Your severe left foot pain recurring after one year, with history of similar episode treated as gout/acute arthritis (febuxostat + deflazacort + Ultracet), strongly suggests recurrent acute gouty arthritis or gout flare in the left foot (most commonly big toe, but can affect midfoot/ankle).
The fact that the same medicines were advised again but no relief this time is concerning — possible reasons:
• Higher
uric acid load / resistant flare
• Infection or cellulitis superimposed on gout
• Wrong diagnosis (pseudo-gout, septic arthritis, fracture/stress injury, or peripheral vascular issue)
• Inadequate dose/duration of anti-inflammatory (deflazacort 12 mg is moderate, may need higher/short burst)
• Febuxostat 80 mg is urate-lowering, but it can paradoxically worsen acute flares if started without cover — it should be continued only after flare settles
At this severity (assuming you can’t walk/bear weight), this is not a simple flare anymore — needs urgent re-evaluation to rule out infection or other mimic.
Next Steps
1. Go to doctor/hospital TODAY (do not wait 2–3 days) — preferably rheumatologist or orthopedic doctor who treats gout. If pain is unbearable or foot is red/hot/swollen → go to emergency / orthopedic OPD.
• Take previous prescription + any
uric acid reports
• Ask for:
• Serum uric acid (current level)
• X-ray left foot (rule out fracture, erosions, chondrocalcinosis)
• Joint aspiration (if swelling present) — fluid analysis for crystals (urate vs CPPD) + culture (rule out septic arthritis)
• CBC,
CRP, ESR (infection/inflammation markers)
2. Do NOT continue same medicines blindly — especially if no relief after 2–3 days.
• Febuxostat should be continued long-term (once flare controlled), but acute flare needs strong anti-inflammatory cover first.
Health Tips
• Pain relief right now (safe till doctor visit):
• Indomethacin 50 mg three times a day (after food) — very effective for acute gout (better than Ultracet)
• Or Naproxen 500 mg twice daily (strong NSAID)
• Colchicine 0.5 mg twice daily (if no diarrhea) — specific for gout flare
• Ice pack wrapped in cloth 10–15 min every 2–3 hours
• Elevate left leg above heart level when sitting/lying
• Absolute rest — no weight-bearing on left foot (use crutches/stick if needed)
• Avoid
• Alcohol, red meat, shellfish, mushrooms, spinach (high purine)
• Dehydration — drink 3–4 liters water/day
• Self-increasing deflazacort — can cause side effects
• Long-term (after acute control):
• Continue febuxostat 80 mg daily (target
uric acid