Bone disfigurements are general, but they can also be serious when ignored. While some are not severe, the corresponding prescription and diagnosis are essential to reduce their inevitable expansion.
Eventually, after constant ignoring, the health problems of bones can change into critical intricacies. That may aggravate diseases like osteoporosis or arthritis.
Among those, Gouts and Bunions are most of the time confused with one another. Specifically, these make walking, standing, moving, or doing other basic and motor functions even harder.
Key Takeaways
- Gout is a type of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid in the blood, while a bunion is a bony bump formed at the base of the big toe.
- Gout attacks occur suddenly, with intense pain and swelling, while a bunion is a gradual deformity that can cause discomfort and difficulty in wearing shoes.
- Gout is treated with medication and dietary changes, while bunions can be managed with comfortable shoes, pads, and ice packs. Surgery may be required for severe cases.
Gout vs Bunion
Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that is very painful. It affects one joint at a time (the big toe joint). There are times when symptoms get worse, known as flare. A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. It occurs when some of the bones in the front part of your foot move out of place.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Gout | Bunion |
|---|---|---|
| Definitions | Gout is arthritis characterized by severe pain, redness, and tenderness in one or more joints. | A bunion is a small, thick bump that forms on the joint near the big toe. |
| Medical Terms | In scientific terms, it is called ‘Gouty Arthritis.’ | In scientific terms, it is called ‘Hallux Valgus.’ |
| Symptoms | The difficulty in moving or unable to move joints; and severe pain, swelling, and redness can be the common symptoms. | Joint pain in the big toe of the legs, a small bump, swelling, calluses (skin thickening), itching, and difficulty in moving the big toe of the leg. |
| Emergence | Gouts are emerged due to the accumulation of urate crystals in any one or more joints in the body. | Bunions are emerged due to heredity, injury, or congenital and anatomical deformity. |
| Occurrence | Its occurrence is controllable by controlling uric acid limits. | Its occurrence cannot be controlled as it is ancestral. |
| Identification | It is diagnosed by performing an X-ray, an ultrasound scan, blood, urine, or joint fluid test. | It is diagnosed by performing an X-ray scan of the feet to confirm. And in rare cases, a blood test is recommended. |
| Procurements | It needs a medical diagnosis. | It is self-diagnosable but sometimes needs medical interpretation. |
| Home Remedies | Dietary adjustments, exercising, weight loss, the healthy and stress-free living are the home therapies doctors suggest. | Doctors suggest Bunion pads, Shoe inserts, ice packs, and painkillers. Also, gently tapping the foot to massage can help. |
| Surgical Treatments | Colchicine, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NAID), Corticosteroids, Coxib, Dual Energy CT scan, Uricosurics, or Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors (XOI) therapies are suggested for treatment. | Removing bone or tissue from the joint of the affected big toe of the foot. Or permanent joining or realigning of bones around the big toe or even a blood test (if necessary) could be suggested for treatment. |
| Infected Parts | It occurs in any one or more joints of the human body. | It only occurs in one or both big toes on the feet of the human body. |
What is Gout?
Gout is a category of arthritis that appears abruptly and critically. Scientifically, it is known as ‘Gouty Arthritis.’ It can strike oneself with an aggregation of uratic acid in the bones.
Reduced inclination, redness, infection, and discomfort in joints are its primary causes.
Staying hydrated, decreasing the consumption of meat and liquor, and sustaining a healthy weight are the concerns that should be taken to avoid it.
Diet modifications, exercising, weight loss, and healthy and stress-free living can be helpful. But it needs a therapeutic determination.
After a precise physical analysis and pharmaceutical records, specialists endorse the diagnosis.
For critical treatments, Colchicine, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NAID), Corticosteroids, Coxib, Dual Energy CT scan, Uricosurics, or Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors (XOI) therapies doctors suggest.
What is Bunion?
Scientifically, it is known as ‘Hallux Valgus,’ a bunion is a sore bump near the big toe of the feet. Abnormality of feet bones can cause it. Sometimes, it can be painless.
But the big toe will bend more towards another toe; apparently, it will cause pain and permanent malformation.
Inflammation, sore or red toe, turning of the big toe towards other toes, thickening of the skin, problem in moving the toes, or persistent pain can be the primary indications.
Generally, Bunions are genetic diseases. Inherently, faulty foot formation, absurdly flexible ligaments (tissues), or flat feet can cause it.
Still, in any case, taking procurements is our responsibility, starting with avoiding high heels or tight shoes, and avoiding standing for a long time will help a lot to reduce the suffering.
Main Differences Between Gout and Bunion
- Due to the collection of urate crystals in one or more joints in the body, Gout appears. At the same time, Bunions are because of inheritance, ancestry, damage, or fundamental and anatomical disfigurement.
- Physicians suggest proper dietary alterations and daily exercising for the first one. Whereas shoe inserts, painkillers, and ice packs are recommended for the second one.
- Gout appears in any one or more joints of the human body. On the other hand, the bunions are only in one or both big toes of the human feet.
- The former occurs with increased uric acid in the body, so it is manageable, and the latter is not, as it is an ancestral disease.
- Gout needs preventive attention, while Bunion has a chance to be self-diagnosed.
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-50512-1_74
- https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/abs/10.7326/0003-4819-90-5-812
This article has been written by: Supriya Kandekar
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