r/gout May 21 '26

I’m Dr. Edwards, a gout expert looking to answer your questions. I want you to AMA on Gout Awareness Day, May 22.

79 Upvotes

Hi all. As always, I’m happy to be back with you all here in r/gout to answer your questions on the disease. This AMA is particularly special to me and the Gout Education Society as it helps us celebrate the 20th anniversary of Gout Awareness Day, held on May 22 since 2006.

If you’re not familiar with Gout Awareness Day, the Gout Education Society and other organizations looking to make a difference for the community ramp up education and awareness initiatives during the month of May, culminating with a national observation on Gout Awareness Day. I’m here today to hopefully clear up any nagging questions you may have about the disease, associated health conditions, myths, and much more.

If you’re new here and are unfamiliar with who I am, I’m Dr. Larry Edwards. As chairman and CEO of the Gout Education Society, I dedicate my time to supporting those with gout and the medical professionals involved in their care. It’s hard to believe we’ve celebrated Gout Awareness Day 20 times now, but there is much work still to be done.

It’s been my honor to conduct the work to support these groups, especially when it comes to hosting the AMA sessions here. Speaking of these AMAs, I’ve been impressed with how the questions have evolved over the years!

If you need more information on gout, I encourage you to access our website and the unbiased educational information about medications, treatments and lifestyle recommendations we have. We also offer the Gout Specialists Network, a platform designed to help you find gout specialists nearby.  

I’m posting this thread in advance to allow for as many questions as possible to come in but will be back to celebrate with you all from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET on Gout Awareness Day, May 22.

You all know the drill, AMA!

I do request that you don’t ask for any diagnoses of gout and instead ask any outstanding questions about the disease you may have.

Update: 12 p.m. ET - Thank you all for joining us today. I got through as many questions as I could but sadly need to stop. I hope you all found this informative and helpful.


r/gout Jul 31 '25

Read before posting (General information and Rules)

28 Upvotes

Welcome, 

If you are new here, READ everything before posting.

So you have gout and have questions.  To start off before you panic that your life is over, it’s not.  You can live an absolutely normal life with minimal interruption while suffering from gout.  

Gout is a genetic chronic disease that is caused by a malfunction of your kidneys where they do not process uric acid well enough.  It may also be that your biological functions create excess uric acid.  Either way, once you have it, you have it for life.  There is no cure, only management.

You are the best advocate for your health that there is.  Become informed about your chronic disease, it’s characteristics and treatment so you can have positive discussions with your doctor.

The first thing you really need to do is understand your chronic disease.  Read the following:

About this subreddit:

You should always discuss with your doctor.  No one here is qualified to diagnose or treat you.  

We do not diagnose.  Asking for or giving a diagnosis will result in at least the post or comment being deleted, if not also a short term ban. No one should be telling people to demand their doctor start daily medication EVER.  If you are looking for a diagnosis, see your doctor.

We follow the ACR recommendations here when discussing gout treatment.  This recommendation is to start daily medication when the patient has high uric acid and two flare ups in a 12 month period. The goal of this is to reduce uric acid levels to less than 6.0mg/dl so existing monosodiumurate crystals in your body can dissolve and over time flare ups will stop occuring.

About supplements:

They do not work in the sense that they will not get your uric acid levels below target levels.  They are not recommended for use by the ACR so they are not welcome here.  Many of the so called studies people have posted have huge issues such as non-human test subjects, massive dosages of questionable substances, small sample sizes. 

About diet: 

Diet is a very small part of the uric acid equation. Only about 30% of uric acid production is from the foods you consume, the rest is from normal biological function.  While the modern diet may have contributed to your gout, you are extremely, extremely unlikely to  manage your uric acid through diet alone.  You may be able to drop a point or two through diet and lifestyle changes but that will not be enough to get you below target levels. You can try, we’ll be here in 6 months, a year or even 10 years when you finally accept you need daily medication(if you meet requirements)

You can read more here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6125106/#:~:text=A%20purine%2Drich%20diet%20for,1%20to%202%20mg/dL.

A study of nutritional recommendations for gout shows that most recommendations are from low quality research and may not provide the improvement you think: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S156899721830209X?via%3Dihub

However, eating in moderation is recommended by everyone.  Not limiting things, but not eating to excess.

Uric Acid levels:

If you have gout flare ups, your goal is to get below 6.0mg/dl this is the level set by the ACR. You should get tyour uric acid checked when you have been flare up free for at least a month as you can measure up to 2.5 points lower that your normal levels during and up to a month after a flare up.

You can read more here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9989260/

RULES OF THE SUBREDDIT:

  1. No alternative medicine:  Like supplements alternative medicines that are not endorsed by the ACR is not welcome. 
  2. Do not ask for a diagnosis
  3. No ads, promotions, soliciting, etc...
  4. Search the sub before posting. Posts repeating recent questions will be deleted
  5. Be kind

Your post may be removed for breaking these rules.  You may get a short ban depending on how much of a rule break it is, how much you have contributed to the sub and your karma count.  Your posts may be removed for entirely other reasons as well if it is deemed inappropriate for the subreddit.

Continual breaking of the rules may result in bans, both short term and permanent.  You can reach the point where we just don’t want to deal with moderating your posts anymore and a ban is just easier.  

That is all.

I want this to be relatively short and not get into a lot of specifics but any comments or improvements will be considered.


r/gout 8h ago

Needs Advice 29M just started allopurinol

5 Upvotes

How strictly do I need to control my diet?

Is there any advice outside of what the doctors say?

Thanks


r/gout 1h ago

Needs Advice Colchicine and Diltiazem interaction?

Upvotes

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?


r/gout 5h ago

Needs Advice New to Gout

2 Upvotes

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.


r/gout 8h ago

Needs Advice Febuxostat and Rosuvastatin - Flare ups everyday - Help

2 Upvotes

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?


r/gout 3h ago

Vent I don’t think I have gout

0 Upvotes

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


r/gout 21h ago

Needs Advice 27M, my father got gout at 50. I had my first attack last week

2 Upvotes

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.


r/gout 20h ago

Short Question Does anyone have gout flare ups that only last for an hour or so every few days?

1 Upvotes

r/gout 1d ago

Useful Information I don't have gout!

2 Upvotes

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.... 🫠🫠


r/gout 1d ago

Short Question Metabolic issues and gout

3 Upvotes

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?


r/gout 1d ago

Vent 29F, both gout and pseudogout and psoriatic arthritis

2 Upvotes

Ok so how the heck I have both?? And they are both confirmed by synovial fluid by rheumatologist. And yes I also have PsA too.

I am getting very concerned, first i had PsA, then suddenly gout and when i thought everything was in control, my knees synovial fluid showed pseudogout. 😭. I eat Allopurinol and use Taltz for the first ones.

I still don't know yet, what my rheumy will say to this pseudogout thing, but he was very concerned when he found out i have gout, since females my age aren't supposed to have this. I am already on the verge of panic and this just keepa on giving. Nobody in my family or family history has gout, pseudogout or PsA. Why am I the only one getting every possible thing?? 🥲🫩

I feel like dying too, i have been feeling like a sh*t for the past year and I can't figure out what to do. 😞


r/gout 1d ago

Needs Advice Dealing with first flare up

3 Upvotes

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?


r/gout 1d ago

Short Question Pain below knee

3 Upvotes

My doctor diagnosed me (M44) with gout about 2 years ago after an extremely bad episode in my right knee. I didn't want to start on allopurinol at the time but he did prescribe colchicine to deal with any future flair ups.

I haven't had any issues since that first one until last night when I had a massive flair up in my left leg. The thing about this episode though is that my knee joint feels fine, almost all of the redness, pain, and swelling seems to be starting below my kneecap and travelling down into my tibia. My initial flair up in my right knee was centered right on the kneecap.

I've made an appointment with my doctor for a check up. I'm just curious if anyone else has experienced something similar.


r/gout 1d ago

Short Question which meds or behaviors can ultimately reverse gout? is it even possible?

10 Upvotes

48M, 12 yrs w/ gout. Take allopurinol daily. Overweight (not obese) and am losing weight now and reducing BMI.

I've been on allopurinol for about 7 years. Prior was on Februxustat. The doc who had me on Feb. said it was more effective in lowering uric acid levels and reversing gout - in conjunction with weight reduction.

I switched employers, lost my insurance, and so the new insurance doesn't cover Feb. Is Feb indeed more effective at long-term reduction of tophi and uric acid? Can it help me reverse my gout? What can I do to roll back the uric acid and reverse the gout problem? In conjunction with taking my allo, of course.


r/gout 1d ago

Short Question Anyone ever have a gout flare in their shoulder?

9 Upvotes

My shoulder, big toe, knee, thumb and wrist are killing me.

SO- update-
I met with my rheumatologist this morning. He’s not positive I have gout. He’s thinking is a mix of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. I had tons of blood taken and x-rays.

So- I guess an updated question- are rheumatologist good at solving these issues?

Thanks!


r/gout 1d ago

Needs Advice Can a second flair up be milder/feel slightly different?

0 Upvotes

Had my first gout flair up around 3 weeks ago. Pain in big toe and joint and red a swollen. Was prescribed colchicine. Took maybe around 10 days to disappear after that could still feel a bit of pain but didn't restrict any activities.

Last night I started to feel slight pain in my big toe and a tiny bit in my other toes. It's a bit worse now and it the joint is sore especially when I bend my big toe. Doesn't seem particularly red or swollen. The pain seems to be a but more on the underside of my foot whereas last time the top was very sensitive.

It's prob the same again and I will make an appointment as soon as they open, but I was just curious to ask what it was like for people when it came back as I often hear second time it can be worse.

The reason why I ask is in my other leg (right), I have had nerve compression in the peroneal nerve. This is altering the way I walk slightly and im just wondering if there is added pressure which has 1) caused another flare up as it wasn't fully healed, or 2) could it just be a coincidence and I have strained something as the pain feels more underneath and i also have a sore calf also prob from the way I have been walking


r/gout 2d ago

Needs Advice Gout flare on Day 2 of Allopurinol – Is this normal?

7 Upvotes

I started allopurinol 100 mg for the first time, and on day 2 I feel like I’m developing another gout flare. I knew flares can happen after starting allopurinol, but I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly.

I’m just wondering if a flare this early is common or if anyone had a similar experience.


r/gout 2d ago

Short Question Can allopurinol make you more emotional?

1 Upvotes

This week I noticed I've been more emotional. I've been crying at things that normally don't make me cry, and this is rare for me. It coincides with taking allopurinol. Has anyone else had this happen? This behavior is so bizarre for me.


r/gout 3d ago

Short Question Gout and kidneys

22 Upvotes

50f here and I am 99% sure I have gout- it started in my big toe about two months ago. Then my knee a month ago. My finger and hand within the last two days.

I have an appointment with a rheumatologist on Wednesday- but I’m wondering g from a kidney point of view-what does this mean? Are my kidneys failing or having a harder time flushing? I’ve had two kidney/blood infections that put me in the hospital and I’d kind of like a heads up if this gout is a precursor.

Any correlation?
Thanks.


r/gout 2d ago

Needs Advice Looking for advice and help

2 Upvotes

I need some help, gout fam.

I have been on 200mg of allopurinol for about a year after I had a really terrible flair up and wound up going to Urgent care and getting prescribed Prednisone. Cleared it up insanely fast and I immediately went to a doc, got on allopurinol, and my whole life started slotting into place better. I was able to go on runs again without fear, eat red meat, all the good life stuff. My uric acid went from an 11 to a 5 and all was well.

This year, starting in February, I started having low level flairs again. Nothing major, just the bubbly skin feeling and the stiff joint (mine is in my ankle), but it just would not go away. It would get better then a little worse, then be gone for a few weeks, then back, progressively getting worse and worse.

I went back into the doctors. He upped by allopurinol to 300mg. I was there for maybe 2 weeks and then my gout blew up again. Worst flair since the one a year ago, both, ironically, coinciding with trips to go to friends weddings in Montana. I had to go back to urgent care, they gave me Prednisone, its cleared up again, but I dont know what to do with all this. I messaged my doctor asking for a rheumatologist referral. Haven't heard back yet.

What else can I even do if allopurinol isnt cutting it anymore, for some reason? I read people here saying you dont have flairs because of allo, why did it seem to stop working for me?

Any thoughts or advice would be very appreciated. Thanks in advance and my sincerest sympathies to all of you going through this too. I wouldnt wish this shit on my enemies.


r/gout 3d ago

Short Question Any Veterans here?

6 Upvotes

Are there any veterans with gout here?


r/gout 3d ago

Needs Advice Flare after starting a diet/cutting calories

10 Upvotes

Hello, first time posting here. I'm a 40-year-old male where I'm on my feet all day as a gardener at a college.

I've had a few I was diagnosed with gout several years ago, each time it was concentrated in the big toe area of my right foot. I've always been pretty loose with my diet, but a week and a half ago, I decided to reign it in. I have been paying strict attention to my calories and making sure I'm getting my fiber for the day. It's a good and lean meat like chicken and ground turkey. Tons of veggies.

Imagine my delighted surprise went after a week of this, I had a flareup start in my left leg. It's never happened there before, and it's mostly in my Achilles heel area. I was able to get a day off of work and rested for the weekend, but I'm back at it today and boy is it miserable after four or five hours.

I'm not informed on what might cause a flareup. In the past my main trigger has been high fructose corn syrup, I typically get a flare around Halloween every year and that's about the extent of it. I foolishly drink beer mostly because it's never caused an issue for me, and a moderate amount of red meat.

Is it normal to have a flareup after changing my diet, even if it's a healthy change at a caloric deficit?

I was hoping to start some cardiovascular training once my body gets accustomed to the calorie change but now I'm afraid of causing another flare.

Edit to add: I'm 40, 58 and about 210. I'm on my feet all day and typically get a minimum of 5 miles a day just working. My cardiovascular goals are to get again, I used to do it a lot when I was younger. Aiming for overall and weight loss.


r/gout 3d ago

Useful Information I think i might have gout, how do i have to quit sports? (38M)

8 Upvotes

Im having the worst roadbike an dskateboard season of my life... Cripplig pain in the right foot during a 130km ride in june. I thought i had a capsulitis in the second toe so i treated it likewise.

I picked up skateboarding again and kind of hurt my ankles and toes in may and i thought nothing of it, that it would pass like everything.

But now i show every classic sign of gout. Im seeing my doctor today to confirm or not and see what options i have.

but my question is do i have to stop roadcycling and skateboarding? Is this chronic, am i doomed with that all my life?


r/gout 3d ago

Needs Advice Stuck at 6.2 mg/dL

4 Upvotes

Symptom free (I was diagnosed early last year after a first "double" flare, no flares since) first on 100 mg allopurinol then on 200 mg. My urate went from c.a. 7mg/dL to 6.5 pretty quickly but now plateauing around 6.2. Obviously I want below 6, but my doctor seems pretty happy since I am flare free.

Should I push for a higher dose? Or wait to see if I have more attacks first?

Grateful for your thoughts