What Causes Painful Swelling In The Foot?

Posted on Tue, 11 Apr 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 11 Apr 2017 Answered on

Tue, 9 May 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : Top and bottom of foot swollen and painful to walk have to walk on heel. Starting to change color. Have had issues with knee, today the pain progressed from knee to foot. Pain progressively getting worse. Should i go to emergency room?

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (45 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
GOUT ?

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for posting the question.
I have gone through your medical history in detail.

If there is no history of any injury / trauma to the foot preceeding the onset of pain / swelling,then there are high chances that your blood uric acid levels must be raised.

Raised levels lead to a condition called Gout,in which the uric acid crystals are deposited in and around the soft tissues of the joints,especially knee and foot.

I would suggest you to get serum uric acid levels checked.Colchicine and allopurinol tablets will help lower the levels if they are found raised.

If the pain is progressively getting worse,then you should consult emergency room / orthopedist and get the necessary investigations (Xrays and blood profile) done.

I hope the answer was useful.

Feel free to ask me any follow up queries that you may have.

Thank you.
Kind regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy