Gout is an inflammation of the joints. In fact, it is considered a severe form of arthritis because it affects the joints in the same way that arthritis does. However, gout can be incredibly painful and it can seemingly come out of nowhere. People who suffer from gout usually wake up with a feeling like their toes or fingers are on fire. There may also be evidence of extreme swelling and redness. In fact, this is a definition of a gout attack. Knowing how to treat and manage a gout attack is incredibly important, because it will help you live a happier and healthier life. Here is how to treat and manage a gout attack.
- Over-the-counter pain medication. When you suffer from a gout attack, you want to take an over-the-counter pain medication. This will not only cause the pain to go down, it will also cause the swelling to go down, which is just as important. When it comes down to it, the pain and swelling are often what cause a gout attack to be so excruciating.
- Steroidal injections on the inflammation site. If your gout attacks are particularly bad and debilitating, you may want to visit your doctor for a steroid injection. This is a localized injection, which means that the steroids are injected straight into the swollen area – the steroid solution won’t enter any other part of your body. When you inject steroids into the swollen area, the inflammation will almost immediately subside and go away. These injections can often be a lifesaver for people with extreme gout attacks.
- Eat lots of blueberries or cherries. If you read online publications, like the Sunflower Press, you will find out that one of the best ways to treat a gout attack is to eat foods that are rich in antioxidants. For instance, blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant counts – cherries also have a very high antioxidant count. You may even want to make a juice out of the cherries and make a natural soda – it can often make the entire experience a lot more enjoyable.
- Put ice on the area of swelling. On top of taking medications – natural or otherwise – you also want to place some ice on the area of swelling. Ice can reduce the swelling and the pain – it can also make the entire area feel a little numb. When you suffer from a gout attack, grabbing a bag of ice may be the first thing you want to do. If you wait, the swelling could get worse and so could the pain.
- Take your shoes off and relax. At the end of a long workday, you want to take off your shoes. If you have anything covering your feet, it could cause a gout flare up. If you are suffering from a flare up, you want to immediately take off your shoes and your socks. This will offer a tremendous amount of relief. In the end, any excess pressure to your feet should be avoided during a gout flare up.