Most people with swelling and pain on their big toe can’t tell the difference between gout and bunion. While their symptoms are somewhat similar, both conditions are very different. Finding the right cause of the bulge on your toe helps in diagnosis and treatment. Learn what the difference is between gout and bunions in this article.
Differences between gout and bunion
Gout and bunion symptoms seem similar, but they are not the same.
Bunions cause painful bony lumps that form over time on the side of a person’s feet, mostly on the big toe joint. This condition is more common in women than men. It is also known as hallux valgus. Gout is a common form of arthritis that occurs in the big toe joint. Its symptoms come and go over time. This is more common in men than women.
Causes
Both conditions are caused by different reasons.
Bunions are usually caused by wearing tight shoes and shoes with heels. Experts believe it may worsen underlying bone irregularities and may lead to the development of this condition. You can develop bunions if you have:
- A family history of bunions.
- Certain types of arthritis, like gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.
- Congenital anomalies in feet and toes.
- Muscle imbalances in the foot due to other health conditions.
- Connective tissue disorders.
- Down syndrome.
Gout occurs when your body has high levels of uric acid, which leads to the development of a condition called hyperuricemia, which later causes gout. Uric acid comes into the body from certain foods that you eat. If a person has too much uric acid in the body, it can create uric acid crystals in their blood, tissues, and joints, leading to gout symptoms. Some other factors that may increase the risk of gout include:
- Older age.
- Family history.
- Drinking alcohol or beverages with high fructose corn syrup.
- Eating foods rich in purines, like red meat and seafood.
If you have certain medical conditions, then you are at a higher risk of gout. These are:
- Metabolic syndrome
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Chronic kidney disease
- Hemolytic anemia
- Some types of cancer
- Psoriasis
- Lesch-Nyhan syndrome or Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome
Some medications may increase the risk of gout, including:
- Low-dose aspirin
- Diuretics
- Large amounts of niacin
- Cyclosporine
Symptoms
Both bunions and gout symptoms look the same, but there’s a difference. Bunions cause a visible bump on the inside of the foot that’s near the big toe joint. Other symptoms include:
- Pain and tenderness that get worse over time.
- Stiffness or limited range of motion, which makes it difficult to walk.
- Redness or inflammation.
- Hardened skin on the bottom of the foot.
- Small or large patches of rough, thick skin on the bunion, which are medically called corns and calluses.
Whereas gout usually has symptoms on one joint at a time, which include:
- Intense pain.
- Swelling.
- Heat.
- Redness.
It mostly affects the big toe joint; however, it may affect other joints as well, including the other toes, knees, and ankles. People with gout experience symptoms in a pattern that doctors call flares and remission. These symptoms start suddenly as a flare and may last for some days or weeks. Remission may last for weeks, months, or years until another flare begins. During remission periods, you may not experience any symptoms.
Diagnosis
If you are unsure about your condition, your doctor first examines your symptoms and goes through your medical history. To rule out the condition, the doctor may perform tests, including:
- Examination of your foot: Imaging tests like X-rays are used to check for deformity (which indicates bunions), or to check for urate crystals (that indicate gout).
- Blood test: A blood test is performed to see uric acid levels in the blood, which indicate gout or antibodies caused by autoimmune arthritis (that indicate bunions).
Usually, gout is diagnosed when a person experiences a flare. Besides the above tests, the doctor may perform a joint aspiration test to look for urate crystals or other abnormalities.
Treatment
Treatment for bunions and gout can vary depending on their causes. For bunions, treatment may include:
- Changing footwear or modifying it, for example, using wider shoes that don’t compress the toes, adding padded soles that give enough space to the toes to wiggle, or arch support in your shoes.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or prescription medications to manage pain and swelling.
- In some cases, when bunion symptoms don’t improve, surgery is recommended. The most common is a bunionectomy, where the big toe position is corrected by removing the swollen tissue, removing extra bone, or realigning the bone, permanently joining the bones of the affected joint. It can take up to 8 weeks (about 2 months) to recover from this procedure.
If you don’t experience bunion pain, you don’t need treatment.
For gout, it has no cure, but you can manage its symptoms with medications and lifestyle changes. Medications like NSAIDs, corticosteroids, colchicine, etc., improve pain and inflammation. For lifestyle changes, you need to avoid sugary drinks and alcohol after a gout attack, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and avoid purine-rich foods to manage gout in the long run. Sometimes, doctors prescribe medications like Zyloprim to lower uric acid levels and prevent future gout attacks. If that doesn’t work, Krystexxa is an intravenous infusion that may be prescribed.
Gout and bunions may seem similar at first glance, but both conditions are very different. Bunions are caused by deformities and injuries, whereas gout is caused by a high build-up of uric acid in the blood. While gout and bunion symptoms seem similar, one occurs suddenly (like a flare-up and gets better) while the other occurs slowly and gets worse. Fortunately, both are treatable and manageable. Seek medical help in time to manage these conditions.
If you have a foot condition, visit our podiatry clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!! Doral Health & Wellness employs Podiatrists with extensive education and expertise. Trauma to the tendons, muscles, and bones of the foot is quite common. It’s not a good idea to put off seeing Foot Doctor Brooklyn until you are in a lot of pain. Our address is 1797 Pitkin Avenue, New York, NY 11212. To make an appointment, please call +1-718-367-2555 or send an email toinfo@doralhw.org.
