I had it bad a couple years ago - I figure from all the beer I drink. It would hit in one of several spots in my toes - couldn't walk for days at a time. First doctor at a walk-in clinic gave me indomethacin; it helped with the pain, but the stuff will eat your stomach out. Then I got hooked up with my present doctor; the long term treatment is allopurinol. I won't go into the biochemistry of it, but it in essence inhibits the production of uric acid, which is what crystallizes out in joints and wreaks all the havoc. The beauty of it: that is about all it does. Been around since the 50's, very safe and cheap too. See the doc, you don't have to live with this pain.

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2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester