Got the Gout

[ndsgr]

Dumb question, but would filtering help?

A buddy of mine is in his late 50's and rides dirt bikes every weekend. I complimented him once that he could keep up with some of the younger guys and could completely smoke me (30 years younger). He said riding and hard running are the only things that keeps the gout at bay. I don't know anything about it, but if I could convince the wife that riding was healthy for me, I'd be set. Yes that last sentence is in jest, I don't want gout.

 

[bferullo]

They have pills now...a prophylaxis. Doc told me I needed them, as even occasional gout attacks can permanently damage joints.

I think the amount of joint damage would be dependent on the severity of the gout and its frequency, BUT and I emphasize BUT, YOURr physician would know you best.

Here is some background for ya,


The old mainstay medication, colchicine, has been reformulated to a much more expensive version (Colcrys).

Allopurinol is one of the gold standard medications for gout treatments.

Once gout is "controlled" it can usually be treated on flare up by flare up basis.

Most of my patients are treated with colchicine until the flare tapers and then use allopurinol for prevention.

There are some newer medications out, but the data doesn't suggest them to be any more efficacious than older treatments.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

My brother (who's a NON-drinker - has never taken any alcohol in since age 18) has had it quite a few times. He's a bit of a heavy meat-and-potato kind of guy. He's backed off the beef dramatically and it seems to help.

I've also heard a lot of good things about cherry juice from people with joint problems.

For those that don't understand gout... Imagine if you opened a transmission (stick), and dropped a handful of small rocks in there. Not pretty at all.

M_C

 

[beerloaf]

I was diagnosed with it on my 30th birthday some years back and it sucked. My response to my Dr at the time was, "I'm not old or fat. How can I have gout?" He then corrected me and told me that I actually was most likely born with it and it generally manifests itself around 30 to 40 years old. I mainly get a "flare up" or attack when I get dehydrated and the uric acid becomes too concentrated. I was able to manage it for years just by eating the right stuff and limiting alcohol intake as well as staying hydrated without any medications. The reality is that you will need some sort of medication to actually lower the uric acid level at some point. Now I take Allupurinol every day and that works out. I still drink and brew regularly and you can just with moderation. Milk products are also a natual way of lowering uric acid levels. Stay away from red meats thats one of the big ones.

beerloaf

 

[beerloaf]

For many years even physicians thought gout was a joint disorder. However that is not so. In reality the amino acid, purine which is contained in a lot of types of protein actually causes an increase in uric acid production and that uric acid then does not get filtered out through the kidneys properly and ends up in the blood. Due to gravity it ends up pooling in the lower joints and due to the extra space in the joints for movement, the uric acid leeches out and crystalizes (hardens.) That's when the fun starts because it starts tearing the joints apart. That is the severe pain and infllamation that you feel when you have a gout flare up.

beerloaf

 

[jonmohno]

+1 on the kombucha.Very easy to make,pricey in the store. Im surprised no one mentioned diet here, im all about naturall aproaches and not pharma, do a search and find out what foods to eat vitamins to take, foods are the healer drugs always have something else bad they will give you.Things like fasting or all juice cleansing diet exercise lots of water maybe supplementing those combating evils by what your putting in your body, will have a greater effect given time. I would suggest some chlorophyll or wheatgrass garlic lemon juice often. There are so many things you can eat daily to combat this and its free! Its just a little disipline and know how along with changing your palate to what will end up ultimatley making you feel good.