Arthritis joint pain is one of the top challenges that many people face, and while the condition is widely associated with the elderly population, symptoms have been seen in people of all ages. There are various ways to go about treating joint pain and a number of factors are considered before a given method is chosen.
It is important to know the root cause of that pain before treatment options are recommended. Gout is one very common type of inflammatory arthritis caused by increased uric acid crystallization in the joints.
In order to manage severe joint pains caused by as gout, patients should take time to understand what risk factors increase the chances or severity of the pain and what they can do prevent sudden attacks.
What is Gout?
As aforementioned, gout is basically a form of arthritis that manifests in sudden sharp pain on the joints. Gout mostly develops in patients who have high toxic levels of uric acid in their blood.
When the kidney is unable to get rid of uric acid, it crystallizes and deposits them around joints. These crystals can cause sudden episodes of pain, redness, tenderness, swelling, and warmth, a condition referred to as gout. There are four different levels of gout attack:
1. Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia
This period comes before the first gout attack and has no visible symptoms. It involves increasing levels of uric acid in the blood and formation of crystals around joints.
2. Acute Gout Attack
This occurs when an increase in uric acid resulting from a night or heavy drinking jolts the crystallization process causing sharp severe joint pain that lasts several (up to 10) hours before fading away. It may take a week to fully recover from the pain and there are high chances of a second attack within 3 years.
3. Interval Gout
This is the period between the first and second gout attack. Although this phase has no clear symptoms, it does not mean the gout is gone. The low-level inflammations continue to damage joints and it is important to start managing gout though medication and lifestyle changes.
4. Chronic Gout
When uric acid levels remain high throughout, patients may begin to experience gout attacks more frequently and the pain never ceases except through pain relievers. It is important to prevent this stage as it can be debilitating when maximum damage has been caused on the joints.
The condition can affect any joint especially the knee joints, toes and finger joints as well as hip joints.
What Causes Uric Acid Crystallization?
As the name suggests, uric acid crystallization refers to the formation of uric acid crystals around joints. Uric acid is produced during the breakdown of natural chemicals found in many plants and foods we eat. The kidney is usually able to eliminate uric acid by sending it to urine channels to be passed out.
When this function fails due to slow waste elimination, or high waste creation, the levels of uric acid will shoot up in the blood. To prevent this acid from impacting other organs, it is crystallized and deposited around joints in sharp needle like crystals.
Top Treatments/Products for Gout
There are several ways to go about treating gout although certain stages, like chronic gout, are very difficult to repair and can only be managed. It is advisable to start treating gout during early stages, preferably immediately after the first attack. Diet and lifestyle changes are very important in the overall management and risk reduction.
Proper diet should incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables, avoidance of processed sugars, saturated fats, and alcohol, and increased hydration through water and fresh juice without any added sugar.
Water helps in hydration and also in flushing out excess uric acid though urination. Other lifestyle changes include engaging in physical activities such as hiking, trailing, or jogging and avoiding stress as much as possible. Some of the top treatments for gout include the following;
1. NSAIDs
Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs diclofenac, naproxen, and etoricoxib are the first recommended treatments aimed at reducing inflammation and pain caused by gout attack. If your doctor prescribes NSAIDs, you should have them with you at all times and continue taking them through 48 hours of the first attack. You may also be prescribed an additional PPI (proton pump inhibitor) to prevent the NSAIDs from causing indigestion and stomach ulcers.
2. Colchicine
This is another possible treatment option recommended for those unable to take NSAIDs for one reason or another, or those who find them ineffective. Colchicine reduces swelling, inflammation, and pain associated with gout.
3. Corticosteroids
When both NSAIDs and Colchicine fail to deliver any remedy, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroid tablets to help offer instant relief from severe pain. This option is normally only available for those suffering chronic gout. Corticosteroids should not be a long-term option as using them is associated with various side effects, including weight gain, easy bruising, muscle weakness, and osteoporosis (bone thinning).
4. ULT
Urate lowering therapy medications such as Allopurinol and Febuxostat are known to prevent the formation of uric acid. They are often prescribed in doses followed by urinal tests until the correct dose is established.
Apart from medical products, there are natural remedies for gout which you can try out to reduce your need for prescription drugs. Ingredients like curcumin (in turmeric) and bromelain (in pineapples) have known anti-inflammatory properties and also contribute to renal protection. Other foods that help in fighting gout include parsley, flaxseed, grapes, cherries, berries, and regular Vitamin C.
It is also advisable to cut down on alcohol consumption and maintain average weight through regular exercises. In one particular study, juice made by mixing ginger, grapefruit, chopped pineapples, and cucumber was shown to increase urination and reduce blood uric acid.
Uric Acid & Gout Review Summary
Gout attacks can be very painful and are life-changing experiences that may spark a period of constant worry of what is coming. It is important to seek prompt treatment the moment you start experiencing symptoms of gout uric acid crystallization.
Talking to your doctor for urine tests and pain diagnosis should be your priority. Once the doctor identifies your condition as gout, you should consider the above lifestyle changes and start taking some medication to prevent future attacks. When tackled at early stages, gout can be effectively treated to full recovery.
