When people are experiencing episodes of gout, they generally seek out treatments because of the severe pain they are in.
Unfortunately, regular medical treatments aren't necessarily very effective and can have undesirable side effects.
Because of this, many people seek out self-help at home treatments they can do themselves.
Treatments for Gout Overview Treatments many times begin with medications which your doctor will choose based on your current health and what you prefer.
The medications can be used to treat acute attacks and to prevent further ones, plus reduce your risk of any complications that could occur because of the disease, such as the tophi, which are bumps underneath your skin caused by the collection of uric acid crystals with untreated gout.
You can also do things at home to help you battle gout.
Even though medications are the most effective and proven methods of treatment, it will help if you are taking all the steps you can in your day to day life, as well.
Good guidelines to follow include keeping yourself hydrated by drinking at least eight to sixteen cups of fluids each day, of which at least half should be pure water.
You should also try and avoid alcohol and limit your intake of foods with a high amount of purines like fish, meat and poultry to around 4 to 6 ounces each day.
Instead, eating a good amount of protein found in healthier sources like tofu, low-fat dairy, eggs and nut butters is a much better choice.
Specific Medical Treatments Most commonly seen is the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen, ibuprofen and indomethacin.
These medications, however, can cause bleeding and ulcers, stomach pain and after a certain dosage don't provide any more relief.
You should not use aspirin, as it will increase the uric acid retention in your body.
Another prescribed drug is corticosteroids like prednisone, which are generally used when the case of gout is severe.
Although relief can be found with these drugs, they can also cause wounds to heal poorly, thinning bones and they can weaken your immune system.
Cortisone can be injected into the affected joint, but no more than three times per year due to the side effects.
Other medications prescribed for use in daily doses to reduce the severity of episodes in the future are probenecid, colchicines and allopurinol.
Allopurinol stops the formation of uric acid, colchicines can relieve swelling and also prevent how often your attacks occur and probenecid lowers how often you get attacks by raising how much your kidney excretes the uric acid.
Specific at Home Treatments There are several different treatments you can choose to do from home to alleviate your gout symptoms.
Besides changing your diet as stated above, these methods can help bring you some relief when you are experiencing a gout attack.
Baking Soda - One way to help lower the uric acid in your body is with baking soda.
If you have a severe case you might have to wait for two or more days for any relief to be felt.
Mix one half of a teaspoon of baking soda with eight ounces of water and then drink it all at once.