Right Foot Throbbing At Night. What Could This Be?

Posted on Mon, 14 Oct 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 Answered on

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : My right foot has been throbbing at night (inside above arch) - probably location of where a bunion would develop for about 2-3 months now. I can feel it while I sleep and it does not feel very good.

Answered by Dr. Manjeth Kumar G (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Gout. Check Blood Uric acid level.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to XXXXXXX

Thanks for your query.
I have gone through your query and understand your concern.

From your symptoms, I suspect you may have Gouty arthritis.

Because this cause the severe pain in the base of big toe.
It is more common in women after and around menopausal age.

It is due to the build up of uric acid in the body.
Pain is due to the deposits in the first metatarsophalangeal joint.
These crystals irritate the joint tissues and cause swelling, pain, inflammation in the base of the big toe.
The pain can wake up in the night and the pain is like fire in the big toe.

Thus my advise is to do check blood levels of uric acid.
If this is normal, then it is better to go for aspiration of joint fluid in first metatarsophalangeal joint and look for urate crystals under the microscope.

Crystals of urate (uric acid) can be seen in the fluid to confirm the diagnosis of gout.

Till waiting for investigation results, please take some pain killers like Diclofenac or Ibuprofen.

Hope this helps.
Please reply for further queries.
Wishing you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D