Gout can bring about a number of unpleasant side effects, but the most common complaint is joint pain. This pain can be mild at times, but for many, a flare up means they can't walk, and moving in any position is painful. This means the most common thing gout sufferers want to know is how they can manage their gout joint symptom and pain that comes their way. Prevention is key, but there are times when preventative measures won't work. In those cases, there has to be something that can be done to get rid of or at least lessen the pain. Gout pain is a direct result of high levels of uric acid in the body leading to deposits of uric acid crystals in the joints. The kidneys process uric acid but they can not always keep up especially when there is just too much of it. Someone who is a heavy drinker or eats foods rich in purine, for example, is going to have a bigger problem with uric acid build up and are therefore more likely to suffer from gout. The kidneys will focus on clearing out the alcohol, and the uric acid secondly or they become overwhelmed by the amount of uric acid. That means levels will build up dramatically. When that happens, the uric acid has to find somewhere to go. Excess uric acid forms crystals, and those crystals have a special place they like to go. The most common spot is in the toe joint but deposits can occur in other joints of the body. This causes pain, tenderness, and inflammation. If you think about your joints, you know they are normally cushioned with fluids that allow them to move freely without much friction. Imagine sharp crystals forming there instead this gives you a good idea why gout is so painful and why the sufferer often seeks immediate relief. When the first gout joint symptom appears, most want to do something right away. Left untreated a normal bout of gout will least from a week to ten days. You can take a NSAID right away. This is a pain reliever that will also help with inflammation and swelling, allowing some flexibility in the joint. Make sure you chose a pain reliever that also tackles inflammation, like ibuprofen, as painrelievers like aspirin can actually make gout symptoms worse by inhibiting uric acid excretion. When the attack is severe, there are other options for immediate relief. Some doctors will give an injection of corticosteroid. This is a steroid and will work almost immediately. However, this is not something that can be used too often as it can weaken the joint tissues and surrounding bones and can lead to other problems in the future. There are other steps that can be taken by the patient when they are experiencing pain. Trying to relax the area and keeping the joint elevated is always a good idea. If the muscles around the joint are relaxed, there won't be as much tension on the area, and thus less pain. If you can stand the pain of weight on your joint, try applying some crushed ice wrapped in a towel. Keep on the joint for 10 minutes and repeat as necessary. This should help to soothe the pain as it has numbing effect. Alternatively try a charcoal poultice. Mix together 1/2 cup of powdered activated charcoal and 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed and add hot water (not boiling) to form a paste. Gently apply to the swollen joint and cover it so it stays in place. You can either leave this on overnight or change about every 4 hours during the day. Beware, charcoal stains anything it touches so use old bedsheets or wear old clothes and take care with furniture and carpets. Drinking plenty of water or herbal tea helps to dilute uric acid levels in the blood and aids the kidneys in flushing out the excess amounts. Staying off the effected joint can also help, though this is not always something someone can to do. Learning to manage lifestyle is important to lessen the times when a gout joint symptom will occur. Take time to learn to modify diet and lifestyle so the attacks are fewer and further apart is the best way to deal with them is to prevent them in the first place.
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