Gout Support Group

Yes I have had it many times in the ankle. Gout can affect any joint in you body. It occurs mostly in the feet or knees. But it is common in ankles, elbows, wrists, and hands.

hi sefton,

I have experienced gout in my ankle. Like you I had a scab on that ankle that started as a boil and then scabbed over and became infected. Talking with my doctor initially we thought it was an infection that caused the swelling and pain. It turned out it was a combination of that and elevated uric acid at the time (i.e. a gout flare). My doctor indicated that this was not unusual to have an infection trigger the a gout attack.

You may want to have the scab examined to determine if it is an infection.

Yup! I have gout in my left ankle too. I need anti-inflammatory to keep the swelling down. I been on it for the last six-months now. I used to play racquetball 2 times a week for the 30 years. Not no more!

I have had two left ankle gout attacks that were extremely severe. #1 January '08 #2 March '08. Both attacks I can attribute to not eating all day, drinking beer and finally eating late at night. My family doctor put me on Allopurinol and I limited my beer drinking and late night food. I also increased my water intake. For the heck of it I went to a rheumatologist to get the final facts on my ankle problem. The rheumatologist said that I may have had gout but something else is going on in there. So I have been on arthritis medications like Daypro and SULFASALAZINE. The doctor found out that I was Vitamin D deficient with a little osteoporosis thrown in to all of that. So I guess one good thing about the gout attacks is that these other issues would have remained undetected by my family doctor. The rheumatologist said my Uric acid levels are not high and took my off of allopurinal. My ankle feels good somtimes and irritatingly sore othertimes; my next visit to the rheumatologist is in three months. He said I am getting better, although I don't feel that much better. My expectation is to have zero pain. I said is zero pain impossible. He did not ansser me directly but said to keep on the meds. He also said that he could give me somthing right now that would eradicate the pain but the med is too toxic. Better not to use a sledge hammer when a tac hammer will do. He said the pills will not cure my ankle problem but will make it better. He said my ankle is not swollen anymore. I have been eating pretty much all meats and also enjoy a visit to a German beer place or Irish pub – 3 beers max. All is well. I have not tested shellfish and I don't want to really chance it. If I am at a fish place I order salmon or trout probably with a white wine which sucks. I used to be an avid runner. I can still run but it just does not feel right. I need to lose about twenty pounds. I have been lifting weights regularly for about three months and can bench well over my weight a few times. I ride the bike at the gym and do all the other cardio machines as well. The stair stepper causes my ankle to be sore later after the workout and so does cranking up the incline on the treadmill. Compared to the hideous debilitating pain of a gout attack I am doing very well. I hope things get better as I shed twenty pounds and stop and or limit running. I have yet to try skiing. I cancelled a ski trip last year because my first gout attack. I lost all my money for the trip. I have been skiing every year quite a bit since I was 10 years old. Now I am 46. I thought I would ski well into my later years. I am going this year if things remain the same or improve physically and I will take it easy on the slopes and see how it goes. Good luck to you.

Yes--got my first attack of ankle gout today. Not really severe but am hobbling around on pain killers.

I agree with Bill, gout can affect any joint in our body. About 12 yrs ago I had a rude awakening (2:30am) with the most excrutiating pain THROUGHOUT my whole body. I called my Dr and asked for a recommendation. In the middle of the night the only thing he could do was tell me to get myself to the ER. He called them and gave them instructions. Upon arriving there I was seeing immediately. My blood was drawn and they put an IV line. As soon as they got my labs, and discovered it was elevated uric acid, all they could to do at that point was give me pain meds. They gave me introvenous pain meds I was out in seconds and woke they woke me up 5 or 6 hours later. I was pain free but so groggy all day long.

I've had it in both ankles. It's bad enough when only one ankle gets it but when I got it in both ankles at the same time, those were probably the worst experiences in my life. Couldn't stand or walk at all.