If you have gout, you’re certainly aware of the pain and discomfort it can cause. This form of arthritis affects more than 3 million people in the U.S. every year, but luckily, there are ways you can successfully deal with the pain at home!
Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Ballantyne walks you through this condition and what you can do to treat it.
- What gout is: Gout is a common, painful form of inflammatory arthritis, and it usually affects one joint at a time. There are times when symptoms get worse, known as flares, and times when there are no symptoms, known as remission. Unfortunately, there is no cure for gout, but you can effectively treat and manage the condition with medication and self-management strategies.
- Its symptoms include: Gout flares start suddenly and can last for days or weeks, followed by a long period of remission. You’ll know when you’re experiencing a gout flare, as you will experience pain, swelling, redness or heat of the affected joint.
- Here’s what to do: If you’re experiencing a flare, take some OTC anti-inflammatory pills like ibuprofen to help with the swelling and pain.
- What to do next: Hopefully taking OTC pills helps reduce the pain. After the pain has been reduced, make sure you monitor the foods you are eating. Foods high in purines, such as red meat, organ meat and seafood, can all trigger a gout flare, so stray away from those. Beer and hard liquor aren’t good for gout either.
- What to do after: Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC center if these treatment options don’t work, or if your gout flare-up lasts between 48 hours and a week.
- Action steps to take: One of the best things you can do to prevent future gout flare-ups from happening is by maintaining healthy habits, such as losing weight (obesity is one of the top risk factors), limiting purine-rich foods, staying physically active and protecting your joints.
- Additionally: Since gout is caused by an excess amount of uric acid in the body, you could likely deal with kidney stones as well. Make sure to stay hydrated to reduce your risk.
- Doctor recommendations: Gout can be a beast to deal with, so don’t hesitate to visit our AFC team to learn more about how you can properly deal with this condition.
Are you dealing with gout or arthritis in general? Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Ballantynecenter, and we can help!
