Painful!

[Bailey Guns]

So I went to bed Wed night feeling fine.

When I woke up Thur morning I could barely walk. The area around my big toe on my right foot was red and swollen and felt like someone whacked it with a hammer.

My wife, an RN, came home from work that morning and looked at it and said she thought it was gout. I looked up gout and sure enough, I had all the classic symptoms. It got progressively worse through the day.

Fri afternoon I went to the doc. Yep...it's gout. Kinda the same as kidney stones but the uric acid crystals settle in joints and rip the tissue apart...thus the pain. Basic prognosis: pretty much deal with it. We can put you on meds but they're hit or miss and are mostly long term. No pill you can just take that will cure it.

Today, it's REALLY painful. I'm eating ibuprofen like it was popcorn.

Anyone else ever have to deal with this? Any secrets to feeling better?

[Mazin]

Isn't gout related to diet?

[Bailey Guns]

Can be...or not. None of the things that are thought to cause it are big in my diet...if at all.

Older men, heavy drinkers and people on BP meds tend to get it a little more frequently than the rest of the population. I take BP meds and I'm 50+...prime candidate, I guess. I drink very little.

[Mazin]

Major Pain it, "You want me take yo mind off that pain, give me yo finger".

Sorry I have nothing...

Soak it in salts?

The guy who is coming in for second shift had it, I'll ask and post up what he said.

[ChadAmberg]

If I remember right, you treat it (home remedy style) with apple cider vinegar shots and cherry juice. The vinegar combines somehow with the crystals and carries it out of the joints and you excrete it normally.

[MattR]

My buddy has it and drinking alot of water like a couple gallons per day helps.

[hurley842002]

If I remember right, you treat it (home remedy style) with apple cider vinegar shots and cherry juice. The vinegar combines somehow with the crystals and carries it out of the joints and you excrete it normally.

Yeah i've heard LOTS of cherries or cherry juice works wonders for the pain, outside of that, I would drink LOTS of water, and take lots of vitamin C. Anytime you are trying to flush anything, water is key. I hope you start feeling better soon.

[Great-Kazoo]

NO Alcohol.
i'll swap you the gout for my knee pain.

[StagLefty]

NO Alcohol.
i'll swap you the gout for my knee pain.

I'll raise you a back problem-good grief we're falling apart guys !! [ROFL1]

[Byte Stryke]

My Name is Byte Stryke and I Have gout.


Drink LOTS of water.
Elevate the foot.
DO NOT use and Ice pack, you want to improve blood flow to the area. This aids in the flushing of the excessive acid crystals. Use warm Compresses

THIS IS DIET RELATED. No Dark Greens, Red Meat or shellfish for a few weeks Minimum!

I take etoricoxib for mine
Brand name is Arcoxia from Merck Sharp and Dohme.

[Irving]

Can't they just zap it with a laser?

[ldmaster]

From the National Institutes of Health:

"The exact cause is unknown. Gout may run in families. It is more common in males, postmenopausal women, and people who drink alcohol. People who take certain medicines, such as hydrochlorothiazide and other water pills, may have higher levels of uric acid in the blood.
...
The disorder itself may not be preventable, but you may be able to avoid things that trigger your symptoms. Limit alcohol consumption and follow a low-purine diet."

I know that some gout (in the feet) have been treated by massage. I trained to do it three decades ago (man I'm old), it's a PAINFUL massage, but it worked on everybody. Most of the people I massaged had it in the foot.

Even back then it was generally acknowledged that gout had no specific CAUSE, and ideas abounded as to how to reduce the crystals. But everybody knew that once you had it, you had it for life.


I used to do work in installing cardiac ultrasound devices. Did a lot of work all over Europe and the USA. Since our equipment had a lot of experimental functions (not paid for by medicaid) I installed it at research hospitals and for research physicians involved in studies.

I learned one thing about cardiac problems. The BIGGEST factor in determining is you would get CAD or other problems was your genetics. Several doctors admitted that they researched other causes and came up blank, but since the money was there to find treatments for environmentally related causes (diet, food, etc) they concentrated their efforts there.

I suspect the same is true for gout.

The crystals don't dissolve on their own, IIRC, no amount of water can reduce them - essentially you just get numb to the ongoing pain and your reaction to their presense lessens - thus your symptoms may disappear to your perceptions. Loading your system with water helps in the sense that it reduces the percentage of uric acid in your bloodstream, as a PERCENTAGE - not in absolute terms.

From Wikipedia:

"Generally, the solubilities of uric acid and its alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts in water are rather low and all exhibit greater solubility in hot water than cold, allowing for easy recrystallization. "

Thus heat HELPS with it as long as you apply the heat, but the crystals that might have been dissolved, quickly recrystallize. I am told that the pain gets worse after heat treatment because the crystals are new and "sharper" feeling.


Unfortunately your onset of crystallization MAY be related to coronary artery disease and other factors that increase with age - so there's no escaping it. Pre-diabetics too.


Nobody in my family history has ever had gout (nine aunts and uncles). OTOH, we have had a lot of alcoholics! I don't know which I'd choose, presently - it is NEITHER.

Since the pain is admittedly nearly unbearable, you might as well try every treatment you can find information on, it wont hurt anymore and if it helps you, it's a step up.

So drink cherry juice, lick chocolate off of reese's peanut butter cups, listen to old Bill Cosby albums - it might do some good.

[funkfool]

I had lot's of trouble with gout before they put me on Allopurinol... now.. no more gout...

Take anti-inflammatories.
Naproxen (naproxen sodium) / Naprosin etc...
Worked for me - within 20 minutes - no more pain...
That is what the uric acid crystals in your joints does... irritates and inflames the tissue... causing enormous discomfort...
For those who have never experienced gout pain... you are lucky.
For those that have... you know how painful it can be.

[Mtn.man]

don't take ibupro, messes with the kidneys and won't flush the crystals.
Cherries including black cherry juice.
Water.
Allopurinol will kill you eventually believe me. Research it on webMD.
Gout runs in the family.
Folic acid 450 mg.s per day can help the Non formation of crystals as well as helps your heart.
Naproxin can help, if you can't handle the pain which will last for 7 to 10 days then try to get some Vicodin.

Holistic in the long run is the only way to go.
I've had it in my elbows, knees, and fingers, causes some real damage to joints.

[scratchy]

Colchicine can halt the pain in a few hours. Indomethecin is also used to control the pain ans swelling but can cause stomach bleeding. I use allopurinol to limit uric acid production and heavily modify diet to reduce purine intake. Naproxen (aleve) works on the pain and inflammation too. Other remedies include cherries, cherry juice and extract as well as celery. Welcome to the club. Gout sucks.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Anyone else ever have to deal with this? Any secrets to feeling better?

My granddad had gout and treated it w/ chinese herbal medication. I cannot remember what they were, but it worked great for him - you just have to be consistent.

This is just a quick google...
http://www.ehow.com/way_5602011_chinese-gout-remedy.html

[Bailey Guns]

The doc prescribed allopurinol but I haven't filled the script yet. I'm one of those people who hate taking meds.

I'm gonna try the cherry juice and other liquids route. I've got a physical set up for next week...I was kinda worried about this being a precursor to other problems. We'll see.

Thanks, all, for the advice and comments.


i'll swap you the gout for my knee pain.

Thanks for the offer...but I've already got a pair of 'em.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

I also have gout, for a somewhat quick relief I got some Black Cherry syrup consentrate from King Soopers in the vitamine section. If I have a flare up I chug half a bottle and 20 - 30 minutes it usualy goes away. Does not work for every one. I hope this helps!! [Beer]

[theGinsue]

NO Alcohol.
i'll swap you the gout for my knee pain.
I get gout flair-ups in my toes (usually the big toes) from time to time but live with major knee pain day in and day out.

I can't run anymore due to the knee pain.

I would still live with the knee pain any time over the gout. I find gout excruciating.

[Bailey Guns]

I went through about half a case of bottled water yesterday and lots of juice...mostly grapefruit...didn't have any cherry. In the evening it felt like someone parked their F250 on my foot.

This morning it feels much better. As soon as I can get some shoes on I'm heading to the store for some black cherry juice or extract or whatever. I wanna be ready if (when?) this happens again.

[car-15]

this is the cherry juice I drink for mine, and an added bonus is its colorado made. and it is 100% cherry juice, it tastes better than any watered down store bought crap. but start with small cups until you body gets used to it, or your stomach will hurt worse than your toe.
http://www.coloradocherrycompany.com/products.asp?cat=10

[Mtn.man]

or ya just poop more.

[ChadAmberg]

Colchicine... I thought I heard of that before, and now I remember the government intervention:

Oral colchicine has been used for many years as an unapproved drug with no FDA-approved prescribing information, dosage recommendations, or drug interaction warnings. On July 29, 2009 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved colchicine as a monotherapy for the treatment of familial Mediterranean fever and acute gout flares, and gave 7-year marketing exclusivity to URL Pharma, in exchange for URL Pharma doing 2 new studies. URL Pharma raised the price from $0.09 per pill to $4.85, and sued to remove other versions from market.
So, used to be real cheap, and you could get it from any number of producers (it's just a plant extract after all) but then the FDA got involved and decided to rape everyone's wallet once again with a "won't somebody think of the children" excuse. So it's not bad enough that you have to go through the pain, but now it's like getting your preparation H switched with capsaicin.

[Bailey Guns]

Yeah...big surprise there. The gov't is always ready to step in and "help".

Thanks for the Colorado Cherry Co link. I'm gonna check some of the Whole Foods Markets and other similar stores...it they don't have something good I'll take a road trip to Loveland or just have them ship me a gallon.

[Mtn.man]

Yeah...big surprise there. The gov't is always ready to step in and "help".

Thanks for the Colorado Cherry Co link. I'm gonna check some of the Whole Foods Markets and other similar stores...it they don't have something good I'll take a road trip to Loveland or just have them ship me a gallon.

Hey BG there is 2 new stores up here one next to Healthy Pet and then one in the log building by Long Bros. both I think are holistic herb type stores, maybe give em a call.

Also if you can flush your kidneys like an herbal tea then drinking water you will help flush some of the uric acid.

[Bailey Guns]

Thanks, MM. I'm looking at all kinds of natural options because I just don't like the idea of taking a chemical medication for the rest of my life.

I found some Knudsens Black Cherry juice at Whole Foods at Denver West for anyone interested. 100% juice...no concentrate. Wife says she thinks they sell it at Safeway or KS...so, maybe there is a source up here.

But, much better today. Can actually get boots on and walk.

[car-15]

you know were a bunch of old farts when we have a three page and growing, discussion on gout meds. [ROFL1]

[DeadElephant]

Next thing you know this will be a sticky. Gout sucks...old fart talking.

[Bailey Guns]

[ROFL2]

It's like WebMD with guns!