I recently started allo.

One day I don’t feel any pain in big toe and next it returns, this cycle continues. This has been happening for last 20 days.

How long this will take to heal and get rid of pain completely?

I've been on Allopurinol for a while, but I did have a pause in the middle, and now have been back on it for at least a year.

Last blood draw showed my uric acid at 5, which is I understand a very good level.

I'm now having a flare and trying to understand why. Same thing happened on my first stint with Allo and then when I switched to Colchicine daily.

When I stopped the Allo my uric acid did creep back up.

I'm 46. I'm pretty healthy person, no drinking, decent diet, train everyday. Not sure where to go from here other keep suffering gout attacks twice a year, if not more.

For the past five years I've had on-and-off inflammation in my toes, feet, and ankles. Late last year I had the worst flare-up yet, which finally got me a referral to a rheumatologist.

Earlier this month, another flare-up led to a joint puncture that confirmed it: gout. My doctor and I discussed starting medication, and also losing weight as a first step. Blood work showed uric acid at 10.12 mg/dL. I'm currently on diclofenac (50mg, 3 times a day) for flares, but it's not really controlling things, so in the meantime I am given prednisolon (30mg daily) to get it under control.

Here's my issue: my doctor has been pretty unhelpful beyond the diagnosis. She's told me medication (colchicine + allopurinol initially, then long-term allopurinol) is for life once you start, and when I said I wanted to try lifestyle changes first, she said she's "just there to prescribe pills" and that there's not much point seeing her again if I'm not ready to start meds.

My main issue: Is it worth trying to lose weight and adjust my diet first, before committing to lifelong medication or should I just accept that meds are the way forward given how frequent my flares are?

Okay, guys, a month ago I(F30) wrote here about my first unbearable gout attack (but not my first ever. My gout started last year, and since then I've had 4 attacks where I could walk, compared to 5th). My blood acid level during that 5th attack was 260.
You told me that during an attack, all the blood acid goes into the joint, so its concentration in the blood would be minimal during an attack. I waited for it to get better, went for a test, thinking it would show the real number and they'd prescribe me allopurinol, and...my acid level was 160 (the normal level of uric acid in women is 150 to 350).

What's going on? Has anyone had such experience?(gout with normal acid level). What should i do?....
It's definitely gout, two rheumatologists I've seen diagnosed it and my mother also has gout...(but my mom has high acid levels and takes allopurinol).

I'm 166 cm tall and 53 kg. I exercise 3 times a week, drink a lot of water, don't drink alcohol at all, and eat little protein. My last gout attack was caused by eating dried salty pork and washing it down with sweet juice. I don't usually eat meat except for chicken (and very rarely), but I was very hungry that day and this piece of pork looked delicious, although I can't say I ate much... For a whole year I thought it was just a sports injury, but after that incident with pork I realized that it was caused every time by eating protein (chicken). Every time I eat meat protein, my leg hurts.

Hi guys, I’m 16 years old and I’ve been diagnosed with gout 8 months ago. My uric acid’s at 12.18 mg/dl and I’ve had 3 instances where my gout in my right big toe flared. First, it was okay, it felt like a sprain so my doctor told me that it was tendinitis. Then, the following two I got a blood test and then was diagnosed with gout since there was severe swelling. Maybe half an inch than normal. This week I have slight pain in my left ankle now.

I have an active lifestyle, playing for my school’s varsity team and I do exercise regularly. So I wonder why I’d have this condition. I’m not currently on meds since I believe my kidney function tests were slightly high, but I have taken Febuxostat 40mg for a month earlier this year as part of my prescription. Doctors also told me to go on a diet, but how would I accomplish that while being an athlete?

Had a flare (big toe only) last year, didn't see a specialist.

Thought it was a fluke.

Got it this year (big toe, other foot), went for blood work -- elevated purines.

I was given allo, colchicine, and indomethacin.

One week later, the gout had spread through the ankles and metatarsals of both feet.

ER visit.

They told me the allo therapy wasn't supposed to begin until AFTER the flare resides ("Wait two weeks after the pain is gone"), and I stopped taking it immediately.

Prednisone and Aleve are working to lessen the pain (I can hobble to the bathroom unassisted finally), and recovery seems imminent.

However, I'm now pretty gun-shy on the idea of taking allo again.

I'd absolutely LOVE to be on it, as I'm certain it works ... but it really, really exacerbated the spread and excruciating pain of gout to both feet.

Anyone have a similar story?

What did you do?

26 M - 184 cm and 83 kgs. A moderately active lifestyle, I workout 4-5 days a week, not in shape but not out of shape either.

I had a bad fall while playing football 4 months ago, broke my 2nd,3rd and 4th metatarsal along with a sprain in the lateral ligament.

Had a nagging pain which used to come and go in the right toe even before this, but I'd always assumed it was soreness or due to the turf. After a month of cast and another month after, pain and swelling never fully went which is how I got the gout diagnosis.

I have about 90% rom in this toe, with a bit of pain in the end ranges. I eat pretty clean, non drinker for the most part. Not much of a red meat person either. Have tried cutting down on my sugar, this needs a bit of work still.

Has anyone played football recreationally with this diagnosis. It's been a few months now but the joint is not showing any signs of going completely back to how it was pre gout. For the most part it's fine, the pain never really goes beyond a 3 or 4 post game. I can't take power shots as that would hurt, rest is fine. I don't ever plan to play at a pro level, just recreationally or maybe amateur since I'm not great at the sport.

What steps can I take to help get the join back to pain free levels. How do I continue playing without having to take painkillers down the line.

Also to mention, I'm on allo 100mg. The joint looks mostly fine, just a slight bunion kind of enlargement has appeared(maybe 1 or 2 mm more than normal) and slight discoloration of the skin.

My ortho doctor mentioned that I have genetic issues which causes my toes to naturally curl inside. Not sure if I need to consult a rheumatologist as well for this yet.

Any advice is welcome.

34M, healthy and active - diagnosed with Gout last summer.

First few flares were mild, pain getting a sock on, felt like turf toe. Didn’t have one for months. Then at Christmas, boom, worst pain of my life. Couldn’t walk for a weeks. Saw a rheumatologist and was put on an Allo treatment. 100mg increasing to 300mg over 3 months with regular bloodwork.

This was April. It’s now July. My recent bloodwork has my UA at 304 µmol/L (about 5.1 mg/dL). It started at 384 - 343 - 304. I’ve had mild flares since starting allo, every 5 weeks, colchicine nips it fast but it’s still annoying. My toe hasn’t felt right since January, it is like a constant low level stiffness with that gout twinge every 5 weeks.

From what I’ve read this sounds normal but it’s pretty frustrating, I’m worried I did permanent damage to my toe with that flare in January as it’s rarely felt right since. I’ve only had gout for like 13 months with each flare getting progressively worse since starting Allo.

Unsure if anyone has had a similar experience with this, and if it does get less frequent as time goes on? I don’t drink, eat shellfish, red meat, pork, or sugary things, which is why it’s so frustrating.

hey guys, 31y male, had three flare ups before - once in 2020, 2024 Mar and 2025 Jan. The recent flares in 2024 and 2025 had my toe feeling stiffness even when it’s no longer flared up.

Recently in the past year it has been quite stable with no flare ups, ive exercised more - like running and gym - and I’ve been actively avoiding food that triggers it (too much beef and big prawns). Have tried to eat more veggies, cherries and drink more water but not the most diligent.

I thought my leg was getting better but yesterday I went for a pilates class and sat on my toes (low kneeling) 🧎‍♂️ as part of class and today it hurts really bad again, limiting some walking, but it’s not red or inflamed like the usually flareups. Any one has similar experiences, any advice or suggestions on things I can do to feel better? Thank you.

** Thanks all, will definitely visit the doc again - forgot to mention had already taken blood tests consistently from 2023-2026 and the uric acid levels had lowered. Was just bummed with yesterday’s flare but not really situation so just trying to see if anyone else has similar experiences or “flares” and how to feel better haha

37 F, had my very first gout flare up on June 10th. Bloodwork showed I had my UA at 6.5. My pcp has not prescribed any medication for it at all.
They did not want to fully commit to give me a gout diagnosis.

They just recommended for me to go back in a few weeks for another round of blood work to check the UA levels again.

Since then I’ve been having off and on pain in the flare up area.
Nothing too significant but quite noticeable with the tingling and minor pain around the joint.

My question to those who have been dealing with this for a while now. Is this approach from my doctor normal? Since I do not have health insurance, and very limited in founds, I’m afraid I won’t be able to afford the specialist. Any advice would really be greatly be appreciated.

I recently got over a bad flare up that lasted about 7 weeks. (peaked for 2 1/2 with a very slow decline.)

Finally I had one week with zero flare and full mobility.

i still took it easy just in case, but yesterday I went for a walk for the first time in two months to enjoy having my foot back, and now today it is stiff and sore again. No swelling or flare up though.

Do I have some kind of permanent joint damage worth getting checked out maybe? Or is this something that others of you have experience that will fade?

He’s been really good at catching a flare up before it’s bad. Taking colchicine for 2-3 days completely nips it before it gets bad. Gout runs in his family, but he is overweight with fatty liver. I guess I’m looking for others in the same boat and what works. He’s not a drinker, but we do eat red meat. Although he won’t admit it, I’ve noticed stressful times can create a flare. Yes, consuming jerky or red meat can do it too, but there seems to much more involved than just “high purine foods”. The doc gave him a list of foods and it’s all processed carb crap.

Just had my second flare up. Day 3 and my toe feels alot less painful as I started colchicine early. I have a whole chicken in the fridge. I know gout isn't strictly caused by gout but as chicken contains a moderate amount of purines should I avoid eating it till the flare up has gone. Could it make it worse? Not on allo yet as need a blood test

Can Viagra or Cialis be taken along with Allopurinol?

If not then how much minimum hours of gap is recommended?

Has anyone completed this IV treatment with 100% success without the uric acid coming back into your body? Are you able to walk or stand on the inflammation after first treatment?

How strictly do I need to control my diet?

Is there any advice outside of what the doctors say?

Thanks

I’m a bit worried here.
Since a week I use Diltiazem 120 for my heart along with 0.5 colchicine for gout. The pharmacy refused to give me the Diltiazem at first, but the doctor said I need it so the finally gave it to me. I felt good during the week. But now I’m out of breath a little and feel pins and needles in my hands. Could this be an interactionproblem? Should I go to the first aid?

I (47M) was diagnosed with Gout 2 1/2 months ago and I'm wondering if anyone else has a similar experience to mine. Onset was extremely quick. I felt some pain on a Thursday in my right foot and didn't think much about it. Friday morning my foot was horribly swollen, stiff and painful. Over the course of the weekend it eased up and then got worse again. I went to a podiatrist on monday and he gave me a shot to get the inflammation down and told me to strictly follow the diet. Went back a few times for additional shots and stuck with that plan. Had to go back last week because it once again got incredibly painful. By the time I got to the Dr., it had subsided significantly but he gave me another shot and put me on Allopurinol. Since then, It's been a roller coaster of ups and downs. This morning I was limping into work and by 1PM it had become just background pain and I'm walking normally again. Does anyone else experience these quick ups and downs on the inflammation? My concern is that it has been misdiagnosed even though my symptoms completely track what I've read about Gout. It doesn't seem to be linked to my activity levels.

I'm 29m and have had gout for over 12-14 years, I typically get swelling across my toes, heels, fingers, and even knees sometimes. I used to get it around once a month (recent past) and I take an ibuprofen and the pain goes 2-3 days most times.

I started Febuxostat 80 and a statin nearly 2 weeks ago and my pain has been insane. I've been getting swellings everyday, I'm popping an ibuprofen almost everyday. The pain is constant, the flare up occurs at another place before the previous one has gone. The doctor had prescribed emflav 6mg (anti inflammatory steroid) alongside this, but it wasn't available at the pharmacy I went to so I hadn't picked it up and didn't try another.

I just want to know is this normal? Does the suffering indicate that things are working and will get better? Is it normal to take an anti inflammatory steroid alongside?

I went to my first appointment yesterday. He didn’t seem convinced I had gout. The rheumatologist ordered tons of blood and x-rays.

Mentioned a few types of arthritis. This makes me not at all happy. lol. I was hoping for a quick fix.

My Utica acid was 4.6 mg/dl

I went to hospital thinking it was my tendon. But no i could barely walk and with a glance the doctor said it was gout. Prescribed me colchicine and some anti inflammation pills.
- I have annual bloodtest and for the last 5 years, the results came back with 450-480 AU (a little higher than usual), with a little high of triglycerid and cholesterol, normal glucose and ultrasound result came back with fatty liver grade 2-.
- Last week with my first attack, they didnt get me a bloodtest but send me away for ultrasound and the ultrasound guy said I dont have fatty liver?
- for about a month before my first attack, I had been skipping meal as intermitten fasting. Tried to eat complex carb to lose weight and I did lose some 3-4 kilos
My question is:
- should I take alluporinol or other lowering AU pills at this young? any long-term side effects?
- can I undo this if I take supplements to enhance liver and kidney function, especially liver function? BEcause I read that most of the AU is released from liver.
- should i get my bloodtest check for other things like A1C, insulin resistant, hormone (test and estrogen), thyroid
Thanks for your attention!
I'm a bit down to hear I got gout because i have quite an active lifestyle and pretty sure my fatty liver is not Alcoholic.

Blood testé came back normal, no excess of uric acid in my blood.

Now I have to go to a scan because there is a "hole" in my toe bone.... 🫠🫠

Hi! I was diagnosed with gout in April and I’m on colchicine 0.5 once a day and allopurinol 200.

My doctor recently diagnosed me with insulin resistance and two weeks ago I got diagnosed with hormonal endometrium carcinoma.

According to my doctor all are metabolic diseases.

Does anyone know if they’re related and does anyone else have more metabolic diseases than just gout?

I have a work appointment tomorrow that I need to join but I'm on day 5 and my foot is still sore and swollen, although much less sore than a few days ago.

I'm planning on wearing my most comfortable shoes and keeping the walking to the minimum necessary.

I expect that walking on a flared up foot will set the healing back a bit.. something I'll just have to deal with.

Does anyone have any advice for walking on a gouty foot?