, often overnight, is a classic gout attack. Gout most often strikes the big toe joint. A podiatrist can confirm it is gout, rule out other causes such as infection, and treat the attack.

What triggers a gout attack?

Gout attacks are set off by high uric acid in the blood. Common triggers include red meat and shellfish, alcohol, sugary drinks, dehydration, certain medications, and sometimes injury or illness. Identifying your triggers is part of preventing future attacks.

How is a gout attack treated?

An acute attack is treated by calming the inflammation with rest, ice, elevation, and anti-inflammatory medication, and by protecting the joint. Most attacks settle within a few days to a couple of weeks. Lowering uric acid over time is what prevents the next one.

Can a podiatrist treat gout?

Yes. A podiatrist diagnoses and treats gout attacks in the foot, protects and cares for the affected joint, and helps prevent recurrences. Because gout is also a body-wide condition, long-term uric acid control is coordinated with your primary care provider or rheumatologist.

Can gout be cured?

Gout cannot be cured, but it can be well controlled. Lowering uric acid through diet and, when needed, medication can greatly reduce or even stop attacks. Without control, gout tends to recur and can damage the joint over time.

When should I see a doctor for gout?

See a doctor for a first attack, for attacks that keep returning, or for ongoing joint pain or swelling. Seek prompt care if a hot, swollen joint comes with fever or feels severe, since a joint infection can look like gout and needs urgent evaluation.