Gout Treatment - How You Can Get On Your Feet Again

What exactly is gout? Since the time of Hippocrates, gout has been the cause of much pain and human suffering. It has been studied very closely by many physicians. Gout was one known as “the disease of kings”. It was also recognized as a leading cause of disabling, painful and chronic arthritis.

There are now a variety of gout treatment options if your gout is serious enough. These include:

Medication Options

There are a number of classes of arthritis medication which will work for gout and treatment. These will help to control arthritis symptoms, improve function and mobility and prevent joint damage. There are basically five categories of medications for arthritis and gout which we will discuss below.

NSAIDs

This group of medications has been around for over thirty years for gout and treatment. NSAIDs have painkilling, anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing properties. However, these drugs have potentially serious side effects. The patient must consider the risks as well as the benefits of taking NSAIDs.

Analgesics (Painkillers)

This class of drugs is used to relieve pain. Analgesics are also used for gout and treatment. When pain is relieved, this occurs by blocking the pain signals that go to the brain or it may mix up the signals that go to the brain. There are two basic kinds of analgesics: narcotics and non-narcotics.

Corticosteroids (Steroids)

This group of drugs is closely related to cortisol. In 1948, a study was done on a group of patients at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. They had daily injections of a corticosteroid administered to them. The results were so astounding that everyone thought a “cure” for arthritis has been found. However, as corticosteroids were used over the years, there emerged significant side effects. They are still used today to knock down inflammation.

DMARDs

This is a type of anti-rheumatic drug that appears to decrease inflammation. Hence it is used in gout and treatment. DMARDs slow down the disease process by in some way modifying the immune system.

Biologic Drugs

Something else that is used for gout and treatment are biologic response modifiers. They help the immune system fight off disease and infection. Anti-TNF drugs are just one kind of biologic drug that was developed for treating rheumatoid arthritis.

Natural Remedies

Don’t discredit natural remedies for the treatment of gout. They have gained popularity over the years and serve to complement traditional therapies. Be sure to discuss with your doctor any natural remedy you may want to try especially if you take other medications. You would not want to have any side effects or drug interactions.

Joint Surgery Options

One thing that should be considered as a last resort for gout and treatment is joint replacement surgery. I should realize the value of this statement as I have had both knees replaced as well as my right hip and my left hip is not far behind! There have been many successes with joint surgery, yet others have not been so good. You had better be prepared as to what to expect before, during and after your operation.