Gout Forum - Anyone With Info

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Gout is a common type of arthritis and accounts for about 5% of all cases of arthritic condition. But what is gout and what are the stages of this condition?...

Q: Anyone With Info

asked by: BossHogg on July 31st, 2006

New User

In the middle of my most painful attack yet. Doc gave me allupropinal, but stopped taking it beacsuse I thought it was a one off. This is now my 4th attack, and boy the pain is unbeleivable.

So, i'm now taking this seriously and have a few questions that i'd really appreciate an answer on....

1) how long a delay between triggers and attacks? The last one came up within a day or so (mussels!) but I really can't think what caused this one? I overdid it around 10-15 days ago, but is this too long after a trigger?

2) I read on one website that cyclonic depressions (the weather) had an effect. We are in the middle of quite a low, compared to quite high recently. Anyone else come across this before?

3) bladder - my freinds call me a camel because I must just store liquids away soemwhere. I hardly ever go to the toilet. Could this have something to do with it?

3) do doctors give cortizone ijections, and do they work?

Any help please?????

Replies(4)

JYY2

replied on July 31st, 2006

Experienced User

You may like to take a look at "emergency gout treatments" in http://www.Icuredmygout.Org . Cortisone (e.G., methylprednisone) injection works, almost instantly. If the pain is unbearable, go to the hospital to have a shot right now. Allopurinol should not be initiated during the attacks. See paragraph 3.8 of the above webpage for more info. The answers to your questions:

1) anecdotal evidence has shown gout attacks occur within 24 hours of encountering the triggers such as heavy exercise, heavy drinking, or eating gout triggering meals. Haven't seen a scientific report on this.

2) studies have shown there is a high correlation between the occurrence of osteoarthritis attacks and the low atmospheric pressure several days prior to the attacks. But it does not apply to gout.

3) yes, concentrated urine can trigger gout attacks and cause kidney stones. Drink enough water (2~3 litres a day) until the urine is clear.

Take care.

BossHogg

replied on August 1st, 2006

New User

Thanks!

Thanks very much for the reply.

I didn't realise that the attacks could come up so soon after the triggers. Anyways, here are some more questions that i'd very much appreciate knowledge on...

The first 2 attacks were classic big toe. The very first one, I went to a&e thinking i'd broken my toe somehow! Anyway, big toe never got swollen, yet this one is in the instep and my foot swollen like a football. Is this normal?

I'm in my 4th day, and can now hobble around. Is it still worth going to see the doc , or do I just sit it out?

I have copies of my medical report, which shows urate oncentration as 0.46 mmol/l last time it was checked. I beleive that micomoles is the standard way of measuring stuff in blood, and every country uses it except the us. Because virtually all the gout sites seem to be based in the us, i'm having trouble finding what mmol/l is compared to mg/dl ?

Thanks !

JYY2

replied on August 1st, 2006

Experienced User

Cortisone injection has serious side effects and should not be used more than a few times a year. So if you can hop around, you do not need a cortisone shot. However, aren't you taking colchicine or an nsaid to treat the pain and inflammation?

Gout can attack anywhere in the body. Attacks in instep is rather common. Test the joint fluid to be sure you have gout. Rheumatologists are the best to diagnose and treat gout.

Molar mass of uric acid is 168 g/mol. That means: 1 mg/dl = 0.0595238 mmol/l. The normal blood ua range is about: 3.4~7.2 mg/dl (milligram per decilitre), or .202~.429 mmol/l (millimol per litre).

By the way, if you are having a cortisone shot, ask to have it injected in the muscle and not in the joint, because sometimes cortisone can crystallize in the joint and cause another crystal disease like gout or pseudogout.

yonx

replied on August 1st, 2006

New User

Gout

A quote from a web page bosshogg

blood tests for levels of uric acid also may be done, but they can be
misleading because the levels may be normal during an acute attack of gout. In addition, many people with high levels of uric acid never experience an attack of crystal-induced arthritis.

So things don't always go by the book.

I have a friend with gout...He takes pantothenic acid and a herbal formula that works on the liver, kidney, gallbladder and pancreas....Plus a herbal calcium and he comes right much quicker.

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