SearchExclusive.com

Gout Pain – Symptoms and Treatment

All of a sudden one experiences extreme pain in the big toe or other joints. The pain is excruciating and occurs at any time of the day. Such symptoms are typical of gout. Gout pain is a complex type of arthritic pain that occurs due to the build-up of uric acid in the bloodstream. The accumulation of uric acid forms sharp crystals in bone joints. The most common location where gout occurs is the big toe. A gout attack can occur to anyone.

A gout attack typically lasts for 10 days, out of which extreme pain occurs during the initial three days. Gout attack starts at one joint and spreads to other joints when not treated. Pain relief for gout can be achieved by reducing the inflammation. Prompt treatment of gout foot pain results in the reduction of inflammation and pain and prevents spreading to other joints as well.

Symptoms of gout pain
Symptoms of gout pain vary with the severity and build-up of uric acid. Extremely painful gout pain is caused when the uric acid accumulates to the extent where crystals are formed at the joints. The common symptoms of gout pain are:

Excruciating pain in the joints : Big toe is the most common joint that is affected by gout pain. It can also spread to other joints like elbow, ankle, wrists, and fingers. The first two to three days of a gout attack are most painful.
Swollen joints : Gout is caused by the accumulation of uric acid at joints. This accumulation manifests as a swelling or bulge at the joints. Excessive uric acid deposits form crystals at the joints, which appear like tiny nodes under the skin.
Moderate discomfort : After the extreme pain reduces, moderate to mild pain lingers at the joints. This discomfort lasts for weeks. Subsequent gout attacks are likely to last much longer and cause more severe pain.
Inflammation : The big toe and other joints are inflamed due to the build-up of uric acid. The area around the inflamed joints is tender and painful to touch.
Redness of joints: The joints affected by gout are red and warm.
Limited mobility : Due to the swelling of the big toe, mobility is affected. Every movement causes extreme pain.
Loss of balance : As the big toe is affected, people tend to lose balance while walking.
Fever : Severe form of gout is often accompanied by fever. Fever is an indication of infection at the joint.

Treatment for gout pain
Pain relief for gout usually occurs within 10 days, even when left untreated. Severe joint pain accompanied by fever requires immediate medical treatment. Pain relief for gout is based on the severity of the condition. Mild to moderate pain can be treated through pain relief medication and lifestyle changes.

Common treatment methods followed for pain relief for gout are as follows:

Medication for pain relief : Gout pain can be debilitating and can occur at anytime, anywhere. Relief from gout pain can be achieved through non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication and corticosteroids. There are certain medicines that are effective for gout pain. However, it is advisable to consult the doctor before taking any medicines for gout pain .
Medication for preventing complications : The risk of developing gout complications can be reduced through medicines that block the production of uric acid and improve uric acid removal.
Home remedies : Apart from medication for treating gout pain, certain home remedies like cold packs also help in mitigating pain. Getting plenty of rest, especially limiting the use of the affected joints also helps in speedy recovery from gout. Wearing comfortable footwear helps manage gout pain.
Lifestyle changes : Changes in the diet by avoiding foods that are high in purines help in reducing uric acid formation in the body. Intake of plenty of fluids helps in the prevention of gout pain. Avoiding caffeine drinks, alcoholic beverages, and artificially sweetened drinks brings down the risk of developing complications of gout. People who are overweight are prone to get frequent attacks of gout. Reducing weight and maintaining a healthy weight also help in reducing the risk of developing gout.
Alternative methods : These methods can be followed when conventional therapy and medications don’t provide pain relief for gout. Certain foods are known to lower uric acid levels. Extract of herbs and fruits help in fighting gout pain. Herbal supplements like turmeric, bromelain, and Devil’s claw are known to be effective against gout pain. Acupuncture is a popular alternative therapy for treating gout. Home remedies like hot-cold compress are also known to provide relief from inflammation and pain due to gout.

Pain relief for gout can be sought through medication, physical therapy, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Recurrent gout, advanced gout, and kidney stones are complications of untreated, unchecked gout. Method of pain relief for gout is decided based on current health conditions and preferences.

Related Reading

Tips for Buying the Best Dog Food

Most of the dogs do not have a food fuss and may eat almost anything that you feed them. Dogs are not choosy at all when it comes to food and nutrition. Hence, it is important to make sure that the food that you are purchasing for your dog is healthy. The landscape of dog food has been developing by leaps and bounds in recent times. There is a wide variety of options to choose from in the online and offline market. Given the wide range of options that are available today, buying the best dog food might seem to be a confusing task indeed. All the commercial pet food that is available in the market today is regulated by the FDA. Therefore, most of the products do contain nutritious, healthy, and safe ingredients. But it does help to know certain basic factors you should look for while buying food for your dog. Prioritize on the nutritional guarantee The best dog food, which meets the dog’s needs adequately has a statement written on the label of the product, from the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Buy from some of the best dog food brands, such as Fromm Family Foods, Earthborn Holistic, Nature’s Variety Instinct, and The Honest Kitchen.

Different Types of Kitchen Cabinets Available for Your Home

The most important aspect when designing your kitchen is deciding on the type of cabinets. In addition to functionality, kitchen cabinets score on aesthetics as well. Once the layout is planned, you can go ahead with choosing the cabinets. If you’re remodeling your home or just the kitchen, what you need to consider are the types of cabinets that furnish your kitchen. Here are a few types of kitchen cabinets that you can choose from. Base cabinets These kitchen cabinets are mounted on the floor and they are placed after checking out the floor plan. A major part of your job in the kitchen is on these base cabinets, which hold and support the countertops. These base cabinets are combined to carve out kitchen islands. A number of base cabinets are fused/set against one another and installed on site. The base cabinets, in addition to supporting the countertops, serve as drawers to hold your cutlery and appliances. Wall cabinets Mounted on the walls, these cabinets can store everything, right from your cookware to cookbooks. In terms of design, they offer utmost flexibility. Wall cabinet kitchen is available in varying heights, multiple widths, and custom depth options. This customization helps you to fit in your stuff of varying shapes and sizes into the wall cabinets.

How to Pick the Right Dog Food for a Sensitive Stomach

In today’s world, where you are presented with over a dozen choices for every item you would purchase for your own kitchen, it is not surprising that you have an equal number of options for your dog’s food. However, choosing the perfect brand and formula for your dog out of a range of options in the market is not an easy job. Your pet depends on you and trusts you to make the right choice for them. Therefore, it is imperative that you do your research about the products available in the market, understand what your dog needs, know what might be your pet’s problems, and then make a sound decision. What is a sensitive stomach? Dogs are known to have voracious and large appetites. Keeping that in mind, it is normal to assume that they have strong stomachs. They can eat close to anything be it sweets, bakes, chewy gum, hard leather or even woolen socks for that matter! It always so happens that the strongest of them are prone to allergies and can develop a disorder which is medically translated as a sensitive stomach. This might be due to a sudden change in the food habits or even due an infection picked up from somewhere.

All You Need to Know about Cat Food

For cat owners, cat food is a hot topic. You need to think about it in different aspects. The best thing is to know which ingredients are good for cat food and which are harmful. If you are aware of this, you can get an idea about the quality of the cat food just by going through the label. It is always sensible to stick to one brand of cat food. However, you may also want to try and prepare cat food yourself. There are also various options for wet cat food as well. Cat’s love for fish is universal, so you can do without going for expensive cat food. Nevertheless, whether you buy it or prepare cat food at home, you need to ensure that the food contains enough nutrition and calories. You would need to have some idea about the ingredients that must be present in cat food and make a worthy selection for your cat. Basic ingredients present in good cat foods Cats need a variety of nutrients to stay healthy and active; they need various vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and oils. The following is a brief explanation of the basic ingredients that should be present in cat foods.