Gout Symptoms, Causes & Diet Recommendations

Content

• Elevate The Joint
• Gout Prevention
• Maintain A Healthy Body Weight
• Pain Relief Without Medicine
• Gout Remedies That Work
• Rheumatoid Arthritis And Gout: Whats The Difference?
• Health Alert:

Fortunately, present medications are successful in the vast majority of gout patients. But some patients cannot tolerate our present arsenal of gout medications. Some of the more promising include anakinra, rilonacept, canakinumab, BCX4208 and arhalofenate. Cherry juice, which has long been an alternative remedy and which had anecdotal support, now has been studied. At the American College of Rheumatology meeting in November there were two studies looking at cherry juice. It appears that cherry juice may have a small effect in decreasing production of uric acid.

Is chocolate good for gout?

Chocolate can lower uric acid crystallization, according to a 2018 study . Lowering uric acid crystallization can be key to controlling your gout. Chocolate has polyphenols associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Inflammation reduction is helpful in providing relief from a gout attack.

This site provides content for informational purposes only. The information provided is not intended for use as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In case of a medical concern or emergency, please consult your healthcare provider.

Elevate The Joint

Drinking too much alcohol and eating too much rich food were once considered the prime suspects in causing gout. Although eating certain foods and drinking alcohol may cause uric acid levels to spike, these habits alone may not cause gout. If you havegout, you’re all too familiar with the sudden, burning joint pain that a gout attack can bring on – most commonly in the big toe. As a national leader in advanced orthopaedic care, UPMC treats a full range of musculoskeletal disorders, from the acute and chronic to the common and complex.

There is no cure for gout, but it can be controlled quite well with medication. Proper treatment can help you entirely avoid attacks and long-term joint damage. Colchicine can reduce inflammation and pain if you take it within 24 hours of a gout attack. If you have sudden or severe pain in a joint, you should talk to your primary care provider . Your PCP may send you to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in gout and other kinds of arthritis.

Gout Prevention

Don't fast or try to diet too severely because that can raise your uric acid level and make the gout worse. If you are not overweight, watch your diet carefully so you don't become overweight. After several years, the uric acid crystals can build up in the joint and surrounding tissues.

Steroids are strong medicines used to decrease swelling and pain. Steroids are usually only given for gout if you cannot take NSAIDS or colchine. Steroids can be in the form of a pill or given as an injection. Talk to your doctor about whether steroids are safe for you. Eating a healthy balanced diet of low-fat proteins, low-fat dairy and vegetables will help maintain a healthy weight which is beneficial for the prevention of gout attacks as well.

Maintain A Healthy Body Weight

If you have had an attack of gouty arthritis, you should do all of the above and follow the regimen prescribed by your physician. Optimal prevention of gouty arthritis may involve lifelong medical therapy. Surgery is rarely needed for gout unless significant joint damage has occurred from lack of effective treatment. Febuxostat decreases the formation of uric acid by the body and is a very reliable way to lower the blood uric acid level. X-rays are primarily used to assess underlying joint damage, especially in those who have had multiple episodes of gouty arthritis.

Allopurinol reduces the amount of uric acid your body produces. Your doctor may recommend a prescription-strength non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine such as indomethacin. If other members of your family have had gout, you are at greater risk for the disease. Located throughout the body, these thin, slippery sacs with just a slight amount of fluid in them act as cushions between bones and soft tissues. The bursae most commonly inflamed from gout are the boney tip of the elbow and the front of the kneecap .

Who's Affected By Gout?

In most cases patients take this medicine for their entire life, but there are things that you can do reduce the chances of needing a lifetime of medication. This can help you manage the buildup and uric acid and reduce the frequency and duration of your gout attacks. Eating appropriate amounts of a healthy variety of foods to keep your weight under control and to get the nutrition you need. Try to avoid frequent or daily meals consisting of meat, seafood, and alcohol. As always you should drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Your doctor may also prescribe corticosteroids for acute gout attacks.

Other joints that can be affected include the ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows. Gout is due to persistently elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. This occurs from a combination of diet, other health problems, and genetic factors. At high levels, uric acid crystallizes and the crystals deposit in joints, tendons, and surrounding tissues, resulting in an attack of gout. Gout occurs more commonly in those who regularly drink beer or sugar-sweetened beverages or who eat foods that are high in purines such as liver, shellfish, or anchovies, or are overweight.

Gout Remedies That Work

Your body produces uric acid as it breaks down purines—substances found naturally in the body, as well as in certain foods and beverages. There are quite a few home remedies that are said to alleviate and reduce gout inflammation, formation, and flare ups. Once you have been diagnosed with gout, oral medications are usually prescribed. Within a few days, most of the symptoms will significantly decrease. Some people experience a significant improvement within a few hours of treatment. Along with oral medications, you may be asked to change your diet to reduce your intake of foods with high purine levels to decrease your uric acid production.

Can I massage gout away?

WebMD explains that while gout cannot be cured, it can be controlled with treatment. Anti-inflammatory drugs are one method, but in between gout attacks it can be helpful to receive massage therapy.

These nodules may also break open and drain or become infected. People who develop destructive arthritis related to chronic gout may be helped with surgery. If you are also running a fever, you may have an infection. Many people with gout are also diabetic and are at greater risk for infection. During a gout attack, the affected joint is often red and swollen.