Living with gout can be quite an ordeal, especially if you’re an active, outgoing type of person. The inflammation in the joints can sometimes cause intense pain, which hinders you from going about your daily grind. Thankfully, gout is highly treatable.
Following a regimen and a couple of lifestyle changes ought to chase gout away…
1. Over-The-Counter Medication
Most gout flareups are usually remedied by over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen sodium (Aleve), and celecoxib. Aspirin should be avoided at all costs since it aggravates gout pain.
OTCs are great, but these do more than relieve pain…
2. Take Prescription Drugs
Prescription medicines have a much stronger effect on gout. Allopurinol (Aloprim), for example, reduces the production of uric acid, while colchicine and corticosteroids like prednisone reduce inflammation though these may come with a few side effects.
Some pressure should ease things up…
3. Put On Hot/Cold Compress
Applying a cold or hot compress to inflamed joints is greatly useful in providing pain relief. But most of the time, cold compresses are more efficient than hot ones, but it also helps alternate them achieve better results.
Never judge at first sight…
4. Acupuncture
Recent clinical studies have shown that acupuncture is highly effective in relieving gout-induced pain and decreasing uric acid, in some cases, even more than prescription medicine within 24 hours.
A good unwinding should loosen things up…
5. Get Plenty Of Rest
Since gout interferes with and strains movement, it’s best to relax for a while, especially during a flareup. Avoid doing heavy exercise or sports activities. If you can, try to massage the afflicted areas to facilitate relief and comfort.
Dropping a few pounds lightens up the load…
6. Lose Some Weight
Losing some pounds and maintaining a healthy weight can significantly reduce your risk of developing gout. Light exercises like walking, bicycling, and swimming should be ideal since they don’t pressure the joints.
A healthy fix can do the trick…
7. Change Your Diet
Eating purine-rich foods like red meat, liver, anchovies, sardines, herring, mussels, scallops, trout, haddock, and tuna increases the risk of gout. Instead, switch to a diet consisting of low-fat dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
The same goes for your thirst-quenchers…
8. Choose Healthier Drinks
Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages and sugary drinks, and drink more nonalcoholic ones like milk and water. Drinking a mix of apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and turmeric diluted with warm water is also said to be highly effective.
You can never go wrong with going natural…
9. Go For Home Remedies
While scientific research is scant about these, herbal remedies like fenugreek seeds and Epsom salts have been reported to relieve pain and inflammation effectively. Applying warm castor oil on the affected area also helps break down uric acid deposits.
And in some situations, this is the ultimate resort…
10. Surgery
While the majority of gout cases don’t need surgical procedures, it can be an option in removing the uric acid (arthroscopic gout removal), the tophi (gritty, chalklike particles), as well as in joint fusion, and replacement.
