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Can Gout Be Cured?

Gout is a painful condition that can affect your mobility because it affects the joints, most commonly in the big toe. Fortunately, gout is an acute condition that clears up on its own. Treatment can hurry the cure, and there are also ways to prevent future gout attacks. The cures involve medication, while prevention involves a combination of drugs and diet.

  1. Symptoms

    • Gout is a condition in which the affected joint swells significantly, looks red and feels very hot. It also becomes extremely sensitive to touch. The Mayo Clinic says the tenderness can be so bad that even a light bedsheet will be painful. Gout can affect any joint, although it most commonly appears in the big toe, but it can occur in other areas such as the ankle, knees, fingers and elbows. Its symptoms can be debilitating, so most sufferers are eager to find a cure for their gout attack.

    Prevalence

    • The Mayo Clinic says that gout tends to afflict men more often than women. However, females become more prone to gout attacks after menopause. Fortunately, the condition is equally curable in both sexes using the same treatments.

    Self Treatment

    • Mild cases of gout can be treated without a trip to the doctor. You can take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), such as naproxen or ibuprofen. These drugs are sold over the counter under brand names such as Aleve, Motrin and Advil. They will relieve the pain and inflammation of the gout attack as it resolves itself, which usually happens in five to 10 days.

    Medical Treatment

    • If a gout attack doesn't respond to NSAIDs or if a person is unable to take them, medical treatment may be needed. Doctors typically prescribe colchicine to control the attack. However, the Mayo Clinic warns that this drug can have unpleasant side effects like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Steroids are another option, either in pill form or as an injection. However, they also have side effects such as inhibiting a person's ability to fight infections.

    Prevention

    • People who are prone to frequent gout attacks can prevent them by taking medication that blocks the production of uric acid or improves its removal from the body. These medications must be prescribed by a doctor. Avoidance of red meats and seafood, combined with these drugs, can keep you free of gout attacks.

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