Gout Sidelines Clifton Smith

"The Devil himself gnawing on your foot."

Clifton Smith has been absent of late, and for the Dolphins game he was listed as having a hamstring injury. For the Chiefs game, no explanation was given other than "inactive." TBO.com reported Saturday evening after the Chiefs game that Clifton Smith has had a Gout flare up. Gout is a condition caused by the body not ridding itself of Uric Acid properly. The levels of Uric Acid increase in the blood stream, and tiny sharp crystals form that settle in the lower joints and stab or irritate the nerve endings and tissue around joints. It most commonly affects the joint of the big toe, but has been known to attack the entire foot, the ankle and the knees. It is rare, but has been known to affect the upper extremities as well.

As a long sufferer of Gout, I can attest to it's grueling pain. At times it is so unbearable you wish someone would cut your foot off. It's constant and there are no positions of comfort like a bad ankle sprain. The weight of a simple bed sheet on top of your foot can feel like a 20 ton truck crushing it beneath it's wheels. I have had rotator cuff surgery, throat and naso septal surgery and stomach surgery. They were extremely painful but couldn't compare to the pain of a severe Gout attack. I would gladly trade having each of those surgeries again in return to never have a Gout flare up again.

In addition to severe pain, the affected area gets red and hot to the touch and extremely swollen. Some patients have experienced tearing of the skin due to swelling beyond the skins capacity to stretch. A British Caricaturist by the name of James Gillray attempted to describe to those who have never suffered from Gout, by painting a picture depicting what Gout felt like to him, which I have displayed above. He described it as the "Devil himself gnawing on your foot." In the picture you can see the depiction of the Devil sinking his teeth and claws into the red swollen skin of the big toe joint, and the flames breathing out his nose showing the constant burning sensation.

Get well soon Clifton.


Go Buccs!!!
ABuccsFan/JJC