Gout

Gout is a medical condition that is described as a form of arthritis that causes sudden extreme pain in the joints. Acute Gout is the term given for gout that only affects one joint in the body. Usually, the joint will be the big toe, ankle or knee.

Acute Gout is caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in the joints, soft tissue and blood. If your body produces more uric acid than normal, your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out, so it can begin to build up and form as small crystals around the joints which cause severe pain and inflammation.

There is not one reason that people can develop Acute Gout, the risk factors involved in developing Gout or Acute Gout are:

• Genetics
• Diet
• Medical conditions you have
• Medications you take
• Your weight
• Stress or poor mental health

It’s important to control the areas you have the ability to change, such as your diet, weight and managing stress levels.

Acute Gout can affect any joint, but most commonly it will occur in the foot, big toe, ankle or knee. The symptoms can be uncomfortable and often leads to intense pain.

The signs of Acute Gout are:

• Swelling
• Intense pain
• Limited movement
• Shiny, red skin covering the joint

If you have any of the symptoms of Gout but have never been diagnosed with the condition, you should consult a medical professional right away. You can speak to one of e-Surgery’s pharmacy team by using our ‘ask-a-pharmacist‘ service, which is free to use.

Acute Gout pain can be treated by taking painkillers, specialised Acute Gout Medication, by keeping the joint elevated and supported as well as treating the swelling with a cold ice pack. If the pain persists, you should consult your GP or pharmacist as they may be able to prescribe you with stronger medication if necessary.

It can be for some people, but not all. Making changes to your lifestyle could improve your chances of not developing Acute Gout, such as losing weight, exercising more, reducing your red meat intake. Some people might be more prone to developing Gout if they have a genetic component passed down within their family.

No, there is currently no known cure for Gout, but there are treatment options available for those suffering with the condition. Treatment can help reduce or eliminate the symptoms, allowing people to continue living as normally as possible. If you suffer with Acute Gout, then there are lifestyle changes you can make to help reduce the symptoms, such as eating less red meat, exercising regularly and losing weight.

Gout itself is a lifelong condition. Acute Gout flareups or attacks can last anywhere between 3 to 10 days. This is the average timeframe that the symptoms will appear for, after this time they should begin to reduce, and the pain should start to subside. Just because the attack may have gone, it doesn’t mean you won’t experience another in the future, as most people will have another Acute Gout flare up.

You can experience Acute Gout in the foot, ankle and knee, but most experience the most severe pain in the big toe. The toe will become extremely swollen, and the pain will be unbearable, especially if it comes into contact with anything.  Pain can be relieved by using painkillers, or by using hot or cold treatment. You can take medication that is designed to directly treat the symptoms of the condition.

Acute Gout will usually begin to reduce after around 24 hours of the initial flare up, but it can last for up to 10 days. If left untreated, you are at greater risk from frequent and more severe attacks, which could lead to other medical conditions developing that can could badly impact your health. You should always treat Acute Gout with prescribed medication, rather than leave the condition to potentially worsen.

Acute Gout is when there is sudden onset of pain, swelling and tenderness in one joint, with attacks being sporadic and unpredictable. Chronic Gout is when the person has had years of elevated uric acid levels resulting in consistent, repeated attacks. Often those with Chronic Gout have suffered with Acute Gout in the past but were never treated for it, so we advise speaking to a medical professional if you are experiencing symptoms.

Potentially, yes. If left untreated, you may start to experience a fever and the joint that is impacted can become inflamed and feel like it’s burning. This is possibly a sign of infection. You should consult your GP or pharmacist as soon as you notice the symptoms of Acute Gout, as the sooner it is treated the less likely you are to have severe pain.

Any joint in the body can be affected by Acute Gout, including the knee. The knee is one of the more commonly affected joints, so it’s important to be aware of the signs of an Acute Gout attack. The symptoms include inflammation around the knee joint, swelling and severe pain. Consult a medical professional if you believe you may be experiencing Acute Gout.

Yes, Acute Gout attacks can sometimes be brought on by extreme emotional stress. This can be from one experience or through mental health conditions like anxiety or depression. It’s important to make time to do things that relieve stress. Stress is known to be a major factor in many health issues, not just for Acute Gout.

If left untreated, Acute Gout can worsen and possibly spread to other joints in the body. Most of the time Acute Gout will only affect one joint in the body, but it will be extremely severe. Treating Acute Gout early on can help reduce the chances of it spreading to other joints in the body. You should consult your GP or pharmacist if you are concerned about the condition spreading.

Yes, most Acute Gout medication will be ant-inflammatory, meaning that it helps reduce the inflammation in and around the joint that’s in pain. Painkillers have anti-inflammatory properties in them to help relieve the painful symptoms. You can also use ice to reduce inflammation through direct contact with the joint.

No, Acute Gout medication should not cause high blood pressure. Commonly prescribed Acute Gout medication has been shown to have no effect on resting blood pressure in patients taking both the medication or the placebo. This means that it is considered safe for those who have Acute Gout and high blood pressure to take, at the discretion of your healthcare provider.

Erectile dysfunction is not a known side effect of Acute Gout medication, but this doesn’t mean the medication is playing a part in the changes in sexual performance. Medication can affect everyone differently, and sometimes people can report side effects that haven’t been reported before. If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction while taking medication for Acute Gout, there are treatment options available. You can discuss this with your medical provider.

It depends on the medication you are prescribed. Some healthcare providers may issue you medication containing steroids, but medication available through e-Surgery does not contain any steroids, but it acts as an anti-inflammatory. If you are concerned about what the medication you’re being prescribed contains, you can find this information on the patient information leaflet.

The Acute Gout medication that e-Surgery offers usually takes around half an hour to 2 hours to take effect, but this can vary. You should always take the dosage instructed to you by your GP or pharmacist, as taking more or less can impact the effectiveness of the medication. If the medication is not showing signs of working after two days, you should inform your healthcare provider as they may be able to prescribe something that might be better suited to your body.

You can buy Acute Gout medication online through online healthcare providers such as e-Surgery. We offer competitively priced treatments and medications that are delivered directly to your door. The products e-Surgery provides are sourced from the same manufactures as any high-street pharmacy. You can speak to one of our pharmacy team directly by using our ‘ask-a-pharmacist‘ service free of charge.