Should I go to urgent care?
Edit: Thanks everyone. I’m at urgent care now waiting for a dexamethasone shot and uric acid lab to be drawn
For the last 4-5 years, I’ve gotten random flares of pain in my big toe joint. I’d always assumed it was either a slight bunion, or just pain from the gym. It usually lasted 3 or 4 days. About 3 weeks ago, the pain flared up again. This time, the joint is red, warm, swollen, and about an 8/10 pain when walking. It has not gotten better since it started. Most of the people I’ve talked to say it sounds like gout, and I think it sounds like gout as well. I’ve cut out alcohol (wasn’t a huge drinker, but I was having a few old fashioneds on the weekend), cut my meat consumption in half, and gone through 4 bottles of tart cherry juice with zero change.
I set up an appointment with my PCP, but the earliest available time is 5 weeks out. I’ve never had a uric acid blood test. Would you wait for the PCP appointment, or go to urgent care? Is that even something they would be able to address? I’m on my feet most of the day at work, so it’s miserable.