Content

• Steps

Gout is a complex form of arthritis that usually occurs in men; however, women are also at risk of experiencing gout after menopause. Gout can happen at any time, ruining your nighttime sleep with a burning sensation in the joints or muscles. Problems in joints or muscles will become hot, swollen, and painful even by touching the sheets lightly. Fortunately, gout can be cured with a variety of methods.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Recognize the symptoms of gout

1. 

   Watch for pain, swelling, or redness. Gout often causes severe joint pain, such as the thumb joint, or ankle, wrist, or elbow. Problematic joints swell and the skin becomes red or inflamed.
   • Any joint can suffer from gout, and sometimes more than one joint will suffer at the same time.

2. 

   
   
   Watch for pain while walking. When you have gout, you will feel joint pain when you put pressure on them, and even light sheets are enough to make you uncomfortable. You will have difficulty moving or even unable to move the joint.
   • Gout is sometimes mistaken for another form of arthritis. If you are not sure if you have gout or not, you should see your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.

3. 

   
   
   Gout treatment as soon as possible. If the pain is sudden and severe, you should see your doctor right away. Otherwise, gout can cause more severe pain and damage joints. See a doctor right away if you have a fever, heat, and arthritis, as these could be signs of gout.
   • If left untreated, gout can last for many days, but usually disappears completely within 7-10 days.
   • Some people have gout only once in their life, but others may experience it weeks, months, or even years after the last gout attack.
   advertisement

Method 2 of 3: Apply home remedies

1. 

   
   
   Take off your clothes and lift the affected joint. Take off all clothing or bed sheets that come in contact with your hands or feet to allow ventilation. Place pillows under arms or legs to lift joints. Avoid moving or damaging the problematic limb while lifting.

2. 

   Apply cold ice to your hands or feet. You need to use cold compresses on the problem joint to relieve pain or swelling. Use a towel to cover the frozen ice or beans before applying it to the joint.

3. 

   Continue to apply ice for about 20 minutes. Only use ice up to every 20 minutes. Do not leave skin in direct contact for more than 20 minutes continuously because it may damage the skin.
   • Touch the gouted joint to check the temperature returns to normal before using the ice pack again.
   advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Take medications

1. 

   Use an anti-inflammatory pain reliever (NSAID). People with gout are often prescribed NSAIDs in pill form in case gout occurs. Pain relievers work to minimize gout and overcome symptoms within 12-24 hours. Some of the medications that your doctor prescribes include diclofenac, indometacin, and naproxen. Most people can take these drugs without complications, but there are a number of side effects that may include:
   • Bowel bleeding. You are at risk if you are over 65 or have ulcers. If you're at risk, don't take these medications and talk to your doctor about alternative medicines.
   • People with asthma, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or heart disease cannot take anti-inflammatory pain relievers.
   • If you are taking other medications, they may interact with anti-inflammatory pain relievers. Before taking any pain reliever, talk to your doctor about the medication you are taking.

2. 

   Take an anti-inflammatory pain reliever once. Follow the dosage recommended by your doctor and do not take too many pain relievers at the same time. Continue taking the medicine while you are having gout and 48 hours after the pain disappears.

3. 

   Ask your doctor about proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). NSAIDs should be used in combination with PPIs to minimize side effects of NASAID causing indigestion, intestinal ulcers, and intestinal bleeding.
   • This drug also protects the intestinal tract in case you have taken aspirin and then have gout. Aspirin combined with anti-inflammatory drugs will increase the risk of intestinal bleeding. PPIs work to limit this risk.
   • Your doctor may also prescribe an interleukin-1 inhibitor to remedy the pain. IL-1 provides rapid pain relief in people who do not respond to NSAIDs.

4. 

   Try colchicine if the NSAID isn't working. Colchicine is a medicine extracted from the saffron plant. This is not a pain reliever but it works to prevent urate crystals from causing arthritis, thereby limiting inflammation and pain of gout.
   • Your doctor will prescribe colchicine and this is an effective treatment for gout if taken within the first 12 hours of a gout attack. However, you should only use a low dose as it can cause side effects such as nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
   • Always follow the recommended dosage. Most patients should only take a maximum of two to four colchicine capsules per day.

5. 

   Consult your doctor about corticosteroids. This is the steroid for people who have not responded to other treatments and cannot take NSAIDs or colchicine. Steroids provide pain relief, but cannot be taken in high doses for a long time because they can cause side effects such as:
   • Weight gain
   • Osteoporosis
   • Bruising and thinning of the skin
   • Muscle weakness
   • Easy to get infected
   • Corticosteroids can worsen diabetes and glaucoma, an eye problem that can cause blindness if left untreated.
   • Do not take corticosteroids if you have impaired kidney or liver function, or are at risk of heart disease.
   advertisement