Arthritis has a subtype called gout. If your blood uric acid level is too high, it might cause one of your joints to develop sharp crystals. The big toe is where gout most commonly occurs. One joint is typically all that is affected at once. However, if you don’t get treatment, it might spread to your elbow, hand, wrist, knee, and ankle. Flare-ups might linger for as long as ten days. During the initial 36 hours, the joints ache the most.
The following are the primary indicators of a gout attack:
- Tenderness; the joint may also feel warm to the touch and appear red or purple
- Sudden, intense pain, generally in the early morning
- Stiffness
- Swelling
The crystals may become lumps under the skin around your joint if you continue for a lengthy period of time without receiving therapy. Tophi are the name for these lumps. Although they are painless, they can change how the joint appears. Kidney stones can occur if crystals gather in your urinary system.
Call your doctor as soon as you can if you are experiencing a gout attack. You can apply ice to the joint, elevate it, and take anti-inflammatory medications like naproxen and ibuprofen up until your visit. Consume plenty of liquids, particularly water. Avoid drinking alcohol or sugary beverages.
Gout Treatment And Medication
The fortunate thing about gout is that it is manageable. Both the pain experienced during an episode and the uric acid accumulation that causes the illness can be lessened by medications. Uric acid crystals that develop when the acid builds up in your body might aggravate your joints.
An example of inflammatory arthritis is gout. After a sickness or injury, an attack could occur. Pain in the big toe is frequently the initial symptom. Gout typically only affects one joint at a time, but it can spread and make other joints seem red and swollen.
NSAIDs aid in reducing gout attack-related joint pain and edema. Ibuprofen and naproxen are common varieties. NSAID use within the first 24 hours of the incident may help shorten it. Ice, rest, and elevating the joint are other methods for relieving pain.
One of these prescription drugs, which are unavailable over the counter, may be suggested by your doctor. Consult your doctor for a prescription.
- Allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim).
- Colchicine (Colcrys, Gloperba, Mitigare).
- Febuxostat (Uloric).
- Indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex).
- Lesinurad (Zurampic)
- Pegloticase (Krystexxa)
- Probenecid.
- Corticosteroids
