Can Gout Cause Foot and Leg to Swell?
Gout, a form of arthritis, is an inflammatory disease of the joints of the body. Having gout in the ankle joints can cause the foot to swell. Likewise, if there is gout present in the knee joint, this can cause that area of the leg to swell. Gouty arthritis is characterized by the over production of uric acid in the blood. Uric aid is the waste product produced by the break down of purines in the body. Although purines are found naturally in the body, purines are also derived from the foods we eat, such as organ meats, beans, fish, and cauliflower. The kidneys are responsible for excreting excess uric acid from our bodies, however, sometimes this does not happen effectively, resulting the build up of uric acid crystals, or urates, to deposit in and around the joints. This causes severe pain, swelling, and inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissue. This condition can be debilitating, as well as extremely painful. Any joint with urate deposits will swell and possibly cause damage
