[pct-l] Re: What is plantar fasciitis? (JAMES)

[dc23 at nyu.edu (David Canty, PhD)]

James, I'm not a podiatrist, but your symptoms may be due to gout, a condition in which uric acid is in high levels and forms crystals, usually in the joints of the toe, causing inflammation and pain.   It
can be diagnosed by drawing fluid out of the affected joint and determining if uirc acid crystals are present.

In most cases, gout isn't treated unless it occurs frequently.  If it does, foods high in purines -- red wine, cheeses, red meat -- can sometimes cause the condition and, if they're determined to be
contributory, dietary changes are a key part of treatment.  Colchicine is a medication commonly used to treat acute gout attacks. If continuous medication is necessary, the two most common choices are
probenecid and allopurinol.