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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM
stiffness and pain in the feet
by rose
(bangor,me usa)
i am 37 years old and female i was diagnosed with gout 3 months ago (high uric acid) i have hypothyroidism (5 years) when i wake up no matter what time ( nights sleep or a nap) my feet are stiff and hurts plus i also have pain in the heel part all the time but really hurts when sitting or laying to long and get up and this started before i got gout it's been happening for about 8 years then 3 months ago i got diagnosed with gout my feet swell and when on the meds for gout the pain is not as bad,but what can cause the feet thing stiffness and pain when laying or sitting to long? is gout disabaling? thank-you for your time.
Hi Rose,
Just because you have a high uric acid, you need to make sure you are actually having gout attacks. Typically gout does not occur in your age range, but that does not mean it never occurs in young women. Secondly gout is limited to the joints and does not affect every joint in the foot, but usually limits itself to the big toe joint and perhaps one other joint in the foot during any flareup.
When having a gout attack most people complain of severe pain in the affected joint, not stiffness and pain in their feet in general. A gout attack will occur, with pain, for about 7-10 days, then subside, possibly to return at a later period. It will hurt regardless if you are on or off your feet. So, as you can see, your history of foot pain is not suggestive of gout.
Gout is disabling only if it keeps affecting the same joint. What happens over time is the joint wears out and becomes very arthritic.
My advice to you; get another opinion, I am not so sure you are having gout attacks.
Marc Mitnick DPM
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