Extreme pain in both knees radiating to thighs, buttocks & lower back

[monoconfusion]

Hi all,

I am a 26 year old male. I have had levels of uric acid & LDL cholesterol higher than normal since the age of 22.

2 days ago (1st day) I went out & had some beers (probably three glasses) and my knees started hurting and I could not walk or move well. I thought it was gout. I went home late & did not get enough sleep that night, probably only 3 hours worth and that may have prevented my body from recovering from whatever it was that attacked my knees.

The next day (2nd day / yesterday), the pain subsided but was persistent throughout the day. As I went to bed on the 2nd day, the pain became unbearable, I could not do anything to lessen the pain. My knees, backside of thighs and buttocks were in excruciating pain no matter what I did (lying down, sitting down, standing up, etc).
I could not sleep, no matter what position I was in, it was super painful.

On the third day (today) the pain was no longer on my knees, it was all over my thighs, buttock and lower back. I could not move or even stay still. I finally took Zyloprim 100mg on the evening of the 3rd day (now) and waiting for it to start working. Right now my knees & lower back hurt a bit while my thighs and buttocks are really hurting.

This is the first time such thing has happened and I have no idea what this is (my guess is gout due to my high uric acid).
Please help me find out what is causing my knees, thighs, buttocks and lower back in so much pain. I want to make sure I avoid all the food/drink that is causing this or if there is a name for this condition.
I cannot see the doctor because I am visiting another country and I do not know where to go.

Any comments or advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, all!

[monoconfusion]

Thanks, TrudieC

I took some uric acid medication (1 a day for 2 days) 100mg each day and my gout (I am sure it was gout by now) subsided.
Thanks for the tips on how to avoid it.

[TrudieC]

While gout can certainly hit areas beyond the feet I have not seen where it affects the areas you are mentioning.  It would be ideal if you could visit a clinic or hospital.  Gout can be a secondary problem and you need to know if it is just a symtpom of something else.  Where are you visiting?  In the mean time you should be taking aspririn, ibuprofen or naproxen around the clock to help with the pain and inflammation.  

Beer and wine and lots of fat and red meat can contribute to an attack if it is gout.  I found this on diet.

Diet
See Saag and Choi, 2006, an open-access review article, for detailed references and further information.[44]

The serum level of uric acid is the primary risk factor for gout. The serum level is the result of both intake (diet) and output (excretion). Diet should be low fat and low protein.

A 2009 study found that Vitamin C prevented outbreaks of gout. The study, published in the March 9, 2009, issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that men who had the highest vitamin C intake—1,500 milligrams or higher per day—had a 45% lower risk of gout than those with the lowest daily intake—less than 250 milligrams per day.[45]

A 2004 study suggests that animal flesh sources of purine (such as beef and seafood) greatly increase the risk of developing gout. However, high-purine vegetable sources (such as asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, and green peas) did not. Dairy products such as milk and cheese significantly reduced the chances of gout. The study followed over 40,000 men over a period of 12 years, in which 1,300 cases of gout were reported.[46

Good luck and I hope you find some relief soon