Gout Pain – 4 Frequently Asked Questions

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Gout Pain – 4 Frequently Asked Questions

                                        

Recognizing Gout Symptoms

1. How can I tell if I’m dealing with gout?

Tests to help diagnose gout pain may include joint fluid tests, blood tests, x-ray imaging, ultrasounds, and dual energy CT scans.

Fluid And Blood Tests

Your doctor may use a needle to draw fluid from your affected joint. When examined under the microscope, your joint fluid may reveal urate crystals. They may also recommend a blood test to measure the levels of uric acid and creatinine in your blood. Blood test results can be misleading, though. Some people have high uric acid levels, but never experience gout. And some people have signs and symptoms of gout, but don’t have unusual levels of uric acid in their blood.

X-Rays, Utrasounds And CT Scans

Joint X-rays can be helpful to recognize gout pain. Musculoskeletal ultrasound can detect urate crystals in a joint or in a tophus. This technique is more widely used in Europe than in the United States. Dual energy CT scan imaging can detect the presence of urate crystals in a joint, even when it is not acutely inflamed. This test is not used routinely in clinical practice due to the expense and is not widely available.

                                

Treating Gout Pain

2. What drugs are used to treat gout pain?

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs include over-the-counter options such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), as well as more-powerful prescription NSAIDs such as indomethacin (Indocin) or celecoxib (Celebrex). Your doctor may prescribe a higher dose to stop an acute attack, followed by a lower daily dose to prevent future attacks. NSAIDs carry risks of stomach pain, bleeding and ulcers.

Colchicine As A Gout Treatment

Your doctor may recommend colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare), a type of pain reliever that effectively reduces gout pain. The drug’s effectiveness is offset in most cases, however, by intolerable side effects, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. After an acute gout attack resolves, your doctor may prescribe a low daily dose of colchicine to prevent future attacks.

Corticosteroids For Gout Pain

A: Treatment for gout usually involves medications. What medications you and your doctor choose will be based on your current health and your own preferences. Gout medications can be used to treat acute attacks and prevent future attacks as well as reduce your risk of complications from gout, such as the development of tophi from urate crystal deposits.

Corticosteroid medications, such as the drug prednisone, may control gout inflammation and pain. Corticosteroids may be administered in pill form, or they can be injected into your joint. Corticosteroids are generally reserved for people who can’t take either NSAIDs or colchicine. Side effects of corticosteroids may include mood changes, increased blood sugar levels and elevated blood pressure.

                                        

Natural Gout Treatments

3. Are there natural ways I can treat a gout attack at home?

A: In addition to medication, certain self-care methods may help your gout flare-up pain.

Use Cold

If the pain isn’t too bad, try cold packs or cold compresses on the joint to lessen the inflammation and help the pain. Ice the joint for 20 to 30 minutes several times a day.

Rest The Joint

It’s a good idea to rest until the pain lessens. Most people having an acute attack of gouty arthritis probably won’t want to move the joint much anyway. Raise the joint if you can on a pillow or other soft object.

Drink Water

A lack of water in your body can make your uric acid levels rise even higher than they already are. Drinking water will help your body stabilize uric acid to a normal level and reduce gout pain.

                                          

Foods That Cause Gout Pain

4. Are there foods I should not eat if I have gout?

A: Purines (specific chemical compounds found in some foods) are broken down into uric acid. A diet rich in purines from certain sources can raise uric acid levels in the body, which sometimes worsen gout pain. Meat and seafood may increase your risk of gout. Dairy products may lower your risk.

Foods High In Purines

• Organ meats, such as liver, kidneys, sweetbreads, and brains
• Meats, including bacon, beef, pork, and lamb
• Game meats
• Any other meats in large amounts
• Anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel, and scallops
• Gravy
• Beer

Foods To Eat Occasionally

• Fish and seafood (other than high purine seafood)
• Oatmeal
• Wheat bran
• Wheat germ

Foods Low In Purines

• Green vegetables and tomatoes
• Fruits
• Breads and cereals that are not whole-grain
• Butter, buttermilk, cheese, and eggs
• Chocolate and cocoa
• Coffee, tea, and carbonated beverages
• Peanut butter and nuts