How to Treat Gout (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis caused by an excess of uric acid in the tissues of the joints. It is the most common inflammatory arthritis among men. Treating gout symptoms (including pain, joint swelling) is a long battle that can be won with the right means. Learn some of the tips for doing this by reading on.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Diagnosing Gout and Understanding Aggravating Factors

Step 1. Learn about the symptoms of gout

Caused by an excessive deposit of uric acid, the symptoms of gout can vary significantly from one patient to another. Symptoms of gout generally include:

• Feeling of heat, pain, redness and swelling in the joint of a limb, usually the big toe of a foot, although it can often occur in the ankle or knee.
• Pain that begins at night and maintains an almost unbearable intensity.
• Peeling or itching of the skin around the affected joint.

Step 2. Know the goals of gout treatment

Gout causes several symptoms and side effects. Treating gout means understanding how to treat the different aspects of the disease:

• Control the pain in the most acute moments.
• Prevent future attacks.
• Stop the formation of tophi (masses of urea crystals that are deposited in the soft tissues).
• Intercepting the growth of kidney stones.

Step 3. Understand what causes and worsens gout

In this case, prevention is really better than cure. Gout can be caused and aggravated by many different factors:

• Gout can be caused by:

  • Dehydration
  • Excessive consumption of food
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Recent injuries or trauma.

• Gout can be aggravated by:

  • Obesity and weight gain
  • Consumption of alcohol
  • Hypertension
  • High fructose corn syrup
  • Some medications

  Part 2 of 4: Treating Gout Attacks

  

  Step 1. Apply ice to the area for 15 minutes at a time

  You can do an ice pack several times a day, as long as you let your skin rest between applications. Wrap the ice in a towel or put a layer of cloth between your skin and the ice. Ice helps relieve pain and swelling.

  Do not apply ice directly to the skin, as it can damage it

  

  Step 2. Immobilize the limb joints in the area where gout is bothering you

  Keep them raised if you have the chance. This should reduce joint pain and inflammation.

  • Allow yourself to rest and recover.
  • Avoid adding weight on your joints.

  

  Step 3. Take a non-steroidal pain reliever after consulting your doctor

  You can take ibuprofen, naproxen or indomethacin. Their function is to reduce pain and inflammation.

  • Avoid using medications without consulting your doctor first.
  • Follow all the instructions on the leaflet.

  

  Step 4. Ask your doctor if you can take colchicine

  Colchicine is a tablet medicine that blocks inflammation caused by uric acid crystals. Colchicine may also be useful for reducing pain in patients who cannot take anti-inflammatories, although it can be taken in combination with these. There is some evidence to suggest that colchicine may reduce the likelihood of future gout attacks.

  • Colchicine is the ideal solution for attacks that occur less than 36 hours in frequency.
  • You shouldn't take it if you've already taken it in the past 14 days for another acute attack.

  

  Step 5. Take corticosteroids

  Corticosteroids relieve many of the symptoms associated with gout, including pain, redness, and swelling. You should resort to using corticosteroids if:

  • Gout has affected only one joint.
  • The gout attack does not respond to anti-inflammatories
  • Your medical history prevents you from taking colchicine or anti-inflammatories such as naproxen.

  

  Step 6. See your doctor for a treatment regimen for the initial gout attack

  If you suspect that you are dealing with the redness, swelling, and pain of a gout attack, consult your doctor to establish a regimen when the gout attack will debilitate you. Your doctor will prepare a list of activities to be performed and medications to take.

  Part 3 of 4: Managing Complications in the Long Term

  

  Step 1. Start taking a drug that lowers uric acid levels in the blood

  Consult your doctor about what medications to take to reduce uric acid levels. These drugs can include:

  • Agents for reducing urate levels. They can include febuxostat, allopurinol, or probenecid. These drugs are commonly prescribed to help manage gout.
  • Uricosuric agents. Uricosuric agents stimulate the kidneys to work harder, thereby eliminating excess uric acid. Uricosuric agents guarantee good results for 75% of patients.
  • Xanthine oxidase inhibitors. This type of drugs prevent the formation of xanthine oxidase, a substance essential for the accumulation of uric acid.

  

  Step 2. Check your weight and exercise more

  

  Step 3. Pay attention to what you drink

  Alcohol, especially beer, blocks the release of uric acid in the urine, causing it to deposit in the body. Beer also contains a lot of purines, which the body metabolizes into uric acid.

  

  Step 4. Drink at least 3 liters of fluid every day

  Better if just water. Add a few slices of orange, lemon, or cucumber to give the water more flavor. You can also drink tea and coffee. Alternatively, eat fluid-rich foods, such as soups, fruits, and vegetables.

  Coffee actually helps lower uric acid levels as well, so it can be a fantastic option for managing gout

  

  Step 5. Talk to your doctor about the medications you are taking

  Some medications you are taking may interfere with the medications you are using to treat gout, as well as affect the amount of uric acid your body produces. Talk to your doctor about drug interactions that may occur.

  

  Step 6. Protect your joints

  Avoid joint injuries and repetitive movements that can aggravate the joint situation. Walk or run on softer surfaces (a track or sand, for example) instead of concrete.

  Part 4 of 4: Using the Diet to Cure Gout

  

  Step 1. Avoid the high-risk foods associated with gout

  Foods that contain purines have a high risk of worsening gout. Purines raise uric acid levels in the body, causing painful inflammation in the joints. Foods rich in purines include:

  • Animal organs such as liver, kidneys, brains and sweetbreads
  • Meats, especially red meats, such as sausages, beef, lamb and game
  • Anchovies, sardines, herring, scallops, mackerel
  • fat
  • Beer

  

  Step 2. Limit your consumption of foods that contain an average amount of purines

  Foods you should consume carefully and in moderation include:

  • Seafood and fish
  • Oats

  

  Step 3. Enjoy foods that are particularly low in purines

  The following foods can be eaten without worrying about their effects on uric acid levels:

  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Fruit and fruit juices
  • Processed bread and cereals (not wholemeal)
  • Chocolate and cocoa
  • Butter, buttermilk, eggs and cheese
  • Beverages such as coffee, tea and carbonated soft drinks
  • Dried fruit and dried fruit butters

  

  Step 4. Eat foods that can help cure gout

  Foods low in purines don't necessarily make it suitable for gout, but they don't make it worse either. The following foods may be helpful in warding off symptoms:

  • Fat-free or low-fat milk
  • Light yogurt

  Advice

  • Visit the Arthritis Foundation website for useful information:
  • Eating potassium-rich foods can reduce gout symptoms during an attack.

  Warnings

  • Recurring cases of acute gout can lead to a degenerative form of arthritis called gouty arthritis.
  • Gout is linked to an increased risk of kidney stones.