"Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
6.121...


<snip>
>
> I *finally* got to see what gout looked like. There was a man at the
> doctor's office with a pair of open shoes on. His right foot looked
> excruciating. I didn't mention it to him because I didn't want to seem
> rude but he offered up that he was having an especially painful episode
> of gout. I don't remember if it was you, or maybe it was Andy, that
> remarked gout felt like someone took a sledge hammer to your big toe.
> Well, that is exactly what his big toe looked like, sort of. There was
> no trauma ie: torn skin, bleeding etc. but the toe was huge and a redish
> purple color. It looked like a big, throbbing bruise. Like a giant plum
> hanging off the ankle.
>
> Michael


I have had several bouts and have a tendency to get them for several
reasons:

Alcohol consumption as well as coffee will dehydrate and it is the
dehydration that causes the uric acid, which is normal to any human system,
to become concentrated and form a crystal usually in a joint in an
extremity. Big toe, ankle, thumb it doesn't matter. Foods that are rich in
purines such as oatmeal, other grains, shellfish, organ meats, will also
exacerbate the condition.

It HURTS LIKE A SOB! The only relief for me was Vioxx which was pulled from
the market. The other relief comes from icing, freezing the area.

In my case some of the other meds I take will exacerbate.