Gout is a painful disease and can be dangerous if you have a sudden outbreak. Men who have gout can be more susceptible to injuries. A 2020 study published in The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health concluded that “Among the causes of injury, we found that traffic, poisoning, falls, crushing, cutting, piercing, other unintentional injuries, and suicides were significantly higher in people with gout.”
When your toe or ankle is swollen and painful, it throws off your walking speed and the length of your stride, making it easy for you to trip or fall. Your muscles may be weak from lack of exercise or the steroid medications prescribed by your doctor. Bone deformity, from gout and osteoarthritis, is also a cause of these accidents.
Try These 5 Protective Steps
- Check with your medical provider and determine if they provide arthritis self management programs. These programs can educate you in safety measures and activities.
- Manage your weight through your diet. Choose healthy foods like vegetables, fruits and meats that don’t boost inflammation in your body. Extra pounds will cause more pain and stress on your joints leaving you open to a possible injury.
- Choose exercises that don’t stress your joints. Make sure you’re not walking on uneven sidewalks or paths. If you hike, take along hiking poles to help with balance. Swimming, yoga, tai chi or golf are low impact sports you can enjoy.
- At home, make sure your normal path through the living room, bedroom or kitchen is clear of clutter. Use caution after a shower so wet floors don’t cause a spill.
- See you medical provider for your appointments and report any dizziness, problems in moving or falls you experience. Do not change your medications without your doctor’s approval.
