Gout is a disease in which, due to metabolic disorders, crystals of uric acid salts (urates) are deposited in the tissues, which is often accompanied by completely unbearable pain in the affected joint (so-called gouty arthritis). Most often, a change in the joint of one of the big toes is noticeable.
Gout (“???????”, Greek) is translated as “foot in a trap.” Patients, describing their feelings during an attack, often mention a dog gnawing on their leg and other unpleasant associations. The ancients depicted gout as a huge crab clinging to the leg.
A rheumatologist treats gout, and a nutritionist helps to correct the diet for gout.
The level of uric acid is elevated in every fifth resident of Kherson (19.3% of the population). Until the age of 45-50, gout symptoms occur mainly in men; after menopause, women also begin to suffer (high levels of estrogen allow young women to remove uric acid from the body more quickly).
There are 3 stages in the formation of gout:
Along the way, gouty arthritis (this is the main symptom of the disease) can be:
In 80% of cases, an acute attack develops suddenly in an absolutely healthy person (with hyperuricemia, which had not previously manifested itself).
It all begins at dawn or at night with wild pain in one (monoarthritis) affected joint of the big toe, either the metatarsophalangeal or tarsal.
Why is it most often the big toe ? It’s simple - it is located lower and salts accumulate there faster. Much less often, the elbow or wrist joints become inflamed (i.e., the arms, not the legs, are affected) and very rarely, the shoulder and hip joints.
With gout, the joint heats up, swells, the skin turns red, then becomes bluish-purple, the overall body temperature rises to 39 0 C. The patient, as a rule, loses the ability to move, because. any touch to the affected joint causes severe pain.
The first attack lasts up to 10 days, then the pain completely disappears and the function of the affected joint is restored.
At this moment, it is necessary to urgently run to a rheumatologist, without waiting for relapse, joint damage and other “special effects”.
In some patients, especially older people, the attack is preceded by a certain aura of the disease: the patient experiences weakness, mild fever, headache or bone pain.
Gouty arthritis can be caused by:
Repeated attacks of gout can develop unexpectedly after many years.
All types of self-medication for gout that you can learn from the Internet (except diet) are a dangerous misconception. It is impossible to reduce the level of uric acid in the blood by applying one or another miraculous remedy to the inflamed joint - urates continue to be deposited, regardless of the manipulations of any “traditional healer”.
If gout starts, chronic gouty polyarthritis develops, stiffness and changes in the shape of the joints, and muscle atrophy. Patients lose their ability to work and are almost unable to move. Don’t bring yourself to this state - get treatment for gout from a rheumatologist!
Usually the attack occurs at night or some time after a heavy dinner. Also, a joint attack can begin early in the morning.
During an acute attack, very strong, intense pain occurs in the affected joint, which is almost unbearable to touch. Even touching the sheet causes discomfort.
Redness and swelling occur at the affected area. The wrist, knee, ankle and other joints are susceptible to inflammation, less commonly the hip and shoulder. The disease causes malaise, fever and difficulty moving in the affected area. The amount of time it takes for complete reverse symptomatic development (how long a spontaneous attack of gout lasts) is 3-7-10 days.
The simplest action would be to increase the amount of fluid you drink. The best options for this are: milk, jelly and various compotes (preference is given to drinks with an alkaline composition). Drink at least 3 liters per day.
You can relieve an attack with the help of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Diclofenac or Indomethacin (should be taken regularly, dose from 25 to 50 mg, number of doses per day is 4).
Next, selective blockers are used (most often Celecoxib, Meloxicam and Nimesulide), which, unlike many other medications, have a very mild effect on the stomach.
To reduce the risk of side effects from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can negatively affect the kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract, a highly effective drug called colchicine is used. It affects metabolic processes associated with the removal of uric acid from the body.
In the worst case (provided there are no contraindications), internal administration of glucocorticosteroids (GCS) is performed.
After the person has been provided with complete rest and first aid has been provided, ice is applied to the affected area.
However, you need to monitor the timing so that cooling does not lead to frostbite, thereby significantly complicating the patient’s condition.
Ice is a good way to reduce pain, but it must be used carefully. For cold treatment, special rubber soft containers with a tight-fitting lid are used.
Injections are used when the disease is particularly severe.
The anti-inflammatory function is performed by Diclofenac . Ampoules of this drug help fight high fever. The dosage and duration of administration are indicated on the package - 1-2 pcs. in the early stages of the disease and when it has reached its maximum strength, respectively, from 1 to 5 days.
If the desired effect is not achieved, a similar type of medication is used, only in a different form - capsule.
Movalis , will help relieve pain and also block the development of inflammation . Injections are given only in the first days (daily dose - 7.5 mg), then they switch to tablets and medicinal ointments. The doctor may increase the dose if necessary.
Typically, all of the above drugs are contraindicated for pregnant and breastfeeding women; they also include the hormonal drugs “ Dexamethasone ”, “ Prednisolone ” and “ Reozolone ”, often prescribed by a doctor in cases where NSAIDs have not helped.
A tablet or injection can cause flatulence, nausea, and colitis. You should not drive, as one of the negative effects is dizziness and drowsiness, as well as excessive irritability. People suffering from blood pressure should be careful.
An exacerbation can be treated with pharmaceutical and home-prepared ointments. Pharmacy products include “ Fuflex ” and “ Vishnevsky Ointment ”. The first option is able to eliminate the original cause of the disease and, importantly, has no contraindications or side effects. The composition is based on birch extract and fragrant martini.
Also in the pharmacy you can find ointments prepared according to folk recipes, for example, a lotion mixture of 20 ml of castor oil and 40 ml of alcohol.
“Homemade” ointment recipes are widely known and easy to prepare.
To make one of them you will need: unsalted butter (200 g), beer (70 ml) and camphor (50 g). The first ingredient is placed in a saucepan and brought to a boil, after which the foam is removed and beer is poured in a thin stream and camphor is added. The sore joint is lubricated with the already cooled product before going to bed.
You can get gout if someone close to you has already been diagnosed with this disease. In such a case, healthy family members should begin to regularly monitor the level of sUA in the blood plasma and try to lead a healthy lifestyle.
As a preventive measure for everyone, doctors recommend eliminating purine-rich foods from the diet:
Instead, it is worth increasing the dose of drinking regular water (at least not less than half of the total liquid you drink per day).
At risk are people suffering from high blood pressure and obesity.
To avoid gout, in addition to the above tips, you can add one more - following a diet (as an additional “plus” - maintaining good body condition).
You should also do “fasting days” (no more than 2 times a week). To do this, you need to stock up on cottage cheese and kefir (daily allowance 400 and 500 grams, respectively), vegetables (any type except prohibited ones - 1.5 kg) or fruits (apples and oranges - also 1.5 kg).
It is better to eat fruits and vegetables raw, and other foods in whole (not chopped) form. For variety, they can be baked or steamed.
Healthy drinks are tea and cranberry juice, almost any juice, alkaline mineral water.
Sports, gymnastics or walking will increase the amount of urinary magnesium excreted from the body, which means it will help avoid acute pain caused by gout.
Lead a healthy lifestyle, follow your doctor's recommendations and be healthy!
Relieving an attack of gout - first aid actions for exacerbation of chronic disease of the joints of the musculoskeletal system. Most often, the disease affects the first metatarsophalangeal joint, as well as the ankle, knee, and in women, the joints of the hands.
Gout develops against the background of pathologically incorrect synthesis of protein compounds called purines. As a result of their exchange, uric acid components (urates) are formed, the normal content of which in human blood should not exceed 6-7%. If these indicators exceed the permissible level, the patient is diagnosed with the disease hyperuricemia, which is the main cause of the development of gout.
The following factors can cause the development of hyperuricemia:
Gout develops gradually and is classified into the following stages of formation:
The occurrence of a painful attack of gout has the following features:
An attack of gout is characterized by sharp, unexpected pain, so to relieve pain, you need to take certain measures that will help effectively reduce the intensity of the exacerbation of the disease.
Let's take a closer look at how to relieve gout pain:
After providing first aid in the event of an exacerbation attack, we will find out how to relieve the pain of gout on the legs. It is extremely important to follow the prescription of a qualified rheumatologist and not self-medicate, since treatment of gout requires the use of medications with a wide range of effects.
Experts recommend the use of the following medications to relieve gout pain:
Drugs from the NSAID group are used on the first day of an attack, 50-75 mg 3-4 times, on the second day - 25-50 mg 4 times a day. Some medications from this group contain aspirin; it is strongly recommended not to use such medications for gout, since the acid in aspirin can lead to complications of the disease.
Daily dose of NSAIDs:
However, before choosing any method of drug treatment, be sure to consult a doctor who will examine your medical history, allergies and health status. This is the only way to select the most effective method of therapy and the required safe dose of a particular drug.
Next, we will tell you how to relieve gout pain at home using external means:
Traditional healers also tell how to relieve an attack of gout using means for internal use:
Physiotherapists talk about how to relieve an attack of gout on the leg. Treatment of gout is based on an integrated approach, which also includes physiotherapeutic procedures.
The preferred methods of physiotherapy include the following:
You can learn more about relieving a gout attack from the video:
If you do not pay proper attention to the disease, over time the attacks will appear more often and more intensely, and the patient’s periods of remission will become shorter and shorter. To prevent the disease, stick to a low-calorie diet, eat more vegetables, and limit your salt and alcohol intake. Take care of yourself and be healthy!
Gout (gout, podagra) is an acute inflammatory disease of the joints, which is associated with the nature of the diet, especially with excessive consumption of meat, seafood and alcohol. Also provoking factors for attacks are physical activity, stress, hypothermia or overheating of joints (visiting a sauna).
To treat gout and prevent attacks, in addition to drug therapy, severe dietary restrictions were previously used , which made adherence to an anti-gout diet difficult. Modern dietary recommendations for gout resemble the usual healthy eating system recommended for most people. An anti-gout diet helps control the production and elimination of uric acid from the human body.
The presence of gout requires regular monitoring of the level of uric acid in the blood , observation by a rheumatologist to receive recommendations for drug treatment and diet correction, lifestyle changes, namely:
Vitamin C and coffee reduce uric acid levels and risk of gout
Against the background of high levels of uric acid in the blood, sodium urate crystals accumulate and form in the joints, which leads to the development of acute inflammation, accompanied by swelling and redness of the joint with severe pain. Uric acid is the end product of the metabolism of purines - natural substances that are found in all cells of our body and in almost all foods.
Most of the “harmful” purines (adenine, guanine, xanthine and hypoxanthine) are found in tissues of animal origin with high metabolic activity (for example, organ meats) and in cells that divide at a high rate (for example, yeast).
Other purines such as caffeine, theobromine and theophylline found in coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate do not pose a risk in this regard. Plant products (for example, legumes) containing a lot of purines, as a rule, are not dangerous, since they are suppliers of organic acids that help alkalize the body and remove excess uric acid.
Following gout nutritional guidelines is not the primary treatment for gout, but it can help prevent or reduce the severity and frequency of gout attacks. The number of meals should reach 5-6 times a day, in small portions and with plenty of fluids in the intervals between meals.
The recommendations provided are general and may not take into account the individual characteristics of the body. It is important to monitor the body’s reaction to the foods consumed and, together with your doctor, constantly adjust your individual diet . Remember, without the use of medications, this is not enough to achieve complete remission.
need to go on a stricter diet
excluding various types of meat and fish
products, decoctions of them, eggs, alcohol.
Avoid or significantly limit consumption of foods high in purines, such as meat from young animals and poultry ; meat by-products, broths and sauces; seafood, fatty fish (herring, mackerel, etc.) and canned fish; shellfish
High-fat foods reduce the body's ability to eliminate uric acid and contribute to the development of obesity. Make a choice in favor of vegetables in any quantity and in any culinary processing, incl. rich in purines (asparagus, cauliflower, legumes). Dairy products—low-fat or low-fat—can help reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet.
Alcoholic drinks (beer, port and similar fortified wines, vodka, cognac, whiskey) are one of the main risk factors for the development of gout - alcohol blocks the function of the kidneys to remove uric acid from the body. During an attack, it is important to completely avoid alcohol. Outside of an exacerbation of the disease, up to 250 ml of dry wine per day is allowed, but no more than 3-4 times a week.
Fructose significantly affects the production of uric acid, increasing its concentration in the blood. It is found in sweetened soft drinks and juice drinks, confectionery, ketchup, fruits and berries, sugar, corn syrup and other products.
Eat more whole grains, fruits, vegetables and less refined carbohydrates , such as cream cakes, pastries, sweets, puff pastries, white bread.
Some studies have shown that low-fat dairy products may reduce the risk of developing gout . For example, eating low-fat yogurt or 2 glasses of skim milk daily.
During the metabolism of oxalic acid, oxalates are formed, which contribute to the development of urolithiasis. A lot of oxalic acid is found in foods such as carambola, black pepper, parsley, poppy seeds, ashiritsa, spinach, chard, sugar beets, cocoa, chocolate, most nuts and berries, and beans.
In order to improve the excretion of uric acid from the body and prevent kidney stone formation, it is recommended to consume a sufficient amount of fluid (at least 2 liters per day) in the absence of contraindications from the heart and kidneys.
Below in the table, the middle column shows the approximate content of purines in 100 grams of raw product, and the right column shows the amount of uric acid that is formed from it in the body.
Treatment of gout during an exacerbation must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. The doctor prescribes a course of medications (NSAIDs, colchicine, etc.), glucocorticoids. You can alleviate the patient’s condition during an attack with the help of physiotherapy - electrophoresis, paraffin therapy, applications.
Gout, or gouty arthritis, is a chronic joint disease in which the body suffers due to high concentrations of uric acid in the blood . As a result of endocrine disorders, salts of this acid - sodium urates - are deposited in the joints, which causes unbearable pain during an exacerbation of the disease.
Treatment of gout during an exacerbation period comes down to taking medications and following a diet. In addition, the patient’s condition can be alleviated with the help of physiotherapeutic procedures.
Exacerbation of gout manifests itself in the form of acute pain in the joints, their increased sensitivity and swelling. The patient often suffers from fever, renal colic, etc. An attack of gouty arthritis usually lasts several days, after which the disease subsides. A repeated joint attack may return after a month, six months or several years. To increase the duration of the remission period and reduce the likelihood of gout exacerbation, patients need to follow some instructions:
Urate deposits in the joint of the big toe gradually grow and cause severe pain when walking
Advice! During an exacerbation of gout, doctors recommend drinking Slavyanskaya or Smirnovskaya alkaline mineral water.
The deposition of uric acid crystals (UA) in the joint area causes gout. This occurs due to a violation of purine metabolism. The disease is more common in men. An exacerbation of the pathology is preceded by a violation of the diet (heavy intake of meat, alcoholic beverages), intense physical activity, and hypothermia. An attack of gout is always accompanied by intense pain.
There are several forms or stages of gout:
In the 1st stage, there is an increase in sUA in the blood - hyperuricemia, no attacks. Symptoms of ICD may develop. There may be slight pain in the joints, the duration of which does not exceed 3-4 hours. If treatment is carried out correctly at this time, it is possible to stop the further development of the pathological process.
In gouty arthritis, uric acid salts accumulate in the synovial fluid of the joints. This is most often observed in the first metatarsophalangeal joints. In addition to the joints of the foot, the knee, ankle joints, joints of the wrists, and fingers may be affected. The duration of the attack is 1-2 days.
If the disease is not treated, the frequency of gout attacks increases and the interval between them decreases. This is how remission gout occurs. The attacks become prolonged and pronounced. Several joints may be affected at once. Exacerbations often occur at night and are characterized by a sudden onset and end.
Tofus is a nodule formed by uric acid crystals. Tophi are located subcutaneously and are mobile. On tophi, the skin is hyperemic. Painful attacks last almost constantly, with short breaks of 1-2 days. Tophi gout is an advanced form of the disease.
The pain during an attack is pronounced. It is comparable to toothache or labor during childbirth.
Increasing symptoms of a gout attack
During the attack period, the following recommendations should be followed:
Dietary rules during an exacerbation:
For severe pain, take NSAIDs in the form of tablets, injections and ointments (analgin, ibuprofen, Nise, ketorol, naproxen, diclofenac). In no case should you take aspirin (the active ingredient is acetylsalicylic acid) or other drugs based on it if you have gout, as it makes it difficult to remove uric acid from the body.
To relieve inflammation and pain, hormonal drugs based on glucocorticoids (cortisone, prednisolone, triamcinalone, betamethasone) are used.
Gouty swelling of the finger
The drugs Allopurinol, Febuxostat, Colchicine (taken orally in tablet form), Pegloticase (for intravenous administration) help reduce uric acid levels. They are prescribed in courses when attacks occur.
For gouty arthritis, applications with dimexide diluted with water in a ratio of ? are applied to the area of the affected joints. This drug helps reduce swelling, pain, and other signs of inflammation.
At home, you can use folk recipes to relieve a gout attack. The painful joint is placed in an elevated position; to do this, you can place a small pillow under it.
A leaf of white cabbage or burdock is applied to the area of inflamed joints. Applications with white clay, honey cakes, and compresses from lilac tincture will help relieve pain.
Baths made from a decoction of chamomile flowers (100g of raw material per 10 liters of water) and sage have an anti-inflammatory effect.
A decoction of fir cones, bay leaves, rose hips, mint, yarrow, and string is taken internally.
Boiled fox cleanses joints. First, the grains are washed, then soaked overnight, then boiled in water without adding salt or oil. Taken orally.
In case of an acute attack of gout, the drug ACONITE 30, ARNIKA 30, BELLADONNA 30 will help. In the chronic course of the disease, AMMON is prescribed. PHOS. 30. These drugs have auxiliary value; before using them, you should consult a specialist.
Gout is a chronic disease, therefore, for its proper treatment it is necessary to follow medical recommendations not only during an attack, but also during the period of remission.
If metabolism is disrupted, uric acid begins to accumulate in the joints, which the kidneys cannot completely remove from the body. Because of this, gout begins to develop. Let's take a closer look at the main symptoms and causes of the disease, as well as how to relieve an attack of gout during an exacerbation.
Experts say that gout is a dangerous disease for humans. As pathology develops, metabolism is disrupted and uric acid salts accumulate in joints and other tissues. Most often, the disease is caused by an unbalanced diet, frequent drinking of beer and other alcoholic beverages. Uric acid is formed due to purines, which the body receives from protein foods. If you eat meat in large quantities every day, uric acid in the body will increase. If meat dishes are washed down with alcoholic drinks, purines are difficult to remove. If the disease is not treated, the joints begin to hurt severely, and the patient complains of other symptoms.
The development of gout occurs in four stages. At the first stage, the disease is asymptomatic. On the second, acute gouty arthritis begins to bother me. At the third stage, the patient is concerned about the intercritical period. At the last stage, gouty deposits in the joints are noted in a chronic form.
Symptoms of gout development:
During an exacerbation of gout, the patient complains of acute pain, swelling and redness, severe sensitivity of the joint and increased body temperature. Symptoms usually occur at night. If the disease is not treated, the described symptoms bother the person for several weeks.
Uric acid accumulates in the body due to the following reasons:
Gout can also develop due to poor nutrition, kidney failure, the development of oncology, autoimmune diseases, elevated levels of lipids in human blood, and hereditary factors.
To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor conducts the necessary examination of the patient.
First of all, the doctor conducts a survey of the patient - what he is complaining about, whether his relatives have had gout attacks, how often the symptoms bother him. After the interview, the specialist carefully examines the diseased areas on the patient’s body.
To make a diagnosis, the patient undergoes ultrasound of the joints, scintigraphy, computed tomography, and radiography of the affected joints.
In addition to instrumental examinations, it is also important to conduct laboratory tests.
Based on the data obtained, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.
To relieve an attack during an exacerbation of gout at home, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids. Quench your thirst with milk, jelly, various compotes and other alkaline drinks. It is important to drink at least three liters of liquid per day.
You can relieve an attack during an exacerbation of gout in the following ways:
The described drug treatment helps relieve pain and alleviate the condition of the sick person.
First aid for exacerbation of gout on the leg is to apply ice to the sore spot. It is important to wrap cubes or pieces of ice in a cloth to prevent frostbite on the sore spot.
Diclofenac for injection
In severe cases of gout, the patient is given pain-relieving injections. Diclofenac injection reduces fever, inflammation and pain.
In the first few days of exacerbation of the disease, you can give injections with Movalis. On the third day of illness, it is recommended to use drugs in tablets or ointments.
Any medications are prescribed by a doctor. The duration of therapy is also determined by the doctor. It is important not to drink alcohol or drive a car during therapy.
For the treatment of gout, Vishnevsky ointment, a preparation with castor oil and alcohol, is often used. Often, in addition to pharmaceutical ointments, homemade products are used. Melt 200 grams of unsalted butter in a saucepan. Pour in a thin stream into 70 milliliters of beer. Add 50 grams of camphor. Lubricate sore joints with the resulting cooled ointment before going to bed.
When gout worsens, it is important not only to take pills and injections, but also to follow a special diet. The diet should be as follows:
If you are overweight, it is important to consume less carbohydrate foods. Replace them with protein foods and unsaturated fatty acids. If you don't lose those extra pounds, uric acid will continue to accumulate in large quantities.
To better remove uric acid from the body of a patient with gout, you can use the following folk remedies at home:
The described folk remedies can be used after consultation with a doctor.
If you have a family history of gout, it is important to closely monitor your health. To prevent the development of gout on the leg, it is important to carry out disease prevention.
Preventive measures are as follows:
To prevent the development of gout, it is important to eat food in small portions, five to six times a day.
It is recommended to quench your thirst with cranberry juice, fruit and vegetable juices, teas, and alkaline mineral water.
To quickly remove uric acid from the human body, it is necessary to engage in sports, gymnastics, and walk in the fresh air.
Now you know why gout occurs, what its main symptoms are, how the disease is treated and prevented. For therapy to be successful, it is important that the patient receives the correct first aid. Gout can be treated at home only after consulting a doctor.
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