Gout is a painful condition that usually affects the big toe and results from having too much uric acid in the joints. While this usually afflicts sedentary people, it can also happen to athletes if they’re not careful with their diet. NBA stars are no exception to this, but which NBA players have gout?
The only two NBA players with gout are Alonzo Mourning and Maurice Cheeks. Other athletes like NFL Emmitt Smith have also gone public with their gout diagnosis. They are sidelined to heal before returning to the game when they get gout.
This article will discuss how these NBA players got gout and what they’re doing to take care of it. It will also discuss what happens after they receive their diagnoses.
1. Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Mourning played in the NBA for 15 seasons while dealing with a rare kidney disease. Unfortunately, this disease increased his chances of gout, especially after he underwent kidney transplants.
When he gets an injury on the court, the medics aren’t allowed to give him anti-inflammatory meds for the pain, as this could aggravate his symptoms and increase the chances of developing gout.
However, he’s living with this condition and rising above it with specific exercises and a strict diet.
2. Maurice Cheeks
As a coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, Maurice Cheeks knows the pain of gout all too well.
After playing for 15 years in the NBA, he moved into coaching. But while coaching, he developed gout and coached 5 games while wearing only one shoe.
He said that it was so painful he couldn’t stand on it. He compared the pain to the worst sports injury he had ever had and said it was worse than his worst injury while playing basketball. Yet he still managed to coach the games.
Since then, he joined the Gout and Uric Education Society and became outspoken on what’s normally a disease of obesity.
How Do NBA Players Get Gout?
In the past, gout was considered an “obesity disease” that only affected those who were sedentary and obese. However, this isn’t entirely true because when protein metabolizes and breaks down, the remaining uric acid can crystalize and form deposits in the joints.
And since NBA players tend to eat more protein than the average person, there can be more of a chance for them to develop gout.
What Happens When NBA Players Have Gout?
Since gout usually develops in the foot or big toe, NBA players must be sidelined for at least 10 days or more until they heal. If the flare-up is specifically bad, they might be out of the game a lot longer than that.
Athletes must work on their diets and medication under a doctor’s supervision.
After the doctor runs a series of tests, the NBA player should cut out all simple carbs and sugars from their diet and drink more water. Their doctor will also prescribe various medications, from over-the-counter meds like Aleve to something stronger for the pain.
Once the doctor has cleared them for games, they can return.