The big toe is most often the joint where gout first happens. The toe is in excruciating pain it is red, hot and swollen. Anything that touches it hurts, some say they can’t even have the sheet of their bed touch it.

Gout can attack many other joints as well. And once there has been an attack, unless changes are made there will be more.

Uric acid in the blood stream has been directly linked to gout (gouty arthritis). The uric acid forms needle like crystals around joints, tendons and ligaments causing pain and inflammation.

Seventy-five percent of initial attacks happen in the big toe, although it can effect any joint in the body.  Sometimes injury and stress play a role in high levels of uric acid, however acute gout can present without cause or reason.

Untreated patients with gout will continue to suffer reoccurring events.

What can you do to lessen the likelihood of recurrence of gout?

Making some simple changes in your diet will lessen reoccurring events.  We have helped many patients make changes in their diets with great results and we are here to help find the right foods for you.

Patients presenting with gout have high levels of uric acid in the bloodstream, this is caused by foods high in purines.

Examples of high purine foods, that raise uric-acid levels:

  • Large amounts of meat: beef, lamb, pork, game ,especially organ meats (such as liver, kidneys, sweetbreads, and brains)
  • Large amounts of seafood (anchovies, codfish, haddock, herring, mackerel, mussels, roe (fish eggs), sardines, scallops, and trout)
  • alcohol, especially beer

Food that are low in purines, that help to reduce uric acid:

  • Green vegetables
  • Low glycine fruits  i.e. cherries and berries
  • Raw chocolate
  • drinking plenty of good quality water

Laser Therapy helps heal the inflammation

Bioflex laser therapy stimulates the release of endorphins (natural morphine); enabling the natural reduction of pain caused by gout.  Laser therapy uses red light to relieve pain, increase blood flow and help the body to reduce inflammation naturally.  The infrared light is used to accelerate the healing process, by stimulating on a cellular level.  When the light source is placed against the skin, the photons penetrate several centimeters and get absorbed by the mitochondria, the energy producing part of the cell.  This energy fuels many physiological responses resulting in the restoration of normal cell function.

Read more about Gout and Laser Therapy

This is what one of our patients says:

“I have been a patient of Dr. Cruz’s for years, three weeks ago I found it difficult to walk or even put a shoe on.  My big toe hurt to touch.  I tried cherry juice and several other home remedies then I came in for laser treatments and after five treatments my pain was gone.  I have used laser therapy for many other conditions and every time after just a few treatments I always see results.  I would recommend laser therapy to everyone.  My success has been great!”     …RB, Burnsville, NC