Watch: Sopoaga collapses dramatically, blames gout

Lima Sopoaga collapsed dramatically after taking a 22 metre dropout just a few minutes into the Highlanders’ clash with the Chiefs last Friday night. He later claimed on twitter to have been suffering from a rich man’s disease, but is this really a case of gout?

I'm allgood not my Achilles. Probably just gout ???????????????. Back at it in two weeks

— Lima Sopoaga (@LimaSopoaga) March 30, 2018

According to Wikipedia: Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterised by recurrent attacks of a red, tender, hot, and swollen joint. Pain typically comes on rapidly in less than twelve hours. The joint at the base of the big toe is affected in about half of cases. It may also result in tophi, kidney stones, or urate nephropathy.

Gout is due to persistently elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. This occurs due to a combination of diet and genetic factors. At high levels, uric acid crystallises and the crystals deposit in joints, tendons, and surrounding tissues, resulting in an attack of gout. Gout occurs more commonly in those who regularly eat meat or seafood, drink beer, or are overweight. Diagnosis of gout may be confirmed by the presence of crystals in the joint fluid or tophus. Blood uric acid levels may be normal during an attack.

Treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, or colchicine improves symptoms. Once the acute attack subsides, levels of uric acid can be lowered via lifestyle changes and in those with frequent attacks, allopurinol or probenecid provides long-term prevention. Taking vitamin C and eating a diet high in low fat dairy products may be preventive.

Gout affects about 1 to 2% of the Western population at some point in their lives. It has become more common in recent decades. This is believed to be due to increasing risk factors in the population, such as metabolic syndrome, longer life expectancy, and changes in diet. Older males are most commonly affected. Gout was historically known as “the disease of kings” or “rich man’s disease”. It has been recognised at least since the time of the ancient Egyptians.