Stubborn Gout Pain

by KeithTaylor Comment Closed
Stubborn Gout: 2012 Update This discussion on How Long Does a Gout Attack Last? is now closed. Please see the new discussion about stubborn, or prolonged gout, by following the link at the end of that article. A recent comment from a reader about stubborn gout pain has set me thinking. I started writing a short comment reply, but as I thought about the problem, I realized that this subject deserves it's own article. Tom wrote about his stubborn gout pain: I have used prescription NSAIDS (Ibuprofen,Indicin, etc.) to successfully treat a gout attack that affected my toes, ankles and knees. Second and subsequent gout attacks did not respond to NSAIDS and I tried fresh cherries, dried cherries and cherry juice concentrate. The Cherries worked at first and then failed to give relief. Next, I tried Colchicine and that worked - with gastric upset side-effects. I've also noticed a difference in pain treatment response to different attacks. The pain is caused by a complicated immune response that scientists...
Read More

Cure Your Own Gout

by KeithTaylor Comment Closed
Can you cure your own gout? You might have to. If you do not take responsibility, and demand the right long term treatment, you will never cure your gout. If you do not take action, the chances are nobody else will. I get many messages from disillusioned gout patients who don't feel that their gout treatment is working. I've just seen an article that suggests that you might have to cure your own gout. In Patients Learn Chronic Disease Self-Management Online on MedScape, the authors note that: managing a chronic disease has become a normal part of life. The healthcare system, however, ... was designed to focus on acute illness and injury, not long-term conditions. This is why most gout sufferers get pain relief treatment, but many go without the long-term uric acid lowering treatments that are crucial to curing gout. But it is vital that you get this treatment to avoid crippling joint damage and skin bursting tophi. The authors conclude: There is no doubt...
Read More

Colchicine Side Effects

by KeithTaylor Comment Closed
Gout sufferers know that colchicine side effects are often unpleasant. Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are common, but one side effect is less well known and much more dangerous. I've written before about the potential problems with biaxin and colchicine. Biaxin labeling is supposed to carry a warning. There has certainly been plenty of publicity about this in the medical press due to a small number of deaths from colchicine poisoning, but still the problem occurs. I got this message yesterday: My Dad was given Colchicine 0.6mg and was told to stop taking it when he got diarhea. He did this but was still bothered with cramping and diarhea. Could this also be caused by the fact he was also given biaxin xl 500 mg. Can these to medications be taken at the same time. Colchicine and biaxin must not be taken at the same time. This is so serious that I am repeating my warning. I am not qualified to advise you what to do...
Read More

Gout and Antioxidants

by KeithTaylor Comment Closed
Gout and antioxidants are closely related. Uric acid is an antioxidant that we produce to help protect our bodies from free oxygen (free radicals) that can harm our bodies. Though we need this antioxidant for life, too much of this particular good thing can lead to gout. Gout research into tomatoes tells us that food high in antioxidants can help reduce uric acid. My logic tells me that it makes sense for our bodies to produce less of our own antioxidant, uric acid, when we can absorb what we need from our food. One pillar of my gout diet plan is that food rich in antioxidants will help lower uric acid. Up to now, I have simply advised you to increase antioxidant rich foods. Many of you want more than this, and so I will shortly be publishing a series of free gout recipes that will help you plan your own gout diet. In my next newsletter, I will also introduce a...
Read More

Is Tomato Juice Good for Gout

by KeithTaylor Comment Closed
Fruit or vegetable juices are great for providing hydration we need for gout and a good supply of alkalizing antioxidants. As many gout sufferers also have high blood pressure, low salt tomato juice is a quick and easy snack food that ticks many good for gout boxes. Some fantastically tasty fruit and vegetable juice recipes are heading for my website as I write. But, sometimes, a simple tomato juice drink is all we want, as one of our fellow gout sufferers explained: I love to have a glass of tomato juice at breakfast, but I'm having difficulty in finding tomato juice products that are low in sodium, maybe close to zero. Hope you can help. One 64oz bottleSix 32oz bottlesOh, yes - I can help. In my fridge lies a lovely litre of delicious tomato juice containing a mere .4g salt (.2g sodium) per 150ml. The recommended daily amount of salt is 6g, so this stuff certainly qualifies as low sodium. Just nip down...
Read More

Gout Coffee

by KeithTaylor Comment Closed
Another short gout question, just asked, is gout coffee. There are a couple of important things to know about gout and coffee. Recent research indicates that coffee drinkers have less chance of getting gout. Now that is not quite the same as saying that coffee protects you from gout, as it is a statistical, rather than clinical report. Having said that, the figures look quite convincing. It is also relevant that coffee is a source of antioxidants, so maybe that is the reason that coffee is good for gout. (more…)...
Read More

L-carnitine and Uric Acid

by KeithTaylor Comment Closed
I've just read a fascinating study about a substance called L-carnitine and it's effect on uric acid. The study is not concerned with gout, but anything related to uric acid interests me. This particular study looks at how uric acid rises after strenuous exercise. The fact that exertion raises uric acid is the reason why I recommend gentle exercise for gout sufferers - exercise is important to aid mobility and help weight loss, but too much can have a bad effect. L-Carnitine L-carnitine is currently being promoted widely as an anti-aging / anti-dementia supplement. It is produced naturally in the body if sufficient lysine (an amino acid found in protein), vitamins B1, B6 and iron is available. It is available from diet - mainly muscle and organ meat, fish and milk products. The study about uric acid, exercise, and l-carnitine (L-Carnitine L-tartrate supplementation favorably affects markers of recovery from exercise stress) uses a commonly available carnitine supplement LCLT, combining L-carnitine with L-tartrate. In the study,...
Read More