Guess my xray!

[kteal_7]

So I'm up in Alaska right now with limited care available. About four days ago my big toe joint started to hurt a little bit and was sensitive to the touch. Then the following days it has hurt so bad I cannot really walk on it and have to hobble around! I'm working at a fishing lodge and as luck would have it an orthopedic surgeon was staying next door. He felt my foot and said that it was not a bunion or stress fracture and thought it might be gout. I researched this online some...and I didn't exactly fit the profile for having gout. I am a vegetarian and do not drink and never have drank any alcohol. I am a 21 year old female, and as I understand usually older men are affected. I was concerned this might mean kidney problems since I don't fit the profile so I went into the ER today and they suck me all full of needles and took xrays. X rays showed a small amount of build up around the joint (...pseudogout maybe?) but nothing conclusive. Blood test showed that my kidneys were basically functioning correctly and my uric acid levels were low (although I realize this is not necessarily the best indicator). My white cell count was fine to indicate no infection. They tried to aspirate the joint and stuck a needle in there three times but couldn't get anything...so they left it as gout and sent me on the way with an even sorer toe and a set of crutches. My toe is very tender to the touch, slightly warmer than the other one and hasn't shown any signs of getting better. I cannot really move my toe much (down a little and up barely a couple millimeters). They gave me some indomethicin or something like that (a NSAID) and told me to take that. I am worried about the underlying cause of whatever this is and looking for some ideas! My toe is killing me and would LOVE some answers.

Thank you so much for your help!

[kteal_7]

I've been working at a fly in fishing resort all summer... on my feet for 12plus hours!

[cowboy20022002]

it could be bone chips  do you do alot of walking or what not

[cowboy20022002]

it might be gout  it is hard to say untill you get back to the main land and let some one look at it

[kteal_7]

Hi,
I am a 21 year old female, no one in my family has had gout. I don't drink and never have. I am also a vegetarian and therefore do not consume any high-purine foods. I have been taking indomethacin for 5 plus days now and no improvement yet---still cannot walk.

[dr_simran]

Hello kteal_7,

It seems you are having an attack of gout. What has been your age? Is there similar family history? Do you consume alcohol? Answers to these questions would further help.

Best