Gout - Gouty Arthritis

Have you ever woken up during the night and feel as though your big toe is tender and raging with heat?  Even the weight of the bedding is excruciating.  You take a look at the offending toe and see that it is swollen and red.  Okay, looks as though you are having an attach of gout (gouty arthritis).

Gout is a complex disorder that can affect anyone. Men are more likely to get gout than women are, but women become increasingly susceptible to gout after menopause.

Fortunately, gout is treatable, and there are ways to keep gout from recurring.

What is Gout? 

Gout has often been referred to as the Disease of Kings or the Rich Man's Disease as it was associated to an over-indulgence of rich foods and alcohol that only the rich could afford. Although this is not the case, excess alcohol and some medications (such as diuretics) can increase the risk of a gout attack.  

Gout is an extremely painful and debilitating type of arthritis that has been around for hundreds of years. Symptoms usually consist of intense pain and swelling in single joints, especially the big toe.   

Gout results from an excess of uric acid depositing in tissues of the body, resulting in recurring attacks of joint inflammation.  This occurs either due to uric acid production increasing or, because the kidneys are unable to adequately remove uric acid from the body.   Chronic gout can lead to decreased kidney function, and kidney stones.

Symptoms of Gout

Gout usually develops in the first metatarsal phalangeal joint of the big toe (hallux) or the ankle joints.  It is usually extremely painful with rapid onset of joint inflammation, pain, heat and redness of the joint tissue. 

People suffering with gout experience intense pain when the affected area is touched or moved - even light bedding increases the pain. Gout commonly occurs in one joint at a time, although two or three joints can develop symptoms simultaneously however this is rare. It is essential that gout is treated quickly to avoid joint damage and disability.

Treatment for Gout

Treatment is aimed at reducing the amount of uric acid in the joints to relieve the pain and prevent joint damage.

Treatment can involve non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).  Due to potentially severe gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects, this type of medication should be used strictly as instructed. Corticosteroids are often prescribed to be taken orally or injected into the affected joint. These medications usually resolve symptoms in about seven days.

Lowering blood uric acid levels is important and other drugs that can be taken over a prolonged period are often prescribed.  Many patients with increased blood uric acid levels may not develop gouty attacks or kidney stones, therefore prolonged treatment with uric acid-lowering drugs should be individualized.

The prevention of acute gout attacks is equally as important as treating the acute arthritis. Preventing acute gout involves maintaining adequate fluid intake, weight reduction, dietary changes, reduction in alcohol consumption, and medications to reduce hyperuricemia.  People suffering from gout attacks should avoid medications containing aspirin as this prevents the kidney excretion of uric acid.

To assist with the relief of pain and inflammation, you may find ice packs useful, also resting the affected joint in an elevated position can also bring relief.

Alternate and natural therapies include a prescribed diet, homeopathic remedies and acupuncture are also used by many people with great success.  Acupuncture points on the liver and spleen/pancreas meridians are stimulated.  Biochemic Tissue salts are taken to assist with neutralising acid.