Mobility and getting about
Most people found it difficult to stand or walk when they had attacks in their feet, ankles or knees because of the severe pain and swelling. Some tried to keep mobile even though it was uncomfortable or painful. Others found that the pain eased after moving around.
Vic said the pain was the worst he’d ever had. He had to ‘work up the courage’ to put his foot down and take a step.
Vic said the pain was the worst he’d ever had. He had to ‘work up the courage’ to put his foot down and take a step.
Age at interview: 75
Sex: Male
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The worst pain I’ve ever had. I’ve broken bones that haven’t hurt as much. At its worst you can’t bear anything on it, not even a bed sheet. You have to kick off that end of the bed. So even in the freezing cold, that foot has got to be out of the blankets. Quite often, when it spreads up the leg, it’s very difficult to find a position where you can actually lay, that it doesn’t hurt. Even if it’s not touching anything, it’s still got to lay on something. It does tend to, pulse with the heartbeat, and so you don’t need to take your pulse, you can feel it. Yeah, that’s it. For a man I don’t think there’s a description, like the woman saying that, “it was worse than childbirth”.
It’s painful. I mean I would get out of bed, and literally stand there, just working up the courage to take a step. Once you start taking the steps, after a few, it’s down to a level where you can carry on then, but that first two or three steps are – you think that if you put your foot down you’re going to fall over, because you can’t, you can’t stand it.
Many people talked about ‘limping’ or having to ‘hobble’ around. People with attacks in their toes sometimes tried to walk on the side of their foot. Tony found that he would then get pain in his leg and hip from his foot being at the wrong angle.
The pain stopped Jill from walking properly. She had to wear larger shoes and shuffle round the house. She often bumped into things and ended up with bruises.
The pain stopped Jill from walking properly. She had to wear larger shoes and shuffle round the house. She often bumped into things and ended up with bruises.
Age at interview: 53
Sex: Female
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I could just barely stand up and I couldn't wear the shoes I always wear. I had to borrow a pair of giant flip flops because that was the only that would be comfortable around my foot, and it was a shuffle movement which - because it was so painful I shuffle and wobble, which means I bang into doors, and to - and my legs get bruised because I'm banging into things because I'm not walking straight. So I get lots of bruises with gout and very painful gout. Like I say the shoe, can't wear any shoes of my own, they have to be transferred to - it's actually a friend of mine's - what do you call them now, toe…the flipper type shoes, so they’re wide open.
Stairs were particularly difficult when people had attacks in their feet, ankles or knees. Several people had to go up and down stairs on their bottom. Harry once had to crawl on his hands and knees to get to the toilet. Other people who had diarrhoea, a side effect of colchicine, found it difficult to get to the toilet quickly when they had a painful attack in their foot or knee.
Colchicine often causes side effects of diarrhoea and sickness, but getting to the toilet quickly is difficult for Hazel when she has attacks in her feet.
Colchicine often causes side effects of diarrhoea and sickness, but getting to the toilet quickly is difficult for Hazel when she has attacks in her feet.
Age at interview: 32
Sex: Female
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At that point wherein, you're almost going to get better after you've done your - I've done two rounds of the colchicine eight a day, or six a day or whatever, then when, when the diarrhoea will start. Diarrhoea starts but actually you're still much in pain. How do you run to the toilet? Because you really, really, really have to go. That's what colchicine does. You, you run and in pain and, and you just collapse there and, and you deal with it, or you just stay there for a long time, because then it might come again, don't know how I can walk back to the toilet, sort of thing.
Some people used walking sticks or crutches, though not all found them helpful and a few felt that using a stick was embarrassing. Alan said that riding a bicycle was easier than walking because it put less pressure on his toe.
Arthur used to try and walk normally to hide the fact that he was in pain. He did not want to explain to people that he had gout.
Arthur used to try and walk normally to hide the fact that he was in pain. He did not want to explain to people that he had gout.
Age at interview: 63
Sex: Male
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I try to hide the fact that I’ve got it. I will try to walk normally. I might be in excruciating pain, but because I regard myself as being fairly fit, when I’ve got it I tend to feel embarrassed that people might be looking at me and think, “Oh what’s the matter with him?” That’s not the problem, it’s when they say, “What’s the matter with you” and you say, “I’ve got gout”, you know, there’s stigma to it. It seems to roll onto the sort of how it looks and socially is it accept… not acceptable but how do other people, going back to some of those questions you asked earlier about how do people regard you and whatnot, there is a stigma to it without a doubt.
People who needed to see their GP often found it difficult to get to the surgery during an attack. Ian found it particularly difficult to use the London underground but needed to use it to get to work. Others felt frustrated that they could not leave the house because they could not walk or drive. This caused problems for some people who needed to get food shopping or other supplies. Carole was unable to take her dogs for walks. Joe said that a gout attack puts his ‘life on hold a little bit’ until it subsides.
Attacks have slowed Jeff down but not stopped him from working or doing his usual daily activities.
Attacks have slowed Jeff down but not stopped him from working or doing his usual daily activities.
Age at interview: 68
Sex: Male
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Has it had an impact on your day-to-day life?
Well, it’s just, you know, damned annoying, and painful. I suppose I get about a bit more slowly. I tend to sit down more, with my feet up, you know. But, it hasn’t stopped me working, I mean it hasn’t stopped me going out and walking up the road and walking down the road, but it’s been painful, you know.
So, is there anything it has prevented you from doing?
I don’t think so, no.
Some people were in too much pain to drive, but others were able to drive as long as their right foot was not affected (so they could still brake safely). Several found that changing gear was too painful, and a few were glad that they had automatic cars so did not need to use both feet. Other people struggled to get into a car because it was painful to move or bend their joints.
Footwear
People who had attacks in their feet or ankles often found it difficult to wear their usual shoes because of the pain and/or swelling. The pain was so bad that many people could not even wear a sock. Some could not leave the house because they could not put shoes or socks on. A few people said they could get their shoes on but it was uncomfortable. Others found that sandals, flip flops, slippers, or wider and/or bigger sizes of shoes were the best option for them. A few people left their feet bare. Ivor went to work wearing one shoe and one sandal. Runibunar had to wear protective safety shoes at work. He had to force himself to put them on during attacks, despite the pain, because he could not go to work otherwise.
Simon went to work with no socks on. He bought shoes that were three sizes too big because his swollen foot wouldn’t fit into his usual pair.
Simon went to work with no socks on. He bought shoes that were three sizes too big because his swollen foot wouldn’t fit into his usual pair.
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There’s nothing you can do and at times you just – at times you don’t sleep. You can’t put your foot down. You have to find some way of walking. You can’t tolerate anybody being there. You can’t tolerate, you know, to put a sock on is – can be excruciating. I mean I remember at times I just couldn’t even put a sock on and I just came to work with no socks once, but I managed to get a shoe on. Having to buy – I remember once, this is the most extreme example; that I bought shoes that were about three sizes too big so I could get a shoe on.
A combination of gout and arthritis has left Val unable to wear the shoes she would like. She, like some other people we spoke to, had bought insoles or flat shoes that were more comfortable and supportive, although she found them too warm in hot weather. Other people had stretched or cut holes in their shoes to make them easier to wear. Jacqui was pleased that the swelling in her foot had gone down enough that she could wear shoes again, the first time being at her wedding.
Val felt that having gout, and not being able to wear the shoes she wanted to, made her feel older and less feminine.
Val felt that having gout, and not being able to wear the shoes she wanted to, made her feel older and less feminine.
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Well the main thing with me has been shoes. I can’t … couldn’t get many of my shoes on and I kept thinking, “Oh it’ll go down, it’ll go down”. But I did get sent for an x-ray and they said that I had arthritis in both big toe joints. And so I thought, “Well if I’ve got arthritis and this gout’s come along to add a bit more to it, I probably am never going to get those shoes on again”. Which in fact was true, I couldn’t get the shoes on again. And that, because they were girlie shoes, that really was a disappointment. I know it might sound a bit trivial to people but it’s like your image of who you are isn’t it? And I felt very old as well. You know that kind of feeling, “Oh dear I’ve joined the old age pensioners now”, you know.
Because of the shoes?
No, no the shoes and the gout, you know, the fact that … in fact I haven’t told many people I’ve got gout.
Why do you think that is?
Because it feels so old I think. It feels as though it’s something that people sort of in their dotage have, not young people. Or young … I mean I’m not young, but in my head I’m young, yeah.
(For more see ‘
Practical tips for gout’).
Last reviewed December 2016
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