WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
The pain and swelling of gout results from the formation
of uric acid crystals in a joint. Uric acid is a natural
product of the breakdown of purine, a component of certain
foods. The kidneys ordinarily filter uric acid from the
bloodstream and discard it in the urine. If for any reason this
filtering process fails to keep up, the acid will build up in
the blood until it begins crystallizing in the
joints.
Causes
Gout can be triggered by:
-
Excessive intake of certain
foods (See "Low-Purine Diet" for details.)
-
Certain medications, such as
chemotherapy given for cancer
-
An injury
-
Illness
-
Surgery
Signs/Symptoms
Gout typically announces itself with a sudden severe pain
in a joint, usually at the base of the big toe. Shoulder,
elbow, knee, hand, foot, ankle, or arm joints can also be
affected. The joint may be hot, swollen, and very tender; the
skin over the joint may look shiny and red. Joint pain may be
accompanied by fever and chills.
Repeat attacks of gout are common. The first few usually
last only a matter of days. Later attacks, if left untreated,
can continue for weeks. Over time, the number of joints
affected may increase.
Care
Colchicine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such
as ibuprofen will relieve the pain of an acute attack. To
prevent future attacks, the doctor can prescribe drugs to lower
uric acid levels. Rest and ice-packs will also
help.
WHAT YOU SHOULD
DO
-
Always take your medicine as
directed. If you feel it is not helping, call your doctor,
but don't quit taking it on your own.
-
Do NOT take aspirin for your
pain. It may interfere with drugs prescribed to reduce uric
acid levels.
-
You may put ice in a plastic
bag, cover it with a towel, and place it over the painful
joint for 15 to 20 minutes out of every hour as long as
necessary. Do not sleep on the ice pack.
-
Rest in bed or in a chair as
much as possible. Keep the sore joint elevated with
pillows. If the joint is in your leg or foot, you may need
to use crutches until the attack subsides.
-
Keep sheets and blankets off
painful areas.
-
To prevent another gout
attack:
-
-
Drink 8 to 10 large
glasses of water, cranberry juice, or other liquids
daily. This helps your body get rid of uric acid. Do
not drink alcoholic beverages. They will slow the
elimination of uric acid from your body.
-
Do not eat
purine-containing foods such as sardines, shellfish,
anchovies, or organ meats (sweetbreads, kidneys, or
liver).
Call Your Doctor
If...
-
You develop a
fever.
-
You have diarrhea or start
vomiting.
-
You have a rash, sore throat,
red tongue, bleeding gums, or other problems that may be
related to your medicine.
-
The diseased joint becomes
more swollen.
-
You have a rapid weight
gain.
-
The joint doesn't improve
within a few days.
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