flare ups are more painful than before...

Hi

Ok to start off I'm 24 years old and was diagnosed with gout almost 4 years ago. I haven't had a flare up in the last year. Well last night i had a really really really bad flare up. To the point i was almost in tears it hurt so much. Well i went to bed and when i woke up it was somewhat better. Then around lunch time the same effects hit me again. I'm not the most healthy eating person but I try and stay away from the food that noticeably caused my flare ups. I have two questions:
1. Is there any thing i can do to keep the swelling and pain down during a flare up?
2. What would cause my flare ups to be so much more painful then before?

Any help/suggestions is greatly appreciated.