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Gout extending recovery time of broken ankle?

Posted , 3 users are following.

megapham
megapham

I've been diagnosed with gout for 6+ years.  Since I've been on Allipurinol for the past, I haven't had an attack.  Howver, I have noticed that when I've sprained my ankle(few times as I play a lot of basketball), recovery seems to take a lot longer than usual, and as soon as I took Colchicine, it's much better within a few days.

Rewind to about 7 months ago, I broke my fibula in a rugby match and tore a bunch of ligaments that were attached.  I had a couple screws put in and they are now out.  The bone is completely healed, but I'm still limping around when this was supposed to be a 3 month recovery.  I can move my ankle in every direction and it doesn't hurt.  The only time it affects me is when I'm walking.  

I felt like this my long recovery time was due to gout.  The rheumotologist stated that uric acid could have filled in during the break, so he put me on a daily regiment of colchicine.  Since then, it's gotten worse.  I have good days and bad days.  My uneducated guess is that colchicine is doing it's job and clearing the uric acid.  However, it's now been a month since I've been on colchicine daily and still no overall improvement.  

Anyone else have any experience with gout extending recovery time of a broken ankle?

Thanks for your time.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Sochima822
    Sochima822 megapham

    Posted

    Yes, as a gout sufferer without meds, any sprain or pulled muscle takes me anywhere from 3-6 weeks to heal. I hear it's common for gout sufferers to take a long time to heal.

    • megapham
      megapham Sochima822

      Posted

      It's unfortunate, but it's good to hear that there's something to my theory.  Thanks for the response.

  • rustygecko
    rustygecko megapham

    Posted

    Colchesine doesn't clear uric acid, allopurinol does. Colchesine reduces activity on certain immune cells reducing inflammation.

  • rustygecko
    rustygecko megapham

    Posted

    The immune response of the white cells is essential for bone healing. Colchesine inhibits this. There has been lots of research showing it not only inhibits healing but the healing is less strong. Stop taking colchesine and change your doctor who should be aware of this.

    This is one research article but there's plenty more:

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16023003/

    • megapham
      megapham rustygecko

      Posted

      Thanks @rustygecko!  This information was incredibly informative and helpful.  I'm going to reach out to my doctor and stop colchicine for a while.  

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