Is it gout?

Gout is a painful type of arthritis that causes sudden, sharp pain in your joints. It’s caused by too much uric acid building up in your blood. That uric acid turns into tiny, needle-like crystals in your joints, especially your feet, knees, hands, and elbows. 

Gout often begins with: 

• Sudden pain in one joint, especially the big toe
• Swelling, heat, redness, and extreme tenderness
• Feeling like even a bedsheet on your toe is painful
• Episodes that come and go, especially at night or during cold weather 

You may think it’s just an injury or something you ate. Many of our people say, “It’s just gout,” or laugh it off. But gout is not just a short-term pain. Without treatment, it can cause joint damage, affect your work, whānau, and wellbeing. 

If you’ve had sudden, intense joint pain, it’s important to get it checked. Ask your doctor or nurse for a uric acid blood test. Even if you’re feeling better now, gout doesn’t just go away on its own. It’s a lifelong condition that can be managed with the right support.

When you see your doctor, let them know:

• Where the pain was, what it felt like, and how often it’s happened
• If anyone in your whānau has gout or has had similar symptoms
• What might have triggered the pain, like certain kai (food), drinks, stress
• If you’ve tried anything to ease the pain, and whether it helped or not

You deserve the right care, and sharing this information helps your health team support you in the best way. Gout can be managed, and you don’t have to do it alone.

There are two parts to gout treatment: 

1. Treating the pain during a flare 
   Your doctor may give you medicine like prednisone, ibuprofen, or colchicine to help you manage a bad flare-up and relieve the pain.
2. Preventing it from coming back 
   If you get gout more than once, your doctor might start you on a daily medication like allopurinol. This medication lowers uric acid in your body and keeps the crystals away. It’s important to take your gout prevention medication every day, not just when you’re in pain, just like asthma or diabetes treatment. 

• Drink lots of water to help flush uric acid
• Try to stay active - gentle walking or swimming helps the joints
• Eat more vegetables, less processed food
• Don’t skip your prevention medication, even if you feel okay
• Talk with your whānau and find support - they might have gout too and not know it 

We can come to your: 

• Marae
• Church group
• Sports club
• Kaumātua programme
• Or visit you in the community 

We can kōrero about gout, show helpful tools and visuals, and explain what’s happening inside your body. 

People often say, “Now I understand!” after seeing our models, pictures, and having a proper talanoa or chat with us.