OPEN Monday – Friday
CLOSED Saturday – Sunday
(404) 806-3731
Fax: (770) 321-0001
2864 Johnson Ferry Rd, Suite 100
Marietta GA 30062

We Have Moved! 

We are excited to announce that our office has moved to a new location as of August 21, 2023. The new office is located at 2864 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 100, Marietta, GA 30062. It is conveniently located at the corner of Johnson Ferry Road and Post Oak Tritt, just a few miles away from our current office. All appointments scheduled on or after August 21st will be held at the new location. We look forward to seeing you there!

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What is Gout?

Gout is a metabolic disorder caused by too much uric acid in the blood. This can be caused by numerous situations such as the kidneys not cleaning out the buildup of uric acid properly by means of urine or the heavy consumption of protein which breaks down into uric acid.

The sources of protein which are the most troublesome are shellfish, organ and red meat as well as legumes (beans).  Also, the consumption of alcohol forces the kidneys to excrete less uric acid as well. When blood travels further in the body, it cools down. The warm blood that was holding the uric acid can no longer do so. When this occurs, it travels to the joints as a solid in the form of a crystal. The body responds through its immune system causing an acute gout attack. When it occurs in the foot, it is generally the great toe joint of the foot although it can occur in other joints of the foot and ankle.

Ways to Diagnose Gout

The most accurate way to diagnose gout is to extract fluid out of the joint however it is extremely painful especially in the in the great toe due to the limited fluid in the area.  When the fluid is examined under a microscope, the pathologist looks for any uric acid crystals which are gout. A blood test can be taken as well however it can be confusing. If the test is normal, you can still have gout. If the serum uric acid is high you have gout.

Gout Treatment

For long term treatment, oral medications are recommended to prevent the buildup in the blood. Oral steroids (anti-inflammatory) can be quite helpful as well as icing the joint. Resting the joint will relieve symptoms as well. However, we do caution to not take these when you are experiencing acute stages of gout because they can make it worse.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of gout, it is important to seek treatment and a specialist right away.

Call Our Marietta, Georgia Office Today at 404-806-3731 or Book your appointment online now!