Author Topic: Ever experience the "gout"? (Read 1271 times)

buffermop · « **on:** January 12, 2009, 11:40:30 PM »

My first time ever. I would not wish this on my worst enemy! Up all night looking on the net for home remedies. I found a jar of cherries in the cabinet and downed half of them as one website suggests. Now to see if they work? Not a pleasant experience for sure.

jlchucker · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2009, 02:25:34 AM »

Buffermop, I've experienced it several times. Far less frequently nowadays than when I first got it a number of years ago. I knew right away what it was the first time because my dad had it some years before that. TAKE MY WORD FOR IT! GO TO THE DOC AND GET SOME PILLS, AND THE PAIN WILL GO AWAY IN A FEW HOURS. As you most likely know by now, the pain is excruciating. It only gets worse. Cherries are a home remedy, and may work when you first feel the initial twinges, but once it gets going, nothing but the doc's prescription will work. One doc told me once, just as I was preparing to go on a lengthy business trip, that if I first started feeling it and didn't have my two prescriptions on hand, that Aleve would work to some extent.

Buffermop, about now you'd probably be in favor of chopping off your own toe, but can't stand the pain of hobbling out to get your axe! GO TO THE DOC!!!! THOSE PILLS WORK!!! After you're cured, stay away from shellfish (the worst thing) and switch to light beer. Get a light workout program going. And take care to keep a few of those pills the doc prescribes on hand, for when you first feel it coming on again.

Cement Man · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2009, 03:17:26 AM »

I've had it a few times and it aint no joke - like a lot of people think it is (eating rich foods and drinking too much, etc.). Even the weight of a blanket on your foot hurts. The things you should know are - once you get it, you are more likely to get a spell again - each time the odds go up for another bout. The uric acid crystals that collect in the joint can do permanent damage. Well, read this...

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/uric-acid-in-blood

Don't confuse knocking down the inflamation with a treatment for gout - it's not. The doc typically put me on steroids and painkillers to knock it down but that doesn't solve any problems - it is only temporary relief.

The important thing is to avoid a spell. My Dr. put me on allupurinol 200 mg per day. It wasn't enough. I went to a rheumatologist who upped it to 300 mg/day and have since (2 years) been having no problems. Pretty simple solution (in my case anyway). I take it every morning. See a doc!

Quote from: jlchucker on January 13, 2009, 02:25:34 AM

Buffermop, about now you'd probably be in favor of chopping off your own toe, but can't stand the pain of hobbling out to get your axe! GO TO THE DOC!!!!

You got that right!

Added this link: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/gout-topic-overview

I should have put this one in. I jumped right to problems with uric acid in the blood.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2009, 05:13:37 AM »

I have broken many bones, dislocated both knees, received numerous deep lacerations over the years but nothing compares to the pain of a full blown gout attack. It runs in my family so I saw what my father and grandfather went through. My dad had a very high pain tolerance but when he would get gout in his knee he would have quiet tears running down his cheek as he tried to walk.

Mention was made of the weight of a blanket being too much for a gouty toe to handle.......I would say the weight of a sheet is enough to wake you out of a sleep when gout gets your toe.

I havent tried the cherry remedy yet, just resort to the doc's Rx of steroids and pain killers, then recoup in a few days. I usually get three or four attacks each year.

muskeg13 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2009, 09:24:14 AM »

I've had bouts of it from time to time for the last 10 years or so, once I hit 40. It wasn't so bad at first, and it seemed to go away on its own after a few days, but that isn't the case now. These days, when I get it, unless I take my prescription medicine right away, it will set in for 2 weeks or longer. I my case, home remedies may give some temporary relief for the symptoms, but only the prescription medication (Indomethacin 25mg) or (long painful) time will cause it to go away. I only take my prescription at the onset of an attack.

Like others have said, get into see a doctor, because none of the over the counter medicine is really effective. Once I have an attack there are a few things that seem to lessen the pain or cause it to go away sooner:

1. Drink lots of water. Force yourself to drink much more than usual. Your urine should be almost clear, and the more you go, the better.
2. Cold water or an ice pack on the joint may give some temporary pain relief and allow you to sleep.
3. This hurts, but I try to exercise the joint. I massage it after/during applying ice, and if I can stand it, I try to take short walks, and then elevate the joint and apply ice.

buffermop · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2009, 09:35:01 AM »

Thank you one and all for your experience and support on the "gout" situation. I happen to be a chronic asthmatic also currently taking long term steroid treatments. I ate a jar of cherries, juice and all while taking the steroids. That seem to put a halt on the pain for the time being.I hope no re occurrence happens!

Cement Man · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2009, 12:17:24 PM »

I hope you feel better Buffermop.

Slowhanddd · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2009, 01:39:41 PM »

Oh man does it hurt.I tell people that don't have it like this.Put a cuckle burr on your foot,put on your sock then put on a shoe two sizes too small.I've had it for about 18 years.Since I turned forty.My dad and Grand dad both had it.Allupurinol helps me too.I can usually tell the day before it comes on.Get a stiff toe and a little twangie.Start taking the pills then.Should be taking them every day,but hate taking stuff.I have to watch eating too many nuts.Nuts of any kind in too many handfuls will set me off every time.Beer never did bother me or whiskey.Slow

cochise · « **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2009, 03:33:48 PM »

I feel your pain... It more than likely will be back and ever worsening. I went through two years of it before I found the right doctor. You need colchicine and allopurinol. Don't wait! You would have to eat bushels of cherries to get the effect of a few allopurinol tablets. Gout wil eventually damage your joints if you keep getting attacks. I had to have steroids injected directly into my wrist and knee to calm down my worst attacks. Some doctors seem to only know how to treat the symptoms instead of the root problem. If your doc doesn't order a blood test for uric acid and get you on antiinflamatories and allopurinol see someone else. I have found that elevating the joint and soaking in extremely hot water along with a painkiller if available eased the pain during the attack. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

rockbilly · « **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2009, 04:03:10 PM »

I know the pain. I have it in the big toe on my right foot. Until I found out what I had and how to treat it I would almost cry when I pulled my boots off. It even hurt to have the ceiling fan blow on it.

Gout is the result of an excess of uric acid in the blood. It causes tiny crystals to build up in the joints, it is detected by taking a blood test from the area (I had a needle stuck in the joint of my toe). You can try all the home remedies you want, but very little will give any relief. My Doctor prescribed Allopurinol (Zyloprim) for mine. For well over six years now I have taken one tablet each night and have not experienced any pain since I started taking the medication.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2009, 05:48:26 PM »

Rockbilly and others:

Have you had any side effects from taking the allopurinol daily?

Cement Man · « **Reply #11 on:** January 13, 2009, 06:55:29 PM »

I take 300 mg a day and not aware of any side effects.

rockbilly · « **Reply #12 on:** January 14, 2009, 07:09:43 AM »

Like I said, I have been taking it for well over six years, the only side effect I have experienced is that it make me horny.lol!!!

MGMorden · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2009, 10:37:52 AM »

Had gout since I was 20 years old (now 27). It's the worse pain I've felt it my life. Started out in my feet. About 2 years ago started getting flare ups in my knees too. For a long time I was on cholchicine which does work pretty well to stop a flare up. As others have mentioned though, it only stops the flare up - it does nothing to help the buildups that actually CAUSE the flare ups.

Recently though a tophus (little build up of the crystals that cause gout) started to form beside the big toe on my right foot, so the doc put me on 200mg of Allopurinol per day about 4 months ago. I've been in constant pain from it after that, but from my understanding that's part of the medicine taking it's course. Has to flush out all the joints of any build up before you go pain free, which can take up to a year. Most of the flare ups have also been in that foot with the tophus so naturally it'll take longer to come out of there.

But yeah, gout is an awful, awful thing.

Just an edit on side effects: the only thing I noticed from the Allopurinol is occasional light stomach pain and nausea. Nothing serious though. Compared to the gout pain it's like a tickle barely worth mentioning

.

cochise · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2009, 06:51:26 AM »

Be sure the doc prescribes an anti-inflamatory med with the allopurinol. Allopurinol frees up more uric acid in the blood and taking it can actually increase the number of attacks at first. I found this out the hard way. I finally found the right doctor and he prescribed naproxen to go with the allopurinol and I haven't had an attack since.

jlchucker · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2009, 11:28:45 AM »

Quote from: cochise on January 19, 2009, 06:51:26 AM

Be sure the doc prescribes an anti-inflamatory med with the allopurinol. Allopurinol frees up more uric acid in the blood and taking it can actually increase the number of attacks at first. I found this out the hard way. I finally found the right doctor and he prescribed naproxen to go with the allopurinol and I haven't had an attack since.

Both doctors that wrote prescriptions for me wrote two. The first doc prescribed alopurinol and and a green capsule (indomethacin). The second doc prescribed colchicine and what looks like the same green capsule. You're right. You need two prescriptions, and then, if all goes well and you take care of yourself it will be a long time between attacks. Save the pills. If you even think you're feeling another attack starting, pop the pills according to directions until the feeling goes away. Cherries, home remedies, etc. might prove worth something when an attack is about to start, or as a preventative, but once the pain starts coming, only the prescriptions will help. If buffermop hasn't been to the doc yet he's some kind of ironman, or worse, some kind of idiot. No offense, bufferman, but you're now a vet of the gout like the rest of us who've responded to your initial plea. By this time the pain is a memory for you if you went to the doc, and you feel OK--I hope so. Be mindful though--it can, and will come back. Only you can control the intensity.

Moss88hunter · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2009, 06:12:34 PM »

My grandpa and one of his good friends have had it. His friend had problems when he ate lots of salty food especially country ham. Hope this helps.

Evan

swordfish · « **Reply #17 on:** January 21, 2009, 08:16:06 AM »

I've had it bad for many years. It's now under control.

Water, water, and more water. Fruit, fruit, and more fruit. Eat only fruit for 2 weeks if you can.

Control your diet, it sucks but if you have it bad you will need to change your life style.

No "game meats", red meat, shellfish, and Alcohol (of any kind). Once you get it under control you can deviate a bit, but not much. It took me 3 years to get it under control once I committed to doing it.
If you turn your self into a vegetarian for a while you will get it under control faster. I know this all sucks but you've felt the pain, when you are sick of the pain read this again.

Don't bother with all those remedies you read about on-line, they don't work. They are just steeling your $ while you are in pain and willing to try anything. Trust me I've been there and tried all of them. See a Dr. who specializes in Gout and take the meds.

Meds. (SP?)
Alopurinal 300mg 2X daily (stops uric acid production)
Colchine 6mg 2X daily (leaches out uric acid)
Neproxin 500mg for swelling (as needed) 2 Aleave works
Pain killers (as needed)

Side effects: I got uric acid kidney stones until all the uric acid build up was gone. (very painful)

If you don't have it bad you shouldn't have to go through all this. I hope not.

Chas. · « **Reply #18 on:** January 21, 2009, 10:08:37 AM »

Gout here for several years and have taken Allopurinol for most of that time. Several years I quit drinking beer (or any alcohol) and I stopped the Allopurinol thinking I didn't need it - Wrong.

For the attacks that I've had, the doc usually prescribes a 10mg prednisone dose-pak - gout attack comes under control by breakfast tomorrow. The prednisone also fixes anything else that may be bothering you - for a while.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2009, 03:53:54 PM »

My attacks started in 2001 (at age 52) in my left big toe. Doc gave me the Indomethicin and some high-grade Tylenol. Over these next 8 years, I've probably had an attack about every year, always in my left big toe. The last two attacks I've gotten through with 200mg tablets of Naproxen Sodium, about 4 tablets at a time. I've narrowed the cause down to "not enough water". I'm a coffee drinker, very little soda, and a milkshake now and then, but never a glass of water. When I remember to force myself to take a qt of water with me to work and actually drink it, I believe the attacks are way further apart.

Agree with everything previously posted!! It is not a fun event!! And NO, not even the weight of a sheet!

Regards,
Sweetwater