Gouty Arthritis Treatments

Left untreated gout can lead to:

• Kidney disease and kidney stones.
• Other joints becoming affected.
• Attacks becoming more frequent.

Although gout is an incurable disease, gout attacks can be treated successfully, often using a combination of treatments. Gout is one of the most treatable forms of arthritis.

With proper treatment, most people who have gout are able to control their symptoms and live productive lives. Gout can be treated with one or a combination of therapies. The goals of treatment are to ease the pain associated with acute attacks, to prevent future attacks, and to avoid the formation of tophi and kidney stones. Successful treatment can reduce discomfort caused by the symptoms of gout, as well as long-term damage to the affected joints. Treatment will help to prevent disability due to gout.

Treating the pain

The pain can be treat with medication such as acetaminophen. Aspirin based medication should be avoided as aspirin prevents the kidneys eliminating uric acid. Colchicine is an alternative medicine which eases the symptoms of gout attacks. Colchicine is usually taken if patients have problems with anti-inflammatory painkillers. Steroid tablets can also be used to reduce pain and inflammation if problems occur when using these other drugs. Please consult your doctor if you need to treat gout attacks

Pain and anti-inflammatory medication - the most common treatments for an acute attack of gout are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) taken orally, or corticosteroids, which are taken orally or injected into the affected joint. NSAIDs reduce the inflammation caused by deposits of uric acid crystals, but have no effect on the amount of uric acid in the body. The NSAIDs most commonly prescribed for gout are indomethacin (Indocin) and naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn), which are taken orally every day. Corticosteroids are strong anti-inflammatory hormones. The most commonly prescribed corticosteroid is Prednisone. Patients often begin to improve within a few hours of treatment with a corticosteroid, and the attack usually goes away completely within a week or so.

When NSAIDs or corticosteroids do not control symptoms, the doctor may consider using colchicine. This drug is most effective when taken within the first 12 hours of an acute attack. Sometimes it is taken as often as every hour until joint symptoms begin to improve. Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, or diarrhea make it uncomfortable to continue the drug.

For some patients, a prescription either NSAIDs or oral colchicine in small daily doses to prevent future attacks. The doctor also may consider prescribing medicine such as allopurinol (Zyloprim) or probenecid (Benemid) to treat hyperuricemia and reduce the frequency of sudden attacks and the development of tophi.

People who have other medical problems, such as high blood pressure or high blood triglycerides (fats), may find that the drugs they take for those conditions can also be useful for gout. Both losartan (Cozaar), a blood pressure medication, and fenofibrate (Tricor), a triglyceride-lowering drug, also help reduce blood levels of uric acid.

Weight loss and/or Weight Maintenance, which involves eating a balanced diet full of protein, complex carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants, and avoiding or limiting high-purine foods (which can increase uric acid levels). This will help support a healthy system and will help you to maintain your weight. If you gain just 10 pounds, your joints must bear from 25 up to 100 pounds extra, which can add unnecessary stress to your body. Limiting your caffeine, alcohol and nicotine consumption will also improve your health.

Treating the gout attack

With proper treatment a gout attack can be controlled within 12 to 24 hours and treatment stopped after a few days. Alchicine and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be effective providing an adequate dose is taken early on when the gout attack starts. However there can be side effects from using NSAIDS. These include irritation of the gastrointestinal system, ulceration of the stomach and intestines, and intestinal bleeding.

These treatments should be used in conjunction with 'home therapies' including rest and elevation of the affected area/s.

An cold gel pack can be used to reduce pain and inflammation, and thus stop the pain. Touching the skin over the affected joint can be very painful. Affected joints can be surrounded by a protective 'cage' which helps to take the weight of clothing and reduce pain. Fluid intake should also be increased.

With proper treatment a gout attack can be controlled within 12 to 24 hours. Once a gout attack is under control, treatment is usually stopped after a few days.

Therapies

Ultrasound therapy is a great option to decrease inflammation, pain, tension and soft tissue (muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve and connective tissue) damage experienced with gouty arthritis. This can be received using a portable, home ultrasound device (self-administered) or by seeing a physiotherapist. The treatment is easy, painless, safe, and generally requires between 5 - 10 minutes. It is based on a form of deep tissue therapy, which is generated through high frequency sound waves (that we can not hear). These waves send vibrations deep into your body and raise the temperature of your soft tissue. The waves are delivered through a hand held transducer and medicinal conductive gel that are used together in a slow, circular motion on your skin over the affected area. You may experience a slight tingling or warm sensation during the process as a result of the gel; this enhances the therapeutic effects of ultrasound (Phonophoresis).

Ultrasound therapy increases collagen and tissue elasticity, which in turn promotes blood flow (circulation) and brings oxygen and nutrients to affected joint and surrounding area. This cleans your tissue by getting rid of cell waste products and helps your symptoms subside. If not treated properly injured tissue can heal with a weakened state, which can lead to scar tissue or calcification. If used on an ongoing basis, ultrasound will help to improve your range of motion and will break down any scar tissue or calcifications that may form in or around the joint area. Ultrasound waves penetrate deep into your tissues, relax your muscles and tendons, decrease chronic inflammation and accelerate your recovery rate, so you can return to your daily activities as soon as possible.