Greetings--i am glad to see there is a
forum for gout sufferers.
I am 36 male, started getting attacks
about three years ago. Typical case; had
an attack in big toe, lasted a day. Had
another one nine months later (worse)
lasted a day, had another 6 months later
(very bad) lasted almost a week. Finally
went to the doctor was diagnosed. Was
given ibuprofen (500 mg) which did
nothing.
I got to the point where I was having an
attack every four months. Mainly in my
instep, where the pain is viscous!!!
My (former) pcp did not believe in
prescribing pain medication (e.G.
Vicodin) to relieve gout attacks--he
obviously never had an attack. He would
typically give me presnodolyne (sp) or
some sort of nsaid. These would take
effect in a day or two---but still kept me
on my crutches and crawling around the
floor with drool coming out of my mouth
due to the pain.
I had an attack last week on my index
finger (first non-foot related attack).
It was something fierce. I finally agreed
to start allopurin (sp?).
What I wasn't told was that it can prolong
an attack if you take it during one. Of
course, once the pain left my hand it went
right to my foot again.
I'm now looking for a new pcp. One that
will give me true pain medication along
with nsaids when I have an attack.
Do your doctors ever give you pain pills
for your gout attacks? I think some of
them don't truly understand the pain. I
broke my hand once, and the last gout
attack in my hand hurt worse. If they
prescribe pain killers for torn tendons,
broken bones, etc, why not for something
that hurts worse. I feel kind of creepy
asking the doctor for pain killers, but I
can not function at all when I am having
an attack (can't sleep, can't eat, can't
even think properly). It's living in true
hell.
Sorry to be so long winded. Excuse my
french here, but gout sucks!
Look forward to your comments.
Thanks!
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GoutHurts
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 6
Posted: 01-07-07 11:06am
I should also mention a few other things
(to be even more long-winded).
I am about 30 pounds overweight (and am
working on that). I gave up my absolute
favorite food a few years ago--buffalo
wings.
i still enjoy a cold beer and am not
convinced it precedes an attack. I've had
an attack without having a beer in a
month. 99% of my attacks occur at night.
I've had the odd attack start in the
middle of the day. In the three years
i've started having attacks, i've had
about 20--which is an extremely high
amount.
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JYY2
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 227
Posted: 01-07-07 16:05pm
A few info below:
1) if a gout attack is treated within an
hour of the first twinge, it will subside
without causing problems. But if you
wait for a day or two before treating it,
it becomes a war and no medicine works
well.
2) you need an effective dosage of a med
to work properly. 500 mg (a day?) of
ibuprofen will do nothing for a full-blown
attack. The recommended dosage for such
condition is 800 mg 4 times a day!
3) if you treat the attack with proper
amount of an nsaid, or colchicine, the
pain will subside. You do not need
vicodin, a narcotic which is not
anti-inflammatory and can be
habit-forming.
4) more info can be found in "emergency
gout treatment" section in http://www.Icuredmygout.Org .
Good luck
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GoutHurts
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 6
Posted: 01-08-07 13:50pm
I appreciate your response, and with all
do respect have to differ with you
regarding "true" pain medication. I have
had attacks so severe that the nsaid or
steroids took up to a full day until the
pain became tolerable. I typically rank
the attacks 1-10 based on the level of
pain.
Once I had an 9, and received a steroid
shot and nsaids. It took about 8-12 hours
to get it to a 4.
I don't feel anyone should endure the pain
I was in during those 8-12 hours waiting
for the steroids/nsaid to kick in. It
helps your body fight off the crystals,
but the reason one needs help is due to
the pain. If someone has gout, they will
use their narcotic pain medication very
wisely--as it's important to have some on
hand.
Thanks again!
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painfree
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Nov 2004 Posts: 77 Location: ,
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-08-07 14:26pm
For a period of 15 years, I too suffered
from gout that attacked overnight, usually
in my instep. Every nsaid and alternative
medication that I tried began to lose its
effectiveness over time. My gout was
finally cured right after my sleep apnea
was resolved. You can read about my
experience and learn why gout results from
sleep apnea at www.Freewebs.Com/goutcure<
/a> .
