gout

[Bevinmetairie]

Woke up with bad case of gout. I have not been taking my Allopurinol. If I start it back up today do you think it will help with the gout pain and inflammation? I am taking Ibuprophen and soaking in epsom salts/hot water.

[Jay_from_Beantown]

I used to get a 2-3 wk debilitating gout attack  2-3 times a year for 10 years, either in the heel, top of foot, and under knee cap. I had an aspiration which showed the crystals to confirm the diagnosis. But now I am in pretty good shape - it has been only one short lived attack in 3 years. Knock on wood!  My solution has been one tiny .6mg colchicine every night and a big glass of water. I also stay away from beer but have a glass of wine a couple times a week - no problem. Colchicine stops the body from attacking the crystals but does not lower uric acid very effectively.  However I have noticed that crunchy deposits in my knees have gone away.  Many Docs prescribe colchicine to go with allopurinol.  I wonder if it is the colchicine that is actually doing the work. My blood tests are great after taking colchicine for a few years and in fact my chronic slightly elevated sgpt has become normal??  My uric acid level was never extremely high - only 7.6 or so, and it stays in that range today.  Basically I think people with gout have an immune system that reacts to crystals rather violently.  Many people have higher uric acid and gout crystals in fact - but the body doesnt go after them like mine does - my theory.  I suppose I could take allopurinol to get my uric acid level below 6 but not sure of the value given the potential side effects.  High uric acid is associated with development of heart and kidney problems - so it may be good to have a good diet.  I try on that score with more veggies and fruit- and to drink a lot of fluids - but colchicine has allowed me to eat a burger or have clam chowder without fear of an attack.  I suggest anyone out there to try the little pill and water every night. No need to start after the attack subsides.  While your waiting for the pain to go away get on a veggie/fruit diet with lots of water.  Hope it works for you too!  

*Warning: Colchicine (used since the 1800's) just went up in price 10X - which is because of an FDA created monopoly for Colcyrs - so I hope you have insurance - there are vouchers available or you can get old colchicine from outside U.S.. Also write a letter to the FDA to stop the corruption.

*BTW when I had my one attack, I went to 2 pills/day, after 3 days I went back to one:-)

[Ailsatcm888123]

Gout is a metabolic disorder which results in raised blood levels of uric acid and the formation of crystals of uric acid salts in the joints

From a TCM viewpoint, the clinical features of gout, such as frequent attacks of swelling, redness, heat and pain in the joints, and improper movement of limbs, place gout in the category of "bi-syndrome."

Traditional Chinese medicine holds that there is a distribution network for the fundamental substances like qi, blood and body fluid throughout the body.

[Bevinmetairie]

Thanks so much! I thought I had taken all of the Colchisine I had but I actually had some left so I started taking them. The inflammation and pain has lessened somewhat, I can at least walk now. Does the Allopurinol make your husband sleepy? It seemed to have that effect on me so I hate to take it.

Thanks again.

[diane4623]

Hi - My husband has gout, so I know a bit about what you are going through. He takes Allopurinol on a daily basis, but when the attack has already started, it doesn't help the pain - that's when he takes Colchisine - in addition to the Allopurinol. That seems to lessen the severity of the attack. I think there's now another med out there that might do the same thing as Colchisine, but we have no experience with it..