Cure Gout, Don’t Endure Gout
It is a form of arthritis known as gouty arthritis. The word comes from the Latin “gutta” which means drop. In the middle ages, physicians believed that gout was caused by the blood dropping toxins into the joints.
They were not too far off. Gout is caused by uric acid crystals building up in the blood stream. These crystals do get deposited in the joints, causing inflammation and acute pain. Usually gout is associated with joint pain in the feet and ankles but the acid in the body can affect any joint. The typical gout attack occurs in the joint at the base of the big toe but ankle joints and knees are also frequently affected.
The cavities of your joints are surrounded by synovial fluid. This is a thick fluid about the consistency of egg whites. The name itself comes from the Latin. Syn means together and ovial comes from ovum, which means egg. The task of this fluid to keep the joint bones lubricated.
The big question is, what causes the excess of uric acid in the blood stream? Studies have shown that some families are more prone to gout attacks. It also occurs more often in men than in women although post-menopausal women are also targets. Gout is more apt to occur in people who drink alcohol. Diuretics (water pills) can wash away a lot of water from your system leaving behind a higher concentration of uric acid.
Gout Attack
If you have already experienced a gout attack, you don’t need to have it described for you. It is unforgettable. However, in case you have had the symptoms but not the diagnosis and did not know what the condition was, here is a list of the typical symptoms.
- Sudden throbbing pain that often start at night
- The joint feels warm and turns red.
- Even a sheet over the joint hurts because it is so tender
- Possibly a fever.
The first attack only lasts a few days but it will return in half the cases if it is the chronic version. If gout returns, it usually lasts longer than the first attack. Chronic gouty arthritis will leave persistent joint damage and joint pain. Lumps can develop around your joints or even in other parts of your body. These are called tophi and they can leak a fluid that has a chalky appearance.
This video shows why you must cure gout, and not ignore it.
In summary, take gout seriously. It never really goes away, even if you do not feel the pain. It is lurking in your system. Each time it returns, it does more damage. Chronic gout can deform your joints and cause endless pain. The underlying cause, the urates in your blood stream that were deposited in your synovial fluid remain there and without treatment, you will never be free of the threat of sudden and excruciating gout pain.
Gout begins at the bottom of your body — your big toe — and moves up to your ankles, knees, hands, fingers and elbows. Unless, and this is the redeeming feature, unless you take steps to cure gout rather than endure gout.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that once a gout attack passes, you are home free. Those who believe it is caused by eating rich foods are on the mark. Uric acid build-up comes from an unhealthy diet, a diet high in protein and fat. Many sufferers are also overweight and their blood stream is teeming with disease-causing elements.
There is a cure for gout that is better than medication or any other treatment for gout pain. It is your diet. What you eat affects your health and if you change what you eat, you will never again feel the pulsating pain of a gouty joint. Treating your body well is better than any medicine. As a side note, crystals of uric acid can really wreak havoc on your system — it is the substance that crystallizes into lumps of uric acid known as kidney stones as well.
Remember – Gout can cause permanent damage.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you so much. Some great information. I appreciate you efforts
Hi Simon,
I really appreciate the comment. Thank you very much. If you want more make sure you like us on Facebook too. Any interesting, related and even funny stuff I find out about gout gets posted there!
Thanks for the info. I hope and pray that I can have my life back because gout is truly a nightmare. Some people really don’t understand how serious this disease is.
Enjoy your newsletter, great information
Im havin a gout attack now, this is the 3rd day of it, and last night was the worst! Its in my lower back at the waist line, Id give anything for it to be in my toe! Ive had it for the past 3-4 years and this would be my 3rd main gout attack. I found out I had gout by going to the emergency because I thought I had a hair line fracture on my foot……
Hi everyone. I appreciate all these comments and figure I’d chime in. I had my first gout attack 5 days ago and I am finally finding some relief in my big toe area! It really is a self-inflicted disease. I don’t like even calling it a disease because we bring upon ourselves with diet and the choices we make. I’m about 20lbs, maybe even 30lbs overweight. I’m an athlete and hold my weight well. With my Italian backround, I love great food and I love to drink good beer and fine wine. I’ve decided to change my lifestyle by moderating my passion for food and wine. Were not invincible and gout is one way of our bodies saying, “yo, chill fat ass. You don’t need another bottle of wine!”. Lost 10 lbs already this week. I’m definetly not goin through this pain and more importantly frustration, again!!!!!!!!
Hi all. Thanks for taking the time to comment here and share your experiences. I’m pleased that I have been able to help you find information about gout, and I love hearing that people are looking to change their lifestyle to get rid of their gout. Berto has summarised up my entire website in one paragraph. Boy that could have saved me a lot of time!
Whatever you do make sure you get a hold of the free ebook that’s on offer here because it’s a great guide to the options that you face. And you really do have options… it’s not a one-size-fits-all world.
THANKS A LOT
SOME PHYSICIAN ORDER FOR ME NO URIC TAB AND CHOLCESEN TAB TAKE IT 2 TIMES A DAY
BECAUSE HIGHT URIC ACID IN MY BLOOD .
HOWEVER IM AVOID ALL PROTIN AND FAT AND THERE IS LAKE OF SPORTS .
JUST I NEED YOUR ADVISE ABOUT MY GOUT
THANKS
Hello Brett !
Just aquick question Sir; My gout in one foot and specially the artritis in the other foot are getting swollen and painful when and after I excercise, run, jog for a while. I do sweat quite a bit by the time I am done, however I am not fat as I’ve lost about 20 kg of weight in last 1 1/2 year through excercise and diet.
So, why is it hurts after excercise ??
Thank you Sir !!
Hi Florin
I know that even after my gout attacks stopped, I continued to have problems with tenderness and swelling in my ankles. I think that the months of gout caused some lasting damage. Even now I haven’t got the full flexibility back in my ankles. But in saying that I don’t get pain any more, but I am always conscious that they are not quite right.
It sounds like something you should get checked out by a podiatrist or doctor though, in case it’s something else.
Do you get the pain if you do non-impact exercise, like cycling or swimming?
Well done on the weight loss. I know how hard that is to lose the weight and keep if off so I’m always really pleased when I see someone succeed.
When an attack of gout happens or to prevent a gout attack after all things failed ( other than potent drugs), I found that keeping the feet (or joint) hot and under pressure ( not too much as to prevent blood circulation) eventually clears the uric acid deposition from the area. Its best to wear two warm socks and shoes(or loafers) and keep it on during an attack. During sleep keep the socks on and cover your legs with a blanket. You can along with try the innumerable remedies available on the web like baking soda, apple cider vinegar, cherries etc to aid in the removal of uric acid and the usual potent painkillers and drugs like allopurinal etc. As the heat and external pressure build up in the area the crystals will dissolve. It seems the some have a tendency to store uric acid like fat for later reuse. The soft area around the joints which are cold is the ideal place to store it. Prevent the storage and body keeps it circulating or disposes it. Hope this helps.
Try the natural product Inflamazol. I have been using it and it is amazing how fast I found relief. Certainly worth looking into!!
How do you get a doctor to pay attention to your gout pain? My friend never had gout or symptoms of it until after a heart attack and a stent was put in. Is this a “normal” result of stenting or something else? She had a terrible reaction to the statin drug she was put on. Could that be a factor in getting gout? What kind of medications are prescribed for gout pain? The meds she is on is giving her no relief.
Hi Nancy. I’ve heard of several people getting gout after surgery. It’s not the stent so much as the medications and anaesthetics that she will have had. It is possible that her medication is contributing to her gout. There are different medications available that lower the uric acid levels in the blood and also antiinflammatories that can reduce swelling, but your friend really needs to get back to a doctor to discuss it. I’m no doctor and I have no idea if these gout medications can be taken with the drugs she is already on.
What do you mean by “How do you get a doctor to pay attention to your gout pain?”.. Is the doctor not interested in your friend’s overall health?
Your friend might want to consider an alkaline diet. Many medications can make the body more acidic, and hence more prone to gout. There’s a lot of good information about alkaline diet at acidalkalinediet.com
i like reading this i learned some of all comments but i want to know what is the besting to do to stop attacking gout because i stop drinking alcohol and eating food but i still attack a gout.
brett thank you that you doing this please continue so its helps us. some of researcher are good but they want to pay them to download their research
Thanks for your kind words Reggie.
But you know.. sometimes buying someone elses knowledge is a very good investment!
Some people say that fructose (for example orange juice is high in fructose) is bad for their gout. Do you drink a lot of juice?
…do not eat red meat…do not drink…exercise religiously everyday…daily dose of colchicine…suffering another attack as I type this…not the big toe where it has always hit before, but middle joint of right index finger…despite one’s best efforts, there may simply be a genetic predisposition (…thanks, Mom…)
I truly believe if Gout was so diet related millions more people would have it, i believe most gout comes from reduced kidney Function. I recommend anyone with gout get their kidneys tested
ken
Appretiate the information Brett.
My father suffers from severe gout. He’s on meds for it, but for some reason this last time has lasted for about 2 months of constant unbearable pain. He’s not able to walk, and has to crawl to use the bathroom and crawl to get up the stairs, he also sits down to come down the stairs, He’s been to the Dr’s, but they keep prescribing more meds.
He’s only eating almonds and banannas because he’s scared to eat anything else. Are the almonds and banannas the problem? What foods should he be eating and not eating?
Cassandra
Hi Cassandra.
Wow your Dad’s gout sounds just awful. I remember times where I had to crawl to the bathroom too, but luckily it never lasted for that long.
I’m not a doctor or dietician, but I am concerned that he’s limited his foods so much. He’s missing out on so many nutrients and minerals! A lot of people think that when you have gout there are many things you can’t eat, but in reality there’s a ton of food that you can eat. I would suggest that you check out the Acid Alkaline Diet website for some great advice on eating an alkaline diet. There are lots of benefits to eating alkaline, and one is said to be that it makes it very hard for gout to stick around in an alkaline environment.
All the best
Brett
I had my first gout attack about 10 years ago.
At the beginning I was having attacks every 6 months. Then gradually I was getting them
every 3 months, then every month and eventually every week.
It started at my big toe and then it was moving sometimes in my knees,and generally all
around my joints, in my feet.And the pain was agonising.
I have tried all the cures you can imagine.I tried ACV, lemons, drinking a lot of water, but
to no avail.I tried water fasting, juice fasting,baking soda, again without success.
I almost gave up meat, limiting it to only once a week ,gave up alcohol completely,again
no success.
I was living on vegetables, lots and lots of fresh fruit, milk ,cheese beans and so on .My
eating habits could not be healthier ,or so I thought.But my gout was worsening.
Then I decided to increase the amount of fruit I was consuming, thinking that if some fruit
is healthy, more fruit will be more healthy.Some days I was eating fruit only ,others over 10
portions a day.
And alas my gout instead of improving it became chronic.
I was desperate I did not know what to do.
And then one day accidentally I read an article about fructose,which is contained in fruit in
large quantities.It said that it increases uric acid, in a matter of minutes.
Fructose is also present in table sugar, and in HFCS, which is used in soft drinks.
I put two and two together and realised what I was doing wrong.
I stopped eating fruit and all other sugars, for a period of 3 weeks,and by magic I saw a
dramatic improvement.Pain was gone, swelling was gone, I was fine.
I re introduced fruit again in my diet but reducing them to 1 or 2 a day, and my gout completely
disappeared.
I do eat more meat now, and occasionally have an alcoholic drink, and thank God everything
seems to be fine.
Fructose was my enemy.
Thank you for the great site! I too have Gout and am trying to help educate myself and others. My results have been fantastic on diet alone but its not easy. Keep up the good work and check us out some time. Will be sure to share your Facebook posts at http://www.facebook.com/gouthealth
THANK YOU TONY!
Thank you EVERYBODY for your helpful input. Tony, thank you for your tip about fructose, and about how it helped you. Sugar/fructose seems to cause so many problems, and yet sugar is added to EVERYTHING that is manufactured to improve taste/shelf life. Fruit juices, even natural ones, seem to wreak a lot of havoc in the body (kind of like injecting sugar directly into the bloodstream, it seems!).
My gout started in my right toe, and it was bad where i was limping everywhere at work and persistantly painful. I drank lots of pure orange juice, ate cherries, and stopped eating much meat for a few days where it slowly went away. It had been about 6 months at least and just had another attack in my wrist. Boy was this one painful. 2 nights of pain so bad i couldn’t sleep at all since it was nonstop, and my wrist had swollen up a ton and went into my hand. The worst of the pain slowly became less after about 3 days~. Its been about 3 weeks now and i’m still recovering since my wrist is still slightly swollen and very weak. It almost feels like the swelling may have slightly dislocated it but i’m crossing my fingers its just the swelling and its normal to take this long to heal fully. My problem is i can’t stop eating meat, i love food too much. I know people say there are lots of other good foods to eat but i don’t see that many that taste good. Its just too hard for me to quit meat and unfortunately its going to take me almost dying from it to stop i think.
I really don’t think you have to stop eating meat. I eat heaps of meat now, but also heaps of vegetables. I’m more and more convinced now that if you have a properly balanced diet (say 1/4 meat 1/4 potato/rice and 1/2 vegetables) then you will be in good stead. I’ve lost over 30 pounds by following that diet and my gout is a thing of the past. Don’t read too much into specific things about your gout, but maybe look at the portions and proportions in your diet. Sure if you are eating really high purine foods then you are probably asking for trouble. Balance is the key, like anything in life! Good luck with that wrist. I know that some of my gout used to take a very long time to settle down. Especially when it’s not the first time.
Thank you so much I have being suffering for years and could not figure out what was wrong unable to work, or just could not do what I love to do best walk, cook, and @ the age of 37, I was hoping that God could take me away so that this unwanted swelling and pain could stop after reading this article I am blesses words could not explain how this make me feel I could just go on and on wirhout commers or periods Thank You
Hi Ann
Sorry to hear you are having some nasty experiences with your gout. Rest assured that you can get rid of it though. I suffered with gout pain for years until I got rid of it, but now it’s been years since my last gout attack. It can be done!
All the best
Brett
Thank you everyone for your comments, and sorry that some of you are suffering so badly with it. I had an attack two years ago in one big toe joint following surgery, and it went after 3 days. I have just suffered a further attack, this time in both feet, which lasted 3 weeks, and I still have tenderness in one toe joint. This time it was after a nasty bout of food poisoning. I am unsure if the surgery and food poisoning are factors, although I note that sometimes anesthetics and medication can be a factor, So whilst I feel for everyone who is also suffering it is also reassuring I am not alone. I am seeing a homeopath, who is treating the gout, and I will let you know if it it successful.
Wendy
Hi Wendy. Thanks for coming here and sharing your experiences. I used to hate it when I got gout in both feet at the same time. For me it was my ankles. It’s hard enough getting around with gout in one foot, let alone two! Anaesthetics and medication are thought to being about gout because of the acidifying effect on the body. Not uric acid in particular, but just a general acidity.
I will be very interested in hearing about the homeopathic treatment. I have a page on this site about homeopathic treatment for gout, but I’ve never actually experienced using them myself.
Brett
Need help on what veggies and meat are acceptable during a gout attack. This time it’s in my wrist and elbow.
It’s not what you eat during a gout attack that’s your big problem… it’s what you eat all the rest of the time!
But in saying that… Most vegetables are going to be OK for you, especially if you are eating a variety. I would perhaps steer clear of beans (of all types) for a while. With meat, if you are eating proper meat and not processed in any way (by processed I mean having stuff added to it such as preservatives and who-knows-what-else they put in our food these days) then you should be fine. Perhaps keep away from the seafood for a while.
Have you considered looking into the alkaline diet? That’s one that’s getting a lot of attention from all the right people these days.