Gout Pal Interactive

I’m 51 years old, slim and have always done plenty of exercise. Never been to the doctor before. 

I’ve had a bad toe and ankle (right foot) for around 25 years due to sports injuries.

About 2 years ago I realized something was wrong. My right big toe was red; the skin was rough and dry and the bone on top seemed bigger.

1 year ago I noticed rheumatic type pains in my arms, wrists, hands and shoulders. I went to my doctor and he prescribed Ibuprofen. I didn’t fancy that, I still thought I could cure myself. He didn’t ask me anything about my diet or lifestyle.

6 months ago I noticed pain in my right knee and persistent pain in my lower back, worse in the morning. The right foot was regularly reddish in colour from toe to ankle, sometimes more, sometimes less.

For around 2 years I have noticed a strange bluish type colour in my left foot, like it’s full of something poisonous. I put this down to age, poor circulation or something.

6 weeks ago my right ankle started to feel persistently much worse.

3 weeks ago in bed at night I had quite severe buzzing sensation in both big toes and the toes next to the big toe. Right ankle was very painful.

My toes look a bit nobly and there looks like some bone loss where the toes join the foot. Nothing incredibly ugly but the toes rub together on the nobly bits.

2 weeks ago I found a website created by some guy who finally cured his gout with baking soda in water having suffered 27 years taking every medication going. I started taking quite a lot of bicarbonate of soda throughout the day and this helped. I also cut out bread and tomatoes.

The buzzing has now significantly reduced. My upper body feels looser and my back feels significantly better.

But the right foot still always has that reddish acidy look especially after eating anything. And I have now noticed that I can’t bend my fingers properly and on two fingers, one on each hand, there is that reddish, arthritic type look with rough skin on the inside middle joint, like on my toe. Rheumatic type twinges in arms and fingers and wrists still present. Left elbow bone looks enlarged or is that my imagination.

I read about tophacious gout and I have noticed persistent pain at the front part of my right ear. My left elbow bone looks enlarged or is that my imagination. Definitely the side of my right knee looks and feels enlarged.

I am still reluctant to go to a doctor but I guess I had better have this looked at. Though would be very reluctant to start taking drugs.

I can still walk ok and can wear trainers.

I haven’t had any excruciating pain.

Grateful for any advice.

Thank you for your response to my post.

My blood tests all showed up clean. Doctor says it’s likely to be an autoimmune problem and could only prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug. I refused it.

I’ve suffered with low-grade feverish type problems for years on and off so I suppose that makes sense.

At least I feel better today after a difficult 5 weeks. Though I can’t bend some of my fingers and I’m continually looking at my knees and elbows and wrists at those nobly bits.

Seeing as I’m poor (in the pocket, not the mind) I guess I’ll just have to accept it and see what happens.

Great life isn’t it. Still, must stay positive.