Treating gout requires a two-pronged approach that combines medications and lifestyle changes. If you have gout, you know the signs that a flare-up is on the way. There’s nothing you can do to stop an attack once it starts, but you can ease some of the symptoms at home or avail services of pain management in NYC.
Warning Signs of a Gout Flare-Up
Some people with gout, also known as gouty arthritis, say an attack begins with a burning, itching, or tingling feeling in a joint maybe an hour or two before the flare-up starts. The joint may feel a little stiff or a bit more. Not long after, the telltale signs of gout begin. If you get repeated attacks, you’ll learn your body’s signals that one is about to begin.
Sometimes, people with gout have no early signs that a flare is about to start. They may just wake up in the middle of the night with a very painful joint. Pain Management Doctors in NYC helps to treat your
When the flare starts, most people have redness, swelling, and severe pain, usually in one joint. The most common place for gout is the base of the big toe, but it can happen in other joints such as the elbow, knee, wrist, ankle, and instep.
Treating an Acute Gout Attack
Here are the steps for getting the pain and swelling of a gout attack under control:
- Take anti-inflammatory medication as soon as possible
- Ice and elevate the joint
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Call your doctor and make an appointment
- Relax; stress can aggravate gout.
- Ask friends and family to help you with daily tasks.
Despite the sudden onset and intense pain, gout attacks usually peak and resolve within a week or 10 days and then disappear completely. The first 36 hours are typically the worst. However, it’s important that once you have an attack, you begin working with your doctor to control uric acid levels and prevent future gout attacks.
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