It is a known fact that gout usually manifests in the toe joint at the onset of gout attacks.
Unfortunately gout is not limited to just the toes but can affect other joints, too.
Although gout usually affects only one joint at a time, it can affect more than one joint simultaneously.
Gout is also known to appear in soft tissue like the heart muscle and other joints like the vertebrae of the backbone.
Gout in the ankle is less common than gout in the big toe.
As gout is more likely in men over 40 and post menopause woman, gout in the ankle can easily be misdiagnosed in younger people where gout should not be found.
Gout in the ankle can therefore easily be confused with a sprain or even with cellulites.
Before deciding on a long-term treatment plan for gout, you first need to be sure that you actually have gout.
Diagnosis of gout can sometimes be tricky.
It cannot be determined by only doing a blood test, unless you can have blood drawn during a gout attack.
But remember, not all patients with high uric acid levels have gout.
If your blood tests during an attack show elevated uric acid levels it will be a good indication that you have experienced a gout attack.
Some patients only have one gout attack that does not repeat within the next year or two or maybe never again.
But if you realize that the attacks are becoming more frequent, it will be wise to get a positive diagnosis by having some fluid drawn from the affected joint and have it studied under a microscope to positively identify the monosodium urate crystals.
If it is any other crystals, then you do not have gout.
Other conditions also precipitate crystals in the joints but those are not monosodium urate crystals.
This will mean different disease and pain management treatment plans.
The urate crystals that are precipitated in the joints during gout attacks are sharp and will damage the tissue in and around the joint.
The less movement you have in the joint the better.
Make use of anti-inflammatory medication to help get the swelling down and reduce the pain.
Increase your water intake to help your body to flush the uric acid from your system.
There are a few factors that you should consider if you are having repetitive gout attacks such as your diet, your weight and your life style.
Find out what causes your gout and what your gout triggers are.
Prevention is always better that cure.