Living with Gout in the Body

Hi everyone this is Robert Posey ,I would like to talk to the many people who are living with gout in the body,I choose this subject  because gout runs in my family on my mothers side. Its really hard watching your loved ones suffer from it. The first time I was introduced to the term gout arthritis  was at the age of thirteen My grandfather suffered from it, he had it in his elbow and feet I remember rubbing green alcohol and Epson salt on him trying to relive his pain.

 My grandfather was a strong man but not even he could hold back his tears when it flared up. My mother suffered with gout arthritis as well she had it in both feet, they would swell so big you would think they were going to burst. I did not know what gout was all I knew was gout caused different parts of the body to swell.

 I remember felling so hurt because I could not help my mom with her pain. That was back in the day before we had Google to do our research. The information on this site is available all over the internet,I took bits and pieces from all over the web to share with you,most of the  links on this site will take you to different web pages where you can conduct your research and find lots of good information on gout in the body.I am not a gout doctor or specialist,just a ordinary person with family members who suffer from it,and from what I read my chances of getting gout or already having it is very likely.Read the information I shared and feel free to venture off this site while your conducting your own research on the subject all I ask is for you to pray for me and I will pray for you Amen. 

What Is Gout Arthritis:
Gout is a type of arthritis. It occurs when uric acid builds up in blood and causes inflammation in the joints. Acute gout is a painful condition that often affects only one joint; Chronic gout is repeated episodes of pain and inflammation. More than one joint may be affected.

 Most of the time, having too much uric acid isn't harmful. Many people with high levels in their blood never get gout. But when uric acid levels in your blood are too high, the uric acid may form hard crystals in your joints.

What are Gout symptoms:

•  Red or purplish skin around the affected joint. The joint may appear to be infected.
• Limited movement in the affected joint.
•  Peeling and itching of the skin around the affected joint as the gout gets better. 
• Some people may not experience gout as many painful attacks. Instead they have gout nearly all the time (chronic gout). Chronic gout in older adults may be less painful and can be confused with other forms of arthritis.
• Gout may lead to inflammation of the fluid sacs (bursae) that cushion tissues, particularly in the elbow (olecranon bursitis) and knee (prepatellar bursitis).
• Gout can also affect the joints of the feet, ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows.
• Symptoms may occur after an illness or surgery.
• Gout may first appear as nodules (tophi) on the hands, elbows, or ears. You may not have any of the classic symptoms of a gout attack.

A gout attack can last anywhere from a few days to weeks, attacks may occur off and on in other joints, primarily those of the foot and knee, before becoming chronic. In its chronic stage, gout can affect many joints, including those of the hands. Other problems related to gout can include the formation of tophi, or lumps of crystals under the skin, in the joints and in bone

Gout in the Elbow


                                                         

gout in the fingers

As you can see from the pictures gout is a very bad thing, there are a lot of people who have it and don't know they got it.

So what is Uric acid? It is a breakdown product of purines, that are part of many foods we eat

The tendency to develop gout and elevated blood uric acid level (hyperuricemia) is often inherited and can be promoted by obesity, weight gain, alcohol intake, high blood pressure, abnormal kidney function, and drugs. The most reliable diagnostic test for gout is the identification of crystals in joints, body fluids and tissues.

Purines (specific chemical compounds found in some foods) are broken down into uric acid. A diet rich in purines from certain sources can raise uric acid levels in the body, which sometimes leads to gout. Meat and seafood may increase your risk of gout.

 Purine is one of four basic building blocks that combine in various ways and amounts to make up amino acids which are the building blocks of protein.
Dairy products may lower your risk

Foods to limit (very high in purines):

 Organ meats, such as liver, kidneys, sweetbreads, and brains

• Meats, including bacon, beef, pork, and lamb
• Game meats,Turkey, Veal
• Any other meats in large amounts
• Anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel, and scallops
• Apples and Apple Cider
• Beer,Brewers yeast
• Crab,Lobster

Foods to eat occasionally (moderately high in purines, but may not raise your risk of gout):

• Fish and seafood (other than high purine seafood)
• Oatmeal, wheat bran, and wheat germ

Foods that are safe to eat (low in purines):

• Green vegetables and tomatoes
• Fruits
• Breads and cereals that are not whole-grain
• Butter, buttermilk, cheese, and eggs
• Chocolate and cocoa
• Coffee, tea, and carbonated beverages
• Peanut butter and nuts

Dairy products that may lower your risk of gout:

• Low-fat or nonfat milk
• Low-fat yogurt

Things you can try at home

Use cold. If the pain isn't too bad, try cold packs or cold compresses on the joint to lessen the inflammation and help the pain. Ice the joint for 20 to 30 minutes several times a day.

Rest the joint. It's a good idea to rest until the pain lessens. Most people having an acute attack of gouty arthritis probably won't want to move the joint much anyway. Raise the joint if you can on a pillow or other soft object.

Drink water. A lack of water in your body can make your uric acid levels rise even higher than they already are. Drinking water will help your body stabilize uric acid to a normal level.

Watch what you eat and drink. Foods that are high in purines (seafood, organ meats like liver, and even some vegetables) can increase the uric acid in your blood even more. So can fructose-sweetened drinks and alcohol -- especially beer.
If the pain is to severe see your doctor

 Supplements used to treat gout arthritis:

A-C Carbamide (Standard process Labs), Alfalfa, Aloe Vera juice, Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale is the herb which the drug colchicine was originally isolated from), Bilberry extract, Birch, Black cherry juice, Buchu (Green ) tea, Burdock, Cayenne, Cherries (1/2 pound/day), Chromium picolinate, Devil’s Claw, DMSO, Essential Fatty Acids, Flax seed oil, Folic Acid, Germanium (to reduce pain/swelling), Glucosamine Sulfate, Hawthorne Extract, Homeopathics (Arnica, Pulsatilla, Urtica, Colchicum, Ledum), Hyssop, Juniper, Kelp, Pantothenic Acid, Potassium broth, Pychnogenol (grape and pine bark), Quercetin (inhibits the enzyme xanthine oxidase which makes uric acid, also an anti-inflammatory), SOD (antioxidant and free radical destroyer), Vitamins A, B Complex, and E,  Vitamin C (increases urinary excretion of uric acid.), Wintergreen oil, Zinc (important in protein metabolism and tissue repair).

 The Mangano Method: An All-Natural Approach To Fight Gout