Doctors Thought My Gout Was My Chronic Pain Condition Flaring Up

As told to Nicole Audrey Spector

In 2009, I was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a condition that causes chronic pain flare-ups and cannot be cured. The pain, hot and horrid, can be crushing, occurring throughout my body.

The following year, I started experiencing a new kind of pain — something even more intense, primarily affecting the joints of my feet. This new pain, combined with the CRPS, was so unbearable that there were times I wished God would take my life.

My primary care provider just assumed this new pain was related to the CRPS and threw pain medications at the problem. I didn’t want to be reliant on opioids, but there seemed no other way for me to cope with being alive.

The pain pills made me feel blurry, and they were hurting my kidneys. But what really forced me to go off the pain meds was what my grandson said. He told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was impossible to be around and that I caused everyone to walk on eggshells in my presence because I was so irritable.

After that talk, I ditched the pain pills and sought out other ways to cope. I found a mental escape through art, specifically, in making jewelry. Though this activity helped take my focus off the pain, it didn’t make me feel any better physically.

My symptoms were getting worse. My feet would literally bend backward. My toe swelled to the point where I couldn’t wear shoes. All this time, the doctors told me it was due to the CRPS.

Then I met with a rheumatologist who told me about gout, an inflammatory form of arthritis that can cause severe pain, redness, and swelling. A blood test confirmed that my uric acid levels were higher than they should be.

I resisted taking medications to manage the gout flare-ups and instead sought out alternative remedies. But eventually, I gave in and started the medications—it was the right decision. My gout symptoms disappeared, and my pain was under control.

After two years of dealing with the horrible effects of gout, I am now symptom-free. I’m now a moderator of a gout support group, where I advocate for clinical treatment of gout and aim to shatter myths around snake oil remedies.

Gout is a serious disease that requires appropriate medical treatment. It’s important to consult with a rheumatologist or gout specialist, as gout may not be well understood by many primary care providers.

I’m not a huge fan of taking medication to manage gout, but I know it’s necessary for me to live a life worth living. Now, I can enjoy my friends and family, and I’m so much happier.

This educational resource was created with support from Horizon Therapeutics.

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