Dr. Lam Labs, LLC

How to Control Gout Flare-ups and Pain

Do you have gout? If you suddenly experience pain on your foot that causes you to wake up during the wee hours, if you haven’t experienced this type of pain, then better prepare yourself because you may be in for a bout of gout pain.

Gout is a form of arthritis that affects all the joints, but mostly occurs at the joint of the big toe. Typical signs and symptoms are pain, swelling, redness and tenderness of the affected joint. Gout attacks are sudden and intense, which cause most patients to wake up in the middle of the night. Pain could last for several hours and sometimes could cause fever and fatigue.

If you are in the middle of a gout attack, your primary concern is to control the pain and swelling of the affected joint. Unfortunately, even with treatment, the pain could last for hours or days, but if left untreated gout pain could last for several weeks or could even lead to chronic gout pain.

Pain Medications

Use over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and indomethacin to control pain and swelling. These are common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that are easily accessible from your nearest pharmacy without a prescription. It is important to note that aside from controlling pain, swelling should also be controlled so as to improve blood circulation to the affected joint for faster healing.

Hydrate

Drinking plenty of fluids can help decrease uric acid levels from the blood.  Increased blood uric acid levels can trigger a gout attack, so drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water a day can help prevent and shorten the duration of gout pain.

Rest

Allowing your foot to rest for several days can help shorten the duration of a gout attack. When uric acid levels increase in the blood, urate crystals forms and accumulate in the joints. These crystals are slender and have very sharp tips, so imagine the damage these crystals can do when you continually use the affect joint during gout flare-ups.

Cold Compress

Placing an ice pack over the affected joint can effectively reduce pain and swelling of the affected joint. Fill an ice bag with cracked iced and place over the affected area for 10 to 20 minutes several times a day.

Managing gout with natural gout remedies are becoming increasingly popular as an adjunct and alternative to the treatment of gout symptoms. Simply put, these natural remedies can often control gout symptoms along with proper diet and lifestyle changes. Many people now choose natural gout supplements like our GouTrol Gout Supplement with cherry.