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• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Recognizing the symptoms of a gout attack
• Method 2 of 3: Treating gout at home
• Method 3 of 3: Using medications

Gout is a complex form of arthritis common in men. However, women are much more susceptible to gout after the menopause. A gout attack can come on suddenly, and often causes you to wake up in the middle of the night with the feeling that a joint or muscle is on fire. The joint or muscle in question will be very warm, swollen, and so sensitive that even the weight of a sheet will seem unbearable. Fortunately, there are ways to soothe a gout attack.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Recognizing the symptoms of a gout attack

1. Examine the joint for intense pain, swelling, or redness. Gout usually causes severe pain in a joint, such as the lower part of your big toe, or joints such as your ankle, wrist, or elbow. The affected joints will swell and the skin may look red or inflamed.
   • All joints can be affected by gout, and sometimes you have gout in two or more joints at the same time.
2. See if walking is painful. It will be very painful to put pressure on the affected joint when you have a gout attack, and even the weight of a sheet or blanket can hurt the joint in question. It may also be that you can move the joint less well or not at all.
   • Sometimes gout is mistaken for other types of arthritis. If you are not sure whether you have gout, you should get an examination by your doctor to determine with certainty.
3. Treat the gout attack as soon as possible. If you suddenly experience intense pain, you should call your doctor immediately. Untreated gout can cause even more severe pain and damage the joint in question. You should seek immediate medical attention if you have a fever and a joint is warm to the touch and inflamed. These are signs that indicate a possible infection.
   • If you do nothing, a gout attack can last several days. However, the attack usually subsides completely within 7 to 10 days.
   • Some people will have just one gout attack in their lifetime, while others may have gout attacks weeks, months, or even years after their last attack.

Method 2 of 3: Treating gout at home

1. Bare the affected body part and hold it up. Remove any clothing or bedding from around the body part so that it is exposed to the air. Lift the body part by placing a pillow underneath. Try not to move or damage the affected body part when you put it up.
2. Place an ice pack on the body part. It is important to keep the affected part of the body cold to relieve pain and swelling. Wrap an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas in a towel and then place it on the body part.
3. Continue to place an ice pack on the body part at 20 minute intervals. Place the ice pack on the body part for only 20 minutes at a time. Do not put it directly on the skin and no longer than 20 minutes at a time, as this can damage your skin.
   • Touch the body part in question before putting the ice pack back on to make sure that the body part is back to normal temperature.

Method 3 of 3: Using medications

1. Get a prescription for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Many people who suffer from gout will have a supply of NSAID tablets at home in case they experience an attack. The painkillers will soothe most gout attacks and relieve your symptoms within 12 to 24 hours. There are several types and brands of NSAIDs that your doctor can prescribe, including diclofenac, indometacin, and naproxen. Most people can use these drugs without any problems, but some side effects can occur, including:
   • Gastric bleeding. This is a risk if you are over 65 or have a stomach ulcer. If any of these apply to you, you should not take these tablets and ask your doctor about other medications you might be taking.
   • Some people with asthma, high blood pressure, certain kidney problems, and heart failure may not be able to take anti-inflammatory painkillers.
   • If you are taking medications for other conditions, they could interact negatively with anti-inflammatory painkillers. If you are taking any other medications, talk to your doctor before taking any painkillers.
2. Take one anti-inflammatory pain reliever at a time. Follow the dose prescribed by your doctor and don't take too many painkillers at the same time. Continue to take the medicine during the attack and do this for another 48 hours after the attack has subsided.
3. Ask your doctor about proton pump inhibitors. NSAIDs must be prescribed in conjunction with proton pump inhibitors. Proton pump inhibitors reduce the risk of NSAIDs causing blockage, stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding.
   • These drugs will also protect your stomach if you've already taken aspirin and then have a gout attack. Taking aspirin and an anti-inflammatory pain reliever will increase the risk of stomach bleeding. Proton pump inhibitors again reduce this risk.
   • Your doctor may also try interleukin-1 inhibitors to control the pain. These drugs can quickly relieve pain in people for whom NSAIDs do not work.
4. Try colchicine if NSAIDs don't work. Colchicine is a drug that comes from the autumn crocus. It is not a pain reliever, but slows down the action of the uric acid crystals that cause inflammation in your joints. As a result, you have slightly less inflammation and pain during a gout attack.
   • Your doctor can prescribe colchicine for you and it can be an effective gout remedy if you take it during the first 12 hours of the attack. However, you should only take low doses because the drug can cause side effects such as nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea.
   • Always take the recommended dose. For most people, this means no more than 2 to 4 colchicine tablets per day.
5. Talk to your doctor about corticosteroid tablets. This is a type of steroid suitable for people who do not work with other drugs and who cannot take NSAIDs or colchicine. A short course of corticosteroid tablets provides relief, but you cannot take high doses of them in the long run. This is because it can cause side effects, such as:
   • Weight gain
   • Osteoporosis, or the thinning of your bones
   • Bruising and thinning of your skin
   • Muscle weakness
   • An increased susceptibility to infections
   • Corticosteroids can also worsen diabetes and glaucoma, an eye condition that can cause blindness if not treated.
   • Do not take corticosteroids if you have reduced kidney or liver function, or are at risk of heart failure.