Health Care > Help please! Bursitis or gout? How to tell?Related Photo
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It's the joint under my wife's big toe; left foot.
She has experienced some slight Swelling and slight pain there for a number of years now - put it down to bad shoes when she was younger. When she wears flip flop sandals in summer, it hurts more. Also, her Mum had the same thing! So we have always assumed it was Bursitis ...
However, she woke up in the middle of the night last night and complained of a different sort of pain there - said it felt like being hit with a rubber hammer every two minutes (as in one minute of pain, then a pain-free minute; repeated at regular intervals ...) The joint was red and swollen, but not tender to the touch. In fact, she said Massage helped. She can walk without any pain and has felt no discomfort once she got up. However, I am worried it might be gout! Don't know why ... unless I can convince her it might be, she won't go to the doctor. I looked up both conditions on the net today; some good sites, but can't tell which it is!
Thanks for helping
Hi.
Maybe it is just a bunion?
I know they don't sound worthy of being included in your answers, but the bit you said about your wife's mum having the same problem ... well, apparently that is often the case with Bunions.
And if your wife has had it for a long time, it would be getting angry and flaring up now and again. Bunions are attention-seekers!
Also you said your wife herself believes it was due to the wrong kind of shoe, when she was younger.
And I may be wrong, but actually there are bursas in the foot. I don't understand why people are telling you there aren't.
Whatever, I hope it isn't gout! That sounds so 18th Century!
Anyway, hope you find out!
