FOOT PROBLEMS
Page 3
GOUT | TENDENITIS
GOUT
GOUT SYMPTOMS
The signs and symptoms of gout are almost always acute,
occurring suddenly, often at night & without warning. They include:
- Intense joint pain
Gout usually affects the large joint of your big toe, but it can occur in your feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists
The pain is likely to be most severe within the first 12 to 24 hours after it begins. - Lingering discomfort
After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks
Later attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints - Inflammation and redness
The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender and red.
When to see a doctor
If you experience sudden, intense pain in a joint, call your doctor
- Gout that goes untreated can lead to worsening pain & joint damage
- Seek medical care immediately if you have a fever & a joint is hot and inflamed, which can
be a sign of infection
Tests to help diagnose gout may include:
- Joint fluid test
Your doctor may use a needle to draw fluid from your affected joint
When examined under the microscope, your joint fluid may reveal urate crystals - Blood test
A test to measure the uric acid level in your blood
Blood test results can be misleading since some people have high uric acid levels, but never experience gout - Some people have signs & symptoms of gout, but don't have unusual levels of uric acid in"
their blood
To promote a gout attack follow this diet
- Drink plenty of fluids
Water works best to help flush uric acid from your body (8 - 16 glasses a day)
There is some evidence that drinking 4 - 6 cups of coffee a day lowers gout risk in men - Avoid high-protein weight-loss diets which can cause you to produce to much uric acid
- Avoid or severely limit high-purine foods - we have not included non-kosher foods
Organ meats, herring, anchovies & mackerel
Red meat (beef & lamb), fatty fish (tuna ) are associated with increased risk of gout
Because all meat, poultry and fish contain purines, limit your intake to 4 - 6 ounces
(113 to 170 grams) daily
- Cut back on fat
Saturated fat lowers the body's ability to eliminate uric acid
Choosing plant-based protein, such as beans & legumes & low-fat or fat-free dairy products
will help you cut down the amount of saturated fat in your diet
High-fat meals also contribute to obesity, which is linked to gout. - Limit or avoid alcohol
Alcohol interferes with the elimination of uric acid from your body
Drinking beer, in particular, has been linked to gout attacks
If you're having an attack, avoid all alcohol but when you're not having an attack, drinking one or two 5-ounce (148-milliliter) servings a day of wine is not likely to increase your risk - Limit or avoid foods sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup
Fructose is the only carbohydrate known to increase uric acid
It is best to avoid beverages sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, such as soft drinks or juice drinks
Juices that are 100 percent fruit juice do not seem to stimulate uric acid production as much - Choose complex carbohydrates
Eat more whole grains and fruits & vegetables & fewer refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, cakes & candy - Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products
Some studies have shown that low-fat dairy products can help reduce the risk of gout
♦♦♦♦♦
TENDENITIS
Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon
on any one of the thick fibrous cords that attaches muscle to bone.
The condition causes pain & tenderness just outside a joint.
While tendinitis can occur in any of your body's tendons,
it's most common around your shoulders, elbows, wrists & heels.
Some common names for various tendinitis problems are:
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer's elbow
- Pitcher's shoulder
- Swimmer's shoulder
- Jumper's knee
If tendinitis is severe and leads to the rupture of a tendon,
you may need surgical repair.
. But most cases of tendinitis can be successfully treated
with rest, physical therapy and medications to reduce pain.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of tendinitis
occur at the point where a tendon attaches to a bone & typically include:
- Pain, often described as a dull ache, especially when moving the affected limb or joint
- Tenderness
- Mild swelling, possibly
When to see a doctor
- Most cases of tendinitis can respond to self-care measures
- See your doctor if your signs & symptoms persist & interfere with your day-to-day activities
for more than a few days - Tendinitis can usually be diagnosed during the physical exam alone
- Your doctor may order X-rays or other imaging tests they need to rule out other conditions
that may be causing your signs and symptoms.
Your doctor may recommend a variety of ways to treat your Tendenitis
- Cortisone
Sometimes your doctor may inject a cortisone medication around a tendon to relieve tendinitis Injections of cortisone reduce inflammation & can help ease pain
Repeated injections may weaken a tendon, increasing your risk of rupturing the tendon. - Pain relievers
Taking aspirin, naproxen (Aleve) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) may relieve discomfort associated with tendinitis
Topical creams with anti-inflammatory medication may also be effective in relieving pain
without the potential side effects of taking anti-inflammatory medications by mouth.
Treatments
Taking care of tendinitis on your own, including rest, ice & over-the-counter pain relievers may be all the treatment that you need.
Therapy
- You might benefit from a program of specific exercise designed to stretch & strengthen the affected muscle-tendon unit
- Eccentric strengthening emphasizes contraction of a muscle while it's lengthening & has been shown to be effective in treating chronic tendon inflammation.
Surgery
Depending on the severity of your tendon injury, surgical repair may be needed.
♦♦♦♦♦
♦♦♦♦♦
Vist our page on High Heels
♦♦♦♦♦
Visit our Health Challenges Directory
♦♦♦♦♦
Copyright © 2012 - 2017 KosherWoman.com
All rights reserved