Gouty arthritis is painful and affects an increasing number of people in the United States. Several people consider gout a natural part of aging. Ignoring these signs of gout is likely to result in drastic complications. The quicker you get a diagnosis and treatment for gout, the better it would be for you. Here, we will discuss three gout symptoms that you should never ignore.
Pain In The Toe
Extreme joint pain is the most prevalent symptom of gout in feet. It is usually experienced in the largest toe but can occur in other parts as well. The pain in the feet, wrists, elbows, knees or hands could point to gouty arthritis as well.
Kidney Stones
Gouty arthritis occurs if there is an excessive amount of creatinine in the human blood. The excessive quantity of the chemical can cause uric acid to accumulate in the joints, causing swelling and pain. When you experience severe gout, there is a chance for you to have kidney stones because the excess acid content can accumulate and turn into stones.
Bumps And Lumps Around The Joints
When you suffer from severe gouty arthritis, you are likely to have bumps below the skin surrounding your joints. It happens when uric acid starts to accumulate around the body parts, contributing to lumps known as tophi. The lumps usually develop around a person’s joints but can appear virtually anywhere in their body. When you experience joint pain alongside these lumps, it is important to see your general practitioner soon.
How Is Gouty Arthritis Treated?
A gout attack is painful and lasts between 5 and 7 days before the patient gets better. The National Health Service recommends early gout treatment for avoiding lasting joint damage. Are you diagnosed with gouty arthritis? If so, an NSAID product like ibuprofen would be used to treat the attack. Steroids that come as an injection or tablets may sometimes be required if the swelling or the pain level does not drop.
To reduce or prevent gout flare-ups, the National Health Service makes the following recommendations for arthritis patients.
- Keep their body healthy
- Follow a healthy food eating pattern
- Exercise frequently (but do not perform exercises that may exert pressure on the joints)
- Reduce the quantity of alcohol
- Stop smoking
- Do not consume offal, like liver or kidneys, or seafood