Gout is a severe inflammation of the joints that comes in rapid attacks and can be very painful. The characteristic feature of gout is that the inflammation usually affects the inner joint of the big toe. However, you may also have problems with inflammation in your heels, ankles, wrists and elbows. The cause of the disease is the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints. The crystals cause great pain in the joint as they become small sharp needles that scratch the inside of the joints. Gout attacks can be triggered after the body has been put under a lot of stress, such as a severe infection or surgery. You can also get gout if you drink very large amounts of alcohol and eat a high-protein diet.
A single attack of gout usually heals within a couple of weeks, but if the inflammation returns, you may be recommended medication to reduce the risk of new attacks. To prevent new gout attacks, try to avoid drinking alcohol while eating large amounts of high-protein food. Otherwise, it is important to exercise regularly to help your body stay healthy. If you are overweight and have recurring gout attacks, it is preventive to try to lose weight so that you don't have another attack. However, it is important not to lose too much weight in a short time as this can also trigger a gout attack.
Moving around when gout is at its worst can be very difficult, if not impossible. However, as soon as the pain starts to subside a bit, it can be a good idea to try to get started with some kind of physical activity to speed up the healing process and prevent new gout attacks. To make exercise easier so that you don't get too sore when you move, there are many different types of protection and support devices, such as compression socks, which relieve pain in the heel and foot and may be worth trying. Compression socks increase blood flow and therefore accelerate the healing of the inflammation. You will find different compression socks in our range!
