Gout in the knee.

[Bertha Venation]

Preliminary diagnosis today, waiting for labs to come back.

I've read about gout online, six or seven articles, textbook-type stuff. But I hope to hear from people who have/have had it. What was your treatment and how long did it take for the pain to subside? How can I keep it from coming back -- or can I?

Here's how I found out I have it. I'm not happy. I've had this pain for weeks.

I've been begging my orthopedic surgeon for six weeks to help me with my right knee. I have problems with both, and am scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on the left. But the right hurts more. A lot more. I can barely move it and it's very hard to walk. It's as big as a bowling ball. She kept saying we can't address the right knee until we fix the left.

I went in today for the last in a series of hyalgen shots in the right knee (for arthritis pain. It's not working yet). I tried to be more forceful, and pleaded with her to do something, give me stuff to do at home, anything to alleviate the pain. I even asked her for narcotics.

Damned if she didn't tell me to lay down so she could examine it -- jesus, finally! She barely touched it and I jerked and yelped. She touched it all over, and I jerked and gasped every time. She said, "I think you're gouty." She did horrible things to the knee with two big syringes and showed me the result. *shudder* She sent me for blood work and said to come back next week.

Like I said -- I'm not happy.

[elleng]

1. SO SORRY, BV!

Don't have it, but checked for it: Mayo Diet

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/gout-diet/art-20048524

Its related to uric acid.

http://gouteducation.org/patient/gout-treatment/diet/

[Bertha Venation]

2. Thanks, Ellen.

I can always count on you.

[elleng]

4. PALS!!!

[elleng]

3. XPOST in Seniors???

[Capt.Rocky300]

5. Been there........

not with my knees but with my big toes. It was like particles of crushed glass in the joint and the pain was excruciating.

I eat more fruits and leafy greens now and take tart cherry tablets which I get at our local health food store.

No more gout.

Good luck to you.

[Capt.Rocky300]

7. Let me add.......

My family doctor initially prescribed Indomethacin in capsule form, which gave me great relief. The diet and tart cherry are to keep it away.

[enlightenment]

6. My mother had gout.

Staying away from trigger foods helps (but won't completely prevent) - particularly high purine foods and, sadly, alcohol (especially wine).

For her, the most important thing was catching it early, before an acute attack. She took two medications - colchicine when she was having an acute attack and allopurinol to prevent attacks. She had to limit the allopurinol because of side effects, so it was tricky.

Good luck - it's an awful thing and you have my sympathy.

[donco]

8. " How can I keep it from coming back -- or can I? "

I was diagnosed with gout when i was in my late twenties.I am seventy eight now.i take a 300 mg pill of Allopurinol (a generic)daily.Works fine so far.My gout was a traveler,it would hit me in the heal one time and the instep the next.I think the only place that it didn't hit was my earlobes.

[procon]

9. Can you see a specialist?

A rheumatologist might be a better choice to diagnose and treat arthritis and related diseases that affect the joints, like gout. If you believe your current doc isn't providing the you with an effective treatment plan, and you aren't satisfied with the care you're receiving, by all means switch.

[Shrike47]

10. Allopurinol works for me but it took me years of pain to get there.

I didn't want to be dependent on a medication. I was wrong.

[Warpy]

11. Are you seeing a rheumatologist? If not, you need a referral NOW.

Acute gout needs to be attacked by both drugs and diet. The diet is a pain in the ass but you won't have to be as strict between bouts of the disease.

My mother had gout and hers was called mild and I wouldn't wish it on Cheney, it was so awful.

During the acute phase, when NSAIDs aren't cutting it, narcotics are appropriate. Just don't fall into the trap of taking more than necessary.

http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/nutrition/pages/low-purine-diet.aspx

[Michigan-Arizona]

12. Hubby has had it a few times

He first started out with a semi mild case in his toes, about a year later he got it super bad in his foot. It was so swollen that they thought he had a broken foot but the diagnosis was gout. They claim it is hereditary & we know that his dad had it numerous times. The day we went to the drs they gave him ibuprofen & alpurinol which did the job. His next bout was in the knee which also caused it to affect his foot. We managed to find a free pair of crutches on craigslist so he could keep the pressure off it, that helped him quite a bit. He has since cut out all red meat & drinks mostly water with lime or lemon juice in it. It has been months since his last bout. the bout he had with the knee he didn't go to the drs, we just did it with the juices & I soaked a wash cloth with pure apple cider vinegar that he kept on his knee, he said that seem to take allot of the pain away. He also kept his leg elevated for a few days...

[tridim]

13. Do you take vitamin (hormone) D by chance?

How about magnesium?

[Warpy]

15. Gout is serious

Supplements don't work on it. Sufferers need diet modification and medications.

[tridim]

16. Too much D supplementation can cause gout.

Last edited Thu Mar 19, 2015, 12:37 PM - Edit history (1)

And wasting of the body's crucial electrolytes at the cellular level. It is dangerous to take D without cofactors. That's why I mentioned it.

Supplements work on your ENTIRE BODY, Warpy, but only if you need them. Don't take supplements as a reaction to a symptom, use them for general health.

On edit: BTW I'm quite offended that you don't think I'm being serious and dismiss everything I say as such. Who the hell do you think you are to judge me? I like you, but damn Warpy, you don't know everything.

[mopinko]

14. so glad you stuck up for yourself.

sorry about that exam.
i second warpy's advice to see a rheumie. your surgeon mostly thinks about surgery. rheumies think about pain, and function.

take whatever you need for the pain. pain is very bad for you.

take good care honey.

[n2doc]

17. 2 things worked for me

One was just hitting the advil as soon as my foot flared up. That helped. Keep taking it until the attack dies down. The other, which isn't something you can just do, is lithium. That really stopped it from coming back for me at least . But Lithium has its own issues, so unless you need an antidepressant, it isn't an option.

Watch what you eat as well, there are several known types of food and drink (beer, unfortunately, with me) that will instigate an attack.