gout? with legs sometimes fail to support weight

[roseofsheryn]

My brother-in-law has been diagnosed with gout.  He has a high level of uric acid and that is the reason for the diagnosis of course the pain and swelling too.
What is wierd though that doesn't seem associated with the gout from what I have read is that he will sometimes step down from a sep and his leg will just not support him and he will fall. He is 42y/o 6'3" and 270 lbs probably.  
I am wondering if he has another condition that could be causing it in addition to gout or if there is something that isn't gout that would cause it. He says the more he reads about gout the more he wonders if that is what he has. It just doesnt seem to fit all his symptoms.  Some stuff that is common to gout he doesnt experience at all. He does have the pain and swelling  but not the fever in the joint or redness.  I was wondering if it could be a circulatory issue or deep vein thrombosis?  
Any ideas would be helpful as the meds only work intermittently.  He is on gout meds: colchicine, diclofenac, and allopurinol.
thanks.

[Mother Margaret]

Does he also have fatigue & other signs of CFS, FM or CFIDS?

"Gout is a type of arthritis that results from too much uric acid in the body. Rather than being flushed by the kidneys and through the urine, as it normally is, it forms crystals and deposits in the joints. These deposits give rise to inflammation of the joints, causing pain, swelling, redness and tenderness of the area."

More info
http://www.arthritis.ca/open%20forum/boards/gout/default.asp?s=1

My question ... does he have some exposures to 2-butoxyethanol?

Could be

He should study up on this chemical

[LukeL]

While I am not a docotr DVT may be a problem but there are usually no symptoms with that. We all have times when are knees give out while walking but most of us catch ourselves before we fall. Your Brother In Law problems may be do to the fact that he is severly overweight if he could get his weight down to around 190-210 depending on his frame he would see a dramatic change in symptoms.

You also need to remember that just because he doesn't fit the text book description of gout doesn't mean that isn't what he has. I have a disease but only have about 4 of the 20+ symptoms of it.

If you are doubting if he has gout have him see a new rhemuatologist for a second opinion. You should also make sure he is following his diet and not cheating on it.