A gout attack is so painful that it can wake you from a night's sleep. These attacks occur when uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints. Although it can occur in the joints of the feet and hands, it is most common in the big toe. Joints that experience this attack will feel painful and inflamed. The most effective way to deal with gout is to use medications that are recommended by your doctor, but you can supplement it with home remedies to relieve pain and make lifestyle changes to reduce attacks in the future.
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Part 1 of 3: Coping with Pain at Home
Step 1. Elevate the swollen joint
This position will help improve circulation and blood flow.
- If your feet are swollen, lie down in bed and provide some pillows for support.
- If it's so painful, covering the joint with a cloth may even be too painful.
Step 2. Relieve joint pain by applying ice
This will help reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
- Apply an ice pack for 20 minutes and then allow your skin to warm up again. That way, the cold temperature will not damage the skin layer.
- If you don't have ice at home, use a bag of beans or corn instead.
- Always wrap the ice or bag of frozen vegetables in a thin towel so the ice doesn't stick directly to the surface of the skin.
Step 3. Try using a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
These medications can help relieve pain and inflammation. Take this medicine immediately during an attack and for 2 days afterward.
- Drugs that can be used include ibuprofen (Ifen, Bufect), and naproxen sodium (Aleve).
- These drugs are not recommended for people with stomach ulcers or bleeding, kidney problems, or blood pressure problems.
- Do not use aspirin because it can increase uric acid levels.
- If you are currently taking other medications, consult your doctor to avoid possible drug interactions.
Part 2 of 3: Reducing Gout Attacks by Changing Your Lifestyle
Step 1. Change your diet to reduce your purine intake
When digesting purines, the body will produce uric acid which can accumulate in the body as urate crystals in the joints. By reducing the purines in your diet, you will reduce the amount of purines your body has to process.
- Reduce intake of red meat such as steak.
- Do not eat rabbit, pheasant, or deer meat.
- Avoid consuming offal such as liver, kidney, heart, and thymus gland.
- Reduce your intake of seafood, especially caviar and shellfish such as mussels, crab, and shrimp. You should also avoid oily fish such as sardines, anchovies, mackerel, herring, trout and trout.
- Yeast and meat extracts are also rich in purines. These foods include products such as Marmite, Bovril, and many other packaged meat sauces.
- Low-fat dairy products can reduce the risk of gout attacks.
Step 2. Reduce alcohol intake
Alcohol, especially beer and spirits, has a high purine content.
- Having an occasional glass of wine is fine, and even beneficial.
- Drinking too much alcohol can trigger gout attacks.
Step 3. Avoid drinks that contain fructose as a sweetener
Drinks like this can make gout attacks worse.
Drinks containing cherry extract as a flavoring are an exception, as long as they are not artificially flavored and contain other sugars. Cherry fruit and cherry extract can help lower uric acid levels
Step 4. Drink plenty of water to promote healthy kidney function
Kidneys are organs that are very important to produce urine and excrete uric acid through the urine.
- The amount of water you need will vary depending on your size, activity level, and the climate in which you live. However, you should drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.
- When you feel thirsty, your body is dehydrated and you should drink immediately. Signs that you are dehydrated include infrequent urination, or if your urine is dark or cloudy.
Step 5. Exercise regularly
Exercise will improve your overall health and make you feel better.
- Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, or 15 minutes of more vigorous exercise such as running, 5 days a week.
- Swimming is a great option for exercising without putting too much stress on sore joints.
Step 6. Lose weight if you are overweight
Even so, you must follow a healthy diet that is sustainable.
Crash diets that aim to lose weight quickly are often high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Such diets are usually rich in purines and can exacerbate gout attacks
Step 7. Try taking a vitamin C supplement
Vitamin C will help excrete uric acid through the urine, and can fight gout attacks.
- Consult with your doctor first before using supplements to ensure their suitability for your condition.
- Vitamin C only slightly reduces uric acid, so while it may help prevent future attacks, it may not cure it.
Step 8. Drink coffee
Whether caffeinated or not, coffee can help lower uric acid levels in the body. However, the evidence to support it is weak because research has yet to find a way this can happen.
Part 3 of 3: Knowing When to Visit the Doctor
Step 1. See a doctor if it's your first gout attack
Gout can damage joints and it's best to treat it as soon as possible. Early treatment can also help reduce the pain you are experiencing as quickly as possible.
- Symptoms include severe pain, inflammation, and redness in the aching joint for several hours and milder pain for days or weeks afterward. The joints of the hands and feet are the most commonly affected areas.
- Although it can be managed with lifestyle changes, gout treatment usually requires medication.
- Visit your doctor immediately if your gout attack is accompanied by fever or hot joints. These symptoms may indicate an infection that must be treated immediately.
Step 2. Discuss the various drug options available to treat gout
Your doctor will help you develop a treatment that fits your needs and medical history. Your doctor may prescribe:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. If over-the-counter medications aren't effective and can't relieve your pain, your doctor can prescribe an even stronger medication.
- Colchicine. This drug can reduce the inflammatory reaction in the lining of the joints caused by uric acid crystals.
- Corticosteroids. These drugs may be given by injection directly into the joint for quick relief of the attack, and are especially helpful for those who cannot take NSAIDs. However, these corticosteroids cannot be used long term.
- If you have a history of gout, your doctor may prescribe medication to lower uric acid levels by reducing the amount of uric acid your body produces or increasing the amount your body excretes.
Step 3. Consider the risk of future attacks when selecting treatment measures
Some people are more prone to gout than others. Factors that increase the risk of gout include:
- A diet rich in meat, seafood, sugary drinks, and beer.
- Overweight.
- High blood pressure, diabetes, metabolic problems, heart or kidney disease.
- Use of certain medications to control hypertension, antirejection medications after organ transplantation, or aspirin.
- History of gout in the family.
- Have had surgery or have had an injury.
- Men are more prone to gout than women. However, the risk of gout in women will increase after menopause.
Warning
- Do not use aspirin even if it can relieve pain. Aspirin has been known to increase uric acid levels in the bloodstream. This can exacerbate pain and inflammation in the affected joint.
- Always consult your doctor before trying any diet or home remedy.
