I am very sorry you are in pain. It seems this attack is particularly bad because you waited for too long (4~5 days) before the treatment. More info on what to do during the gout attack and gout diet can be found at icuredmygout.org . (Hope the link doesn't get deleted.)

Thanks for the reply.

I got the gout attack on a Tuesday night and Wed-Sat I iced it and took Advil ate a ton of cherries and strawberries. Sat I finally went to doctors which he gave me a shot of Tramadol and indomethacin along with percacets. I think it's finally starting to get better but it's still swelled and still cant touch the joint area or walk on it. The thumping is not as constant or as bad as it was 3-4 days ago. I hope this means it's going away.

I know gout is the build of of uric acid that forms crystals in the joint. Do the crystals go away when gout attack is over or they somehow hide themselfs? I am a little confused on this.

One thing is for sure I am going to lose the 30 pounds I need to lose and start eating better. I pride myself on handling pain but I found myself close to tears at times. I try to explain to people what the pain is like I tell the it's like taking a sharp knife and jabbing it into the joint along with thumping and pounding and thats just laying down not even trying to walk.

Glad your gout attack is under control now. Be sure the attack is 100% gone before stopping the med. Otherwise it may come right back.

The crystals that cause gout are monosodium urate (MSU) which is the salt formed from uric acid and sodium. Unfortunately, MSU crystals will stay in the gouty joints forever. Lowering of the blood uric acid level to 5.5~6.0 mg/dl can reduce the number of crystals and lower the frequency of gout attacks.

Losing excess body weight can lower the blood uric acid level and the frequency of gout attacks. However, rapid weight loss can trigger gout attacks. It is safe to lose 0.5~1 pound a week.

Take care.

Hi,

I have been suffering from gout for 12 years and here has been my experience. The first attack will hurt, but be fairly mild. The subsequent attack will be debillitatingly painful.

As someone else mentioned, you need to start treating your attacks at the first sign of a flare. You will become more experienced and will be able to know when an attack is coming. I have had great success with sulindac. Once I feel a flare coming on, I take a sulindac immediately. I have some at home, in my desk, and in my car.

As far as what foods may trigger the attack, it is different for everyone. Get yourself a good foods to avoid list and avoid those foods. Remember this as well: if you are treated with allopurinol, it does not mean you can now indulge in "banned" foods.

Good luck,
Ray

Me again

It has now been 8 weeks and 1 day and the left big toe joint still has the pinch and gets swollen.

I been to the doctors 3 times now. I just finished my 3rd dose of indocin and he gave me a dose of steriods like you would take for poisin. And now I am on Allopurinol.

I have finsihed the indocin and steriods and just like before the swelling and pinch go away but not completely. My question is I been taking the Allopurinol now for 2 weeks should the Allopurinol be working by now?

I been icing my foot 3 times a day in a big bucket of ice water. I find doing that is easier than trying to balance an ice pack on toe joint and underneath the joint. I am also staying away from red meats, shell fish, and organ meats.

Has anyone heard or battled gout as long as I have? Just seems it does not want to go away and it's frustrating when I am doing everything I can to get better. I stay off my feet as much as I can my job is a sit down job (thankfully).

I have heard in some cases the crystals are so built up in a joint that surgery to grind them out is nessasary. I hope this is not my case, but I can't seem to find anyone who has battled gout attack for 8 weeks

i thought gout is caused by just eating all the wrong foods. I bet your eating fast food and all kinds of garbage and just start to eat healthier when you suffer. You should really go on a lean meat and vegetables diet and cut off all the sugar.

No, my diet is pretty decent. I am over weight but I don't eat a lot of junk. Before I got my attack I was eating a lot of ground sirlion, turkey, chicken, tuna and pizza with pepperoni brown rice, wheat pasta. Never ate any fast food.

I normally soak my feet in ice watter I tried warm water and lightly massaged the toe area. It feels so jelly like where it is swelling.

I think I REALLY screwed up waiting a week before seeking any treatment. As I said, I would have some pain here and there and thought that was all this was going to be.

Hi,

I feel for you. It really sounds miserable. Allopurinol will not cure an attack; it helps prevent them. However, you still have to eat a good diet when on allopurinol.

Unfortunately, sometimes starting allopurinol during an attack can prolong the attack. Do not stop taking the allopurinol however unless your doctor tells you to do so. Doing that can trigger another attack.

Ride this out as it will get better. You may want to ask your doctor about taking a colchicine tablet everyday as well.

Hang in there.

Ray

Thanks Ray...

Just got back from doctors (I am starting to hate doctor trips). He gave me another round of indomethacin. prednisone, and colchicine and told me to keep taking the Allopurinol.

Hope the colchicne helps I did not even ask him about the colchine.

Hope your attack is getting better. Concerning any one around with and attack for 8 weeks or longer. I have on 4 occaisions had an attack longer than that. Most recent one started on 19 Dec 06 and required two seperate hospitalizations (both knees, both ankles, left big toe, rt/lt achilles area,rt elbow, rt index finger) now not all at the same time but usually four of the joints inflammed at once.

I take allopurinol (do not stop during and attack) probenicid, colchinne, indomentacin, daily. Presently on a predinisone taper since 8 Feb. Get down to 10mg and it flairs up again and the doc sends me back to 40 mg for 2 weeks then 30 etc.

I've had the gout since 3 July 1990. Initially the attacks came weeks/months apart. They are much more frequent now and usually I get a migrane with them now. I'm about 8 lbs overweight according to the Navy and am a diabetic also. Prednisone sends your sugar levels all over the map.

Gout is no fun

V/R
Jeff

Hi friends,
i joined today and may be senior most living with gout i.e. for about 17 years.
Soon I will be sharing my experience on gout here.

My friend, try ditching the ice and applying moist heat. I know it sounds strange - heat for swelling? But crystals form at lower temps and in my experience, heat has been the ONLY thing that brings relief. Try taking a hot bath if you don't have a hot water bottle.

Again, this has worked in my experience but it may not for you - it just seems as if you need something to try at this point. Good luck dude.

First off my heart felt understanding for everyone on this board as I too have lived with Gout since 2001.

I am not sure my spelling is correct on this med, but I use difussional as soon as i get that "certain" ache in usally my ankle or elbow. As we all know attacks vary in length, but I have found if i hit it hard with the meds as soon as it sets in and keep taking it for a good week even after the pain is gone makes all the difference.

I am not in the shape i was in 20 years ago, but have worked out since my High School football days in the 80's, my diet is SOLID. I have perplexed doctors over and over with my physical shape and diet and the extreme battles i have had with gout and have debunked the "diet" therory, or at least in my case.

My thought is protien poisoning from high protien diets and years and years of protien shakes eaten on an empty stomach to stay lean while working out.

Anyway, as soon as my attachs subside enough to start excercising again I do and that helps out TREMENDOUSLY!!

God Bless to all and let us all pray for a cure to this and soon!

PC

jagstd - Large studies have shown that diet has only a small effect on gout. Make sure that you don't have sleep apnea. That can be a direct cause of overnight gout attacks.