Gout Institute

Dr. Kevin Lam* Dr. Wesley Drew Chapman *   Dr. Isin Mustafa 

Dr. Patrick Bartholomew * Dr. Lauren Pelucacci * Dr. Sahiba Singh  

Dr. Jake Powers  *  Dr. Lori DeBlasi

Welcome to the Family Foot & Leg Center Opened in 2005 by Dr. Kevin Lam 
as the premier center for foot / ankle medical & surgical care.

Gout is a form of arthritis -- inflammation that can cause a sudden attack of  attack of pain, stiffness, and swelling in a joint. This is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the blood. 

Most common signs of gout are sudden attack of swelling, tenderness, redness, and sharp pain. These are sporadic and can last a few days or even for several weeks.

As many as 8 million people in the U.S. have gout. Gout is more common in men. For women, gout is more common after menopause.

Gout usually occurs in only one joint at a time. It is often found in the big toe. Along with the big toe, joints that are commonly affected are the lesser toe joints, the ankle, and the knee.

POPPING GOUT OUT

Here gout crystals are being pushed out of the foot.   Patient had an ulcerated toe from severe gout attack.   

Gout is a disease whereby the patient's body produces too much uric acid (protein byproduct) or can not excrete enough through the kidneys.   Gout can be very painful.  If you a red, hot swollen joint.  Gout  or Infection should be on the top of the list. 

‘Tis the Season for Gout

Each year during the holidays, this common scenario plays out: You enjoy a scrumptious holiday feast, starting with shrimp and scallops in puff pastry with a rich cream sauce, a prime rib, scalloped potatoes, and a fine red wine. You finish off the evening with dessert and a glass of excellent brandy. Several hours later, you awaken in the middle of the night with an excruciating stabbing pain in your big toe. The joint at the base of the toe is red, swollen, and throbbing. Chances are you are experiencing a gout attack.

What Pulled the Trigger?
Gout is an arthritic condition that occurs when crystallized uric acid builds up in a joint. Uric acid is a byproduct of the breakdown of purines–chemicals that are naturally occurring in your body and in certain foods. Some people may overproduce or have difficulty eliminating uric acid from the body. It can build up and cause pain in any joint, but the big toe is the most common site.
If you are prone to gout, purine–rich foods, such as red meat, shellfish, organ meats, red wine, brandy, and rich sauces, may cause an attack. Other potential factors may increase your risk for this condition as well, including:
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Obesity
  • Stress
  • Chemotherapy
  • Certain medications and vitamins
 For many patients, the predisposition for gout is hereditary.

Fending Off an Attack
Give us a call at (239) 430-3668 if you have the symptoms described above. If gout is diagnosed, we may prescribe oral medications or injections for treating the pain, inflammation, and swelling. You may also need to rest your foot and keep it elevated. Gout symptoms will usually stop within three to ten days with treatment.

If you have more than one flare up a year, it may be time to step up your gout treatment. Until now, nothing targeted the crystals in the joints of the big toe joint, hands, or knees quite like Krystexxa. 
Krystexxa is the only gout treatment that controls chronic gout by changing uric acid into a water–soluble substance called allantoin that your body easily gets rid of through urine. For those of you that have kidney disease and can’t take the usual gout medications, 
Krystexxa can treat your condition without harming your kidneys. Family Foot & Leg Center is one of the few Krystexxa Infusion Centers in Southwest Florida. 
If you have chronic gout, contact us at (239) 430-3668 to find out more information.

GOUT AND HYPERURICEMIA 
ARE LINKED TO MULTIPLE COMORBIDITIES AND OUTCOMES

 Patients with gout usually have multiple comorbidities, including hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, all of which have significant adverse impact on public health.


CHD, coronary heart disease; PAD, peripheral arterial disease; PVD, peripheral vascular disease; sUA, serum uric acid
Negative effects of gout on the heart, kidneys, joints
Some people may experience recurrent gout. If left untreated, there can be deposits of urate crystals under the skin nodules called tophi, commonly found in the fingers, hands, feet, Achilles tendon, and the backs of the ankles. Urate crystals may also collect in the urinary tract of people with gout, eventually causing kidney stones. 
People with gout have also been found to have higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Hyperuricemia is associated with endothelial dysfunction, which may contribute to risk of heart disease. 


How are purines turned to uric acid?

The purine nucelotides adenine and guanine are broken down to form uric acid.  

People who have difficulty metabolizing purines (such as those with gout or hyperuricemia) are advised to limit the consumption of high-purine food and drinks. If the level of purines in the body is more than the ability of the body to process them, too much uric acid builds up in the bloodstream. This condition is called hypeuricemia and aside from gout, this can also cause kidney stones. Normally, uric acid is disposed via the kidneys. The human body cannot oxidize uric acid to the more soluble compound allantoin due to the lack of uricase enzyme. 

Uricase converts uric acid to allantoin, which is more soluble than uric acid and passes harmlessly from the body. Uricase is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of uric acid to 5-hydroxyisourate and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Subsequent hydrolysis and decarboxylation leads to the formation of allantion. During evolution, humans have lost the ability to produce the enzyme uricase. This loss of uricase activity along with the lifestyle and eating habits of today renders humans prone to urate crystal deposition and gout.

How do medications help people with gout?

Gout medications can be used to treat acute flare-ups and prevent future gout attacks. Some can also reduce the risk of gout complications such as the development of tophi.

Medications that block uric acid production such as allopurinol (Aloprim) and febuxostat (Uloric) limit the amount of uric acid that the body makes to lower the blood uric acid levels. However, these can cause side effects such as reduced liver function and heart-related problems. Even with oral medication, people with uncontrolled gout can have a difficulty getting rid of uric acid.

Krystexxa works differently than the above oral gout medicines. Krystexxa is the only gout treatment that converts uric acid into water-soluble substance called allantoin. Allantion is very soluble and is readily excreted through urine. The uric acid level then reaches a point in which uric acid crystals can dissolve.  New uric acid crystal buildup also stops forming, thus taking control of gout.   

FFLC Gout Institute

Welcome

We welcome you as a patient to our podiatry practice in Florida. We currently have 8 locations across Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties, We are grateful that you have chosen us as your complete foot and lower leg care center.

 Quick access to the best / quality care guaranteed.    No foot / ankle matter too big or too small for our attention.   You and Your Family deserve the best.

how is gout treated?

Gout can be effectively treated and managed with medical treatment and self-management strategies. 

  • Manage the pain of a flare
  • Prevent future flares. 
  • Prevent tophi and kidney stones from forming 

In addition to medical treatment, you can manage your gout with self-management strategies. Self-management is what you do day to day to manage your condition and stay healthy, like making healthy lifestyle choices. The self-management strategies described below are proven to reduce pain and disability, so you can pursue the activities important to you.

management of gout

  • Eat a healthy diet. 
  • Avoid foods high in purines such as red meat, organ meat, and seafood
  • limit alcohol intake, particularly beer
  • Exercise regularly, engaging in low-impact activities such as cycling, walking, swimming
  • Maintain ideal weight
  • Consult your doctor and follow the recommended treatment plan
  • Protect your joints from injuries that can worsen your condition

top medical innovators

Named Amongst America’s Top Podiatrists and top Doctors in SWFL by various publications: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019.

Some doctors are a step above the rest!  Dr. Kevin Lam has established himself as a premier Podiatrist in Naples. Get you on your feet fast.

Gout pain?

See us at any of our locations throughout
Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties.

Call (239) 430-3668
Schedule 24/7 with a specialist

 The Arthritis Foundation reported that well over half - around 60 percent - of patients will experience a second round of gout within 12 months, while a vast majority of patients - nearly 85 percent - will complain of the condition again in the ensuing three year period after their first attack. 
 
8 locations near you from Naples, FL to Port Charlotte, FL.

We have several locations from Collier, Lee, & Charlotte Counties to serve your foot and ankle needs:

FFLC Naples
730 Goodlette Rd, Suite 102
FFLC North Naples
840 111th Avenue, Suite 3 
FFLC Estero
21401 Corkscrew Village Lane Suite 4
FFLC Cape coral
530 S.E. 16th Place, Suite A


FFLC East Naples 
12250 Tamiami Trail East
Suite 101


FFLC Ft. Myers @ International Blvd

(Across from Gulf Coast Medical Center)
6846 International Center Blvd.
Suite B
FFLC @ Colonial Blvd
1645 Colonial Blvd
Fort Myers, FL 33907
FFLC Port Charlotte
3161 Harbor Blvd, Suite B
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
FFLC Port Charlotte

Gout  Institute

 Part of Family Foot and Leg Center, PA

Gout FAQs

Why do I have gout?
Uric acid levels spike when the body breaks down purines, which are found in certain food such as red meat, seafood, and organ meats as well alcohol, particularly beer and fruit drinks. Urate crystals then develop and build up in your joints. These sharp, needle-like crystals lead to the gout pain.

What are the symptoms of gout?

  • Swelling of the joint, commonly the big toe
  • Very painful joint
  • Redness and inflammation
  • Limited range of motion

What are the treatments for gout?
The treatment of gout aims to lessening your pain and preventing gout flare-ups in the future. See your physician for a thorough evaluation and treatment plan. 

Our team at the Gout Institute, a part of Family Foot and Leg Center, P.A.  work together to provide the best gout treatment for your specific needs.

Gout pain?


Get relief from your gout.

Schedule for an evaluation today at the Gout Institute at Family Foot and Leg Center, P.A. 

Access to specialist: Live Schedulers open 7 days a week 7am until 5pm Eastern Time, Portal and Self Service Portal open 24 hrs/7 days

8 locations throughout Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties to get you back on your feet

*Downtown Naples
*East Naples / Marco Island
*North Naples 
*Estero
*Cape coral
*Fort Myers @International Blvd
*Fort Myers @Colonial Blvd
*Port Charlotte

Call Today: 239 430 3668 (FOOT)
Self Service # (239) 420-7170
Fax: 239 692 9436

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