Gout Patients Need to Find Shoes That Won’t Aggravate Healing Joints: MD Podiatrist

Gout attacks, which most commonly affect the joint of your big toe, are sudden, excruciating, and can wreak havoc on your everyday routine. The pain and swelling in your foot can be severe — so severe, in fact, that wearing shoes may not even be possible at some points: “At the height of the pain and swelling, some patients can’t even tolerate wearing socks, let alone shoes,” says podiatrist Dan Michaels, DPM.

To make it even worse, gout tends to come back. According to Dr. Michaels, studies have found that 60% of patients who suffer a gout attack will experience a recurrent flare within a year. While avoiding footwear during the worst of an acute attack may be the best policy, it’s a good idea to find shoes that won’t aggravate your healing joints after it subsides.