A few things in life that make a living very uncomfortable and stressful. Gout pain is one among them. It can be easily said that there are very few things that can be as painful as a gout attack. Gout is increasingly becoming common and more and more people are anxiously looking for easy and quick gout pain treatment. However, what is important here is to understand what gout does to your body so that you can treat it accordingly.
What do you need to know about gout?
Gout is a type of arthritis. It develops in people due to various reasons, the most common being an excessive production of uric acid by the body. There can be genetic reasons as well as exterior factors such as stress and excessive consumption of alcohol. When a person has gout, there can be an accumulation of needle-like uric crystals in the joints causing acute pain in the affected area. The pain is followed by extreme tenderness and sensitivity in the joints along with inflammation, swelling, and redness. The aim of gout pain treatment should always focus on reducing the pain as soon as possible because the pain aggravates very soon and disrupts the normal functioning of the affected joints.
In people diagnosed with gout, a gout attack can happen at any time. There may be some warning signs though that can help in assessing the attack and take preventive measures.
What are the signs that you should watch out for?
As mentioned above, a gout attack can happen anytime. However, you always can be on a lookout for some warning signs. Most people with gout observe that the attack usually starts with a burning sensation followed by itching or a tingling sensation in the joint. This may happen an hour or two before the gout pain starts. Also, the joint may feel stiff or a little sore. Some people say that they usually have no early signs indicating a gout attack; they may just wake up with terrible pain in the affected joint in the middle of the night. The pain is quite strong, and people with gout say that even a bed sheet touching the inflamed joint can be extremely painful as the affected joints become very sensitive. While there is gout pain treatment, dealing with a gout attack unprepared can be overwhelming. This is the reason why preventive care is best recommended.
Treating gout the right way
Gout pain treatment should never be a temporary arrangement, but you should seek long-term pain relief. In this regard, treating gout requires you to apply a two-pronged approach that essentially combines the use of medications along with some permanent lifestyle changes.
- Medicines for treating gout
Medicines are prescribed to people who are diagnosed with gout. These medications can be either preventive medicine that people with gout regularly take as well as those medicines that people are advised to take when they have a gout attack. The Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended for quick and immediate gout pain treatment. Corticosteroids are given for immediate pain reduction in case of an acute gout attack. Along with these medications, a doctor may prescribe medicines to reduce uric acid build-up in the body. These medicines such as Allopurinol, Febuxostat, Probenecid, etc. are given as regular preventive medicines that do reduce uric acid levels in the body and prevent a gout attack. - Lifestyle changes to manage gout
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is an essential step for gout pain treatment. Eating a healthy diet, staying physically active and keeping your weight in check can be very effective for dealing with gout. Also, a positive lifestyle change will prevent heart diseases which are common in gout patients. When it comes to eating right, a gout diet typically includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables along with whole grains and plant proteins. Foods that lower uric acid levels can be great. These foods include skimmed milk, coffee, and vitamin C supplements apart from the other foods already mentioned. People who have gout or are at a high risk should avoid red meat, sugary beverages, and alcohol. Reaching and maintaining optimum weight is important for managing gout right. Losing weight can help in reducing uric acid levels in the blood as well as reduce the risk of stroke or heart disease.
While the gout pain treatment as mentioned above will focus on long-term relief, there is always a possibility that you have a gout attack that you need to deal with immediately. In such a situation, it is advised that you first take an anti-inflammatory medicine and elevate the joint. Drinks lots of water and relax your mind as stress can aggravate the pain and discomfort.
