GOUT

[Mossy Chariot]

Well, here I sit, wishing I could be at the mill sawing but unable to even venture outside the last several days due to the pain.  It is currently in my knee, a place I've never had gout before.

My first experience with gout (unknowingly) was probably in the 2007/2008 time frame.  Both feet (not the toes but the feet) developed such a pain that I could not walk.  When I went to the doctor, he first thought gout but dismissed it after checking my blood uric acid level and found it to be close to normal.  This was followed by seeing an orthopedic specialist that put one foot (the worst at that time) into a boot.  That lasted for about 6 weeks without results and was followed by another orthopedic specialist that put me into physical therapy.  After weeks of therapy, all seemed better except, as I pointed out to the doctor, the leg that had been in the boot was about twice the size of the other leg below the knee.  Based on this observation, he sent me to the hospital for a ultrasound.  Next thing I know I'm being admitted with DVT.  An IV with blood thinner made my feet go crazy with pain once again.  Four days later, I was determine to get out of the hospital so I showed them I could walk just fine : and was released.  For the next few years, the pain would come and go lasting only a few days at a time with several months in between.  When another significant flareup occurred, I visited a chiropractor that uses kinesiology.  He quickly diagnosed my problem as gout and started treating it with success.  This was in 2012.  He and my diet, including concentrated tart cherry every day, have been able to keep my gout under control meaning short-term flareups, six to nine months apart since that time until this year.  

Flareups have been more often this year so I decided to discuss it again with my medical doctor (different one than I had back in 2007/2008  ) and decided to try medication, more specifically alopurinol. This has been another adventure.  Started on 100mg and within two days had a gout flareup in a place I'd never had it before.  Knowing it takes a while to be effective, the flareup continued for a month and I contacted the doctor again.  He upped the dosage to 300mg and another flareup, again in a place I have not had it before.  After another two months, he upped the dose to 400mg.  That is where I am now, with an new flareup in my knee and hoping we are on the right track and soon.  More blood work in about three weeks to see where the uric acid levels are.  

Sorry for the long sob story.  Just really frustrated.  Any one else had to deal with gout?  If so, I hope you have faired better than I.

[Texas Ranger]

Bing cherry juice, a lot of it.

[YellowHammer]

I have gout, my brother has it and my father.  All of us treat it with allopurinol.  It's quite painful as the uric acid precipitates out of you bloodstream and crystallizes in specific joints, much like a sliver of glass.  The drug allows you body to control the uric acid better and keeps the crystals from forming.  The drug is one of the oldest in modern medicine, and is extremely safe and effective.

Also, it is extremely important to watch what you eat, as there are many foods and drinks that can trigger a precipitation of the crystals in your joints.

I've been pain free for decades, so there's a light at the end of the tunnel.  

[doc henderson]

just like many salt forming chemicals, the temperature plays a role.  that is why toes are common since the are small and peripheral, thus cooler.  not sure about the dx, if your levels were low, if the next doc is not helping, try a rheumatologist.  low protein diet, and drink lots of water. good luck.  i have had 2 kidney stones, but no gout.  the old clue to gout was you walk in the hospital room (back when we routinely put people in the hospital), and they have the blankets and sheet untucked at the foot of the bed, since even a sheet on the toe would be too much to bear.  i will stick with kidney stones.  Uric acid, comes from urea, that comes from nitrogen, that comes from amino acids turning to sugar by removing the nitrogen group.  this is why "nitrogenous" waste is called "urine".  any protein you eat more than you need daily (3 ounces or a steak the size of a deck of cards)  gets broken down.  some of the NSAIDS can give faster relief, the allopurinol is long term management.  best wishes!

[gspren]

A few years ago I had a mild episode of gout and read that cherries are good to treat/prevent so I try to regularly eat a large bowl of black cherry ice cream, for medicinal purposes only. Good luck, I've heard that it can be extremely painful, my case was mild.

[Mossy Chariot]

Thank you guys for the encouragement!!!  I am sure I will prevail.  I'm guessing I allowed the crystals to form for too many years, my immune system coated them over time, and now the allopurinol is starting to dissolve them causing the current flareups.  I sure hope that is the case.  Looking forward to sawing some logs soon.
As @Texas Ranger and @gspren have suggested, I have been drinking concentrated tart cherry juice every morning for a year or so now, which I think did help.  I'm hoping I'm just going through that phase of "it sometimes gets worse before it gets better."

[doc henderson]

i think I will try the black cherry ice cream as well... although i do not have gout!

[WDH]

Doc, you can't be too careful :D. 

[Mossy Chariot]

I'll take that as a recommendation Doc. Thanks!!!  I generally listen to my doctor. 

[YellowHammer]

For me there are a few foods that really triggered the crystal formation within 24 hours.  Grain alcohol was a big one, cola and other high sugar, highly acidic drinks were another.  Milk was bad.  Lots of seafood wasn't good.  Basically, anything that changes the pH of your bloodstream to make it more acidic will cause issues. 

Anyways, turns out that most of the stuff you should avoid eating or drinking for gout, you should avoid eating anyway.  

[ellmoe]

Large grilled shrimp! Love to eat , but guaranteed gout .

[Mossy Chariot]

I've tried for several years to draw a correlation between specific foods/drinks and gout attacks, but have not identified much that I can consistently say is a culprit.  Tomatoes seem to be high on the potential list.  I think the biggest culprit is not drinking enough water every single day.  Got to keep those pipes flushed out and the toxins diluted.  50 years ago they use to say the solution to pollution is dilution, hence the initial reason for 1000'  stacks at the steam plants. :

I'm doing better this morning - headed in the right direction - will be sawing again by tomorrow.

[Old saw fixer]

     Hope you get relief soon.  No gout here, but I have a bunion on my big toe!  Even if black cherry ice cream worked for that, it's a no no because I have Type II diabetes.  If it tastes good, you need to spit it out, lol!