Q WHO CAN RID ME OF THIS CURSED GOUT?

[jra-vincent]

I am suffering repeated attacks of gout - despite scrips for Colchitine, Febuxostat, taking Tart Cherry, magnesium, cider vinegar, Milk Thistle, drinking more water, raising foot, ice on foot, reducing alcohol intake, cutting out most purine-rich foods, and heaven knows what else. Five attacks this year. At wits' end...

[gingermusic]

My partner has suffered from some terrible bouts of gout in his feet, ankles and elbows in particular. Things are so much improved now that he takes Allupurinol tablets. He does not drink alcohol apart from a very occasional shandy if at a celebration and he has virtually cut out all meat other than chicken. If he knows he should not eat a particular food i.e cauliflower then he doesn't. Alcohol and red meat are the real dangers

[jra-vincent in reply to gingermusic]

Tried Allupurinol first and the Feboxostat when that didn't work. I think it's caused by other meds I have for blood pressure, atrial fibrillation etc. I have a pacemaker. Thanks for thoughts...j

[gingermusic]

That is always a possibility of course I can only wish you well but its a terrible thing to have to have.

[Bkin]

Ouch so sorry you are dealing with this. A long time ago I treated a gentleman with reflexology, he commented how much better his gout was during the time he was having treatment. I know its out of the question at this point unless someone in your household is trained etc. but I wonder if massaging your own feet each day with Vicks vapo rub may help? (I'm thinking big toe rotation and massaging all around the stiff joint)

If you've not already tried this it may be worth a try.

The only other thing I can suggest is the diet recommendations:

mayoclinic.org/healthy-life...

Hope you can get some relief soon.

[jra-vincent in reply to Bkin]

Thanks for advice... will try

[Ergendl]

The cider vinegar may not be helping. My father's gout improved greatly after he stopped consuming vinegar foods.

The gout is caused by uric acids crystalising in slow moving blood vessels, usually the hands and feet. Keep your extremities warm, drink plenty of fluids to keep the small blood vessels open.

It can also help to massage the affected joints, which help to break up and move the crystals. This will hurt at first. I used to have my feet massaged by a reflexologist who was able to move and break up the crystals, but now have to do it myself when it's starting to build up again.

[jra-vincent in reply to Ergendl]

Thanks. I've altered the uric acid levels from abnormally high (469) to abnormally low (113) through meds but with no obvious benefit. A friend of mine who has suffered gout for 25 years now takes two tablespoons of cider vinegar each morning, plus tart cherry, and is 100% better. Every body, it seems, is different. John

[Ergendl in reply to jra-vincent]

Well done for reducing your uric acid levels. The next thing to try is to make sure you have enough fluids in the system to stop the uric acid crystals sludging in the small capillaries of your hands and feet. Plenty of water and tea, not so much coffee. Then massage the affected joints to break up the crystals that are already there. Good luck.