Should i wrap gout

Pay special attention to what you eat. This can help you manage the buildup and uric acid and reduce the frequency and duration of your gout attacks.

Eating appropriate amounts of a healthy variety of foods to keep your weight under control and to get the nutrition you need. Try to avoid frequent or daily meals consisting of meat, seafood, and alcohol. As always you should drink plenty of fluids, especially water. The methods of stopping an attack of gout can vary depending on the severity of pain. Your orthopedic physician may give you a shot of corticosteroids. They may also prescribe other types of medications that are specifically designed to treat gout.

To ease the pain during a gout attack, rest the joint that hurts. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine may also be prescribed to help reduce the pain. The good news is that following treatment, relief from the pain and discomfort of a gout attack often begins within 24 hours. It is important to still make an appointment with your orthopedic physician even if your pain from gout is gone. The buildup of uric acid that led to your gout attack can still harm your joints.

An orthopedic physician will help you get relief from the pain of gout attacks and learn ways to prevent flare-ups in the future. The information provided does not constitute the practice of medicine or other healthcare professional services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor-patient relationship is formed.

Readers with musculoskeletal conditions should seek the advice of their healthcare professionals without delay for any condition they have. The content is not intended to replace diagnosis, treatment or medical advice from your treating healthcare professional.

If possible, elevate your foot slightly to reduce the swelling. Like with most foot problems, temperature compressions can help to relieve the intensity. The coolness can bring down any inflammation, and the compression can help to soothe the aching. For gout specifically, cold is your friend.

Grab an ice pack or stick some cubes in a plastic bag. Wrap it with a thin towel and an ace bandage to secure to your foot with mild pressure for up to 20 minutes. This can be done in spaced increments several times a day during the flare-up.

While some may advise soaking your aching foot in hot water, we only recommend this if your inflammation is intense. Other sources recommend tart cherry juice based on evidence from one compelling study.

It also found that cherry extract supplements can be equally helpful in reducing gout pain. Similarly, apple juice may help, as the fruit contains malic acid, which lowers uric acid. Another study found that varying green tea types may lower serum acid too. Read more about the potential of nettle, dandelion and hibiscus teas to soothe your gout pain on Healthline. If you've had a gout attack before, your physician may have prescribed drugs to treat attacks.

This may be your first line of defense or you may decide to use them only when NSAIDs fail to relieve your pain. Opioid painkillers, such as codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone, are not recommended to treat the pain caused by gout. Cold therapy can offer significant pain relief by decreasing inflammation and dulling pain signals. If this treatment works for you, you can apply the cold pack intermittently throughout the day for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.

Propping up the affected joint can ease pressure and reduce pain. If your big toe is affected about half of all gout cases affect the big toe , prop it up on a pillow or footstool. Rest the affected joint and keep pressure off it until your pain subsides. Have roomy slippers on hand, so you can keep your feet comfortable until the attack passes.

Drinking water throughout the day will help flush the uric acid from your system. Aim for drinking 8 glasses a day.