The Best Gout Home Treatment Guide 2020

 

Gout Big Toe Joint Treatment [BEST Home Remedies]

 

Gout is a form of arthritis caused by a build up of uric acid within the body. Uric acid is a waste product of metabolism (breaking down food to make energy) which is usually excreted by the kidneys.

Symptoms of Gout
The symptoms of gout tend to come on very quickly and then last for around a week before easing off again. They include:

 

Gout Explained

Gout is most common in men although can occur in women too. It is most prevalent in men between the ages of 40 and 60 and has a genetic factor making you more likely to suffer with gout if anyone in your family does. Risk factors include a diet high in some meats, seafoods and alcohol, particularly beer.

Certain medications such as aspirin, niacin, diuretics and chemotherapy may also contribute to the development of gout. It is therefore more common in those who suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cancers as well as diabetes and psoriasis.

Problems with the function of the kidneys, or high production of uric acid may mean that crystals develop within the joints which cause pain and inflammation.

 

Diagnosis

The symptoms of Gout which are recorded by your G.P are often used to give a ‘clinical impression’ that Gout is what is causing the pain. However, this is not a diagnosis. To diagnose the condition, further tests are required. These may include:

1)Serum Uric Acid Tests

Serum uric acid tests are performed on a small sample of blood, usually taken from the arm. The test is often carried out 4-6 weeks after an attack of gout becuase at the time of an attack the serum uric acid level is often not elevated.

A raised serum uric acid test result is an indicator that you may have gout, although this is not 100% accurate as people without Gout may sometimes have a higher than normal level.

2)Synovial Fluid

Synovial fluid is found within synovial joints and a sample can be extracted from a joint and examined under microscope. In those with gout, there will almost always be crystals of sodium urate in the sample. This kind of test can also rule out other causes of joint pain.
Treatment

Symptom relief

  • Gout is managed by relieving the pain and treating the condition with both medication and lifestyle changes.
  • To relieve symptoms, rest with the foot elevated and apply cold therapy to cool the joint.
  • Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) such as Ibuprofen can be taken in the first instance to decrease pain. If these are not effective, then your Doctor may prescribe Colchicine which helps to decrease levels of Uric acid. It does however often produce side effects such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In extreme cases, you may be prescribed corticosteroids, although these are not a long-term treatment.

Medications

  • Medications for frequent attacks of gout are known as Urate Lowering Therapies or ULT’s. The aim of these medications is to reduce the urate levels to below the concetration required for crystals to form. They also help to dissolve existing crystals.
  • There are different forms of ULT which have different effects and side-effects. Allopurinol is one of the most common. Febuxostat is another.

Lifestyle changes

  • Lifestyle changes should also be implemented to avoid flare ups of the condition. Eliminating or at least cutting down on the following may be helpful:

  • Meats including liver, kidney, turkey, veal and venison

    Seafood such as anchovies, mackeral, sardines, herrings, mussels and scallops

  • Vegetables including spinach, asparagus, and lentils

  • Anything containing yeast extract such as marmite

  • Alcohol – particularly beers and port

  • Ensure you also drink plenty of water. If you are overweight, loosing weight can help to decrease your uric acid levels, as can exercise.