Please call his office at NYU Langone. I am sure they will answer your question. If you need a rheumatologist, he is very good and thorough. Also he has a keen interest in helping patients.
I see that there’s no public reply and in case anyone else is wondering, or this hasn’t been resolved. Gout is a disorder of the joint, which a Rheumatologist treats, usually affecting the ball of the Foot, which a Podiatrist will also treat. If you’re not sure that it’s gout, either Specialist can diagnose or treat the problem. It’s a build up of lactic acid in the joint. it affects this distal joint because it’s so far away from the heart. oxygen rich blood is needed to clean and replace the old blood to the body. This joint remains still in a stiff shoe and if you don’t walk a lot even more so. Once the lactic acid builds up it’s even more painful to move, so the blood flow is staunched and there the pain and swelling sits. A Rheumatologist does deal with pain & damage in all joints and I bet they see this a lot. Podiatrists, as a specialist in treating disorders of the foot and ankle, are also very skilled in treating this painful condition. Best of luck
Thanks! Your answer is awaiting moderation.