What should I do when I have a gout attack? Gout attack can use painkillers?

Gout is a relatively common disease, the general incidence of the population is mainly concentrated in the middle-aged and elderly people, ventilation is actually a kind of stone, but the onset of the site is not in the digestive tract like other stones, but in the bones and joints, so there is a great deal of difficulty in the treatment. So, is it possible to use painkillers during an attack of gout in general?

The first move: medication for pain

For painkillers, I believe that everyone is no stranger. The main painkillers for acute attacks of gout are: colchicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids.

Usually the earlier the medication is used during an attack, the better the effect. For patients taking these medications for the first time, it is important to take them under a doctor's supervision.

Colchicine

Colchicine is a potent drug for gout pain relief, but some of my friends have experienced side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea after taking it, which is mostly related to overdosing.

Previously, the usage of colchicine is to take 0.5mg every hour until the pain is relieved or when vomiting and diarrhea occur to stop the dosage. However, studies have found that the efficacy of colchicine applied in high doses is comparable to that of small-dose therapy, which has significantly fewer side effects.

Therefore, small-dose therapy with fewer side effects and no reduction in efficacy is currently advocated: 0.5mg per dose, once or twice a day, with a total amount of no more than 1.5mg per day.

And the effect of applying it within 24 hours of the onset of the disease is good, but the dose of the patients with renal insufficiency should be adjusted in accordance with the doctor's advice. In addition, colchicine and some drugs can affect each other, if you are taking colchicine while using other drugs, you should consult your doctor first.

Colchicine use note:

If vomiting, diarrhea and other reactions occur, the dosage should be reduced, and in serious cases, the drug should be stopped immediately;

Bone marrow hematopoietic insufficiency, severe heart disease, renal insufficiency and gastrointestinal disorders patients with caution;

During the period of use of the drug should be regular checks of the blood picture, and liver and kidney function;

Female patients during the period of use and within six months after discontinuing the drug, need contraception. contraception is required during the period of taking the drug and for six months after stopping the drug.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Traditional NSAIDs often cause gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage and other side effects, including indomethacin, ibuprofen and others.

Newer NSAIDs have significantly lower gastrointestinal adverse effects, while their efficacy is no less than that of traditional drugs, but they all may have cardiovascular side effects, so patients with combined cardiovascular disease should choose carefully.

These drugs should be taken after meals to minimize gastrointestinal side effects, and gastric protectors can be used concurrently when stomach upset occurs.

Glucocorticosteroids

Glucocorticosteroids can quickly relieve pain and reduce congestion and edema in the joints, but they are prone to recurrence after discontinuing the medication, so they are only used for patients with very severe and recurrent symptoms of gout and should not be used for a long period of time.

Local intra-articular injection is more effective than oral intake and has fewer side effects, so when the acute inflammation of gout is confined to 1 or 2 joints, it is best to choose local intra-articular injection of hormones.

Additionally, hormones are best used in combination with colchicine to avoid relapse after stopping the drug; however, try to avoid using them in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, so as not to aggravate the damage to the gastric mucosa.

The second trick: non-drug pain

Gout attacks, the use of colchicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or glucocorticoids, can play a significant role. But in addition to medications, here are six ways to help relieve pain.

Localized cold compresses

When gout flares up, use an ice pack or ice mineral water to apply cold compresses to painful joints for 20 to 30 minutes. Cold compresses can reduce local inflammation and pain.

Note, do not apply hot compresses or soak your feet in hot water, as the rise in temperature will aggravate the inflammatory response, edema, and make it more painful.

Localized cold compresses can temporarily reduce pain, while some friends with gout have reported more pain after cold compresses. Therefore, it is best for people to decide whether to apply cold compresses according to their own situation.

Drink more water

Drinking more water can produce more urine and take away more uric acid, as well as prevent urinary stones.

Normal people urinate every day, on average, about 1.5L, while for gout friends should ensure more than 2L of water per day.

Low-calorie, alkaline drinks are very suitable for gout patients, such as soda. Of course, those who don't like soda can also choose plain water and light tea.

Elevate the lower limbs

When gout attacks, the painful areas usually have edema, so you can make use of the principle of "water goes to the lower place" to elevate the lower limbs to reduce edema. For example, put a pillow under your feet when you sleep, or shorten your standing time when you get out of bed.

Don't torture yourself with shoes

When you have a gout attack, your joints are painful and swollen, so wearing a pair of shoes can make things worse. If you have to walk, make sure you wear a pair of loose-fitting shoes.

Also, there are rules about wearing socks, but if the weather is cold, you can wear socks, but they shouldn't be too tight.

Distraction

Some friends just lie still when they have a gout attack, and everyone understands the pain. But if you lie still and are preoccupied with the joint pain and are completely immersed in it, the pain will be noticeable.

So try to distract yourself when you have a gout attack, watch a movie, talk more, distract yourself.

Controlling your dietControlling your diet involves doing two things: abstaining from alcohol and reducing your intake of high-purine foods. Alcohol, high purine intake will raise uric acid, affecting the control of gout.

1, gout diet principles

1, diet light

gout patients should pay attention to regulate the diet, abstain from alcohol, because alcohol is easy to make the body of lactic acid buildup, will be easy to gout the severity of gout, especially beer, which components such as hops is very easy to induce gout.

Additionally, do not eat high purine food, in order to prevent the increase of uric acid.

2, the diet should be strictly prohibited three high

Diet in the three high is high fat, high protein, high sugar, gout patients should be based on the dietary structure of carbohydrates, which can promote the smooth discharge of uric acid, thus reducing the gout trigger.

3, maintain an ideal body weight

For the body is relatively obese gout patients, reduce weight is also very important, you can do some appropriate amount of aerobic exercise to reduce body weight, such as swimming, jogging and so on.

4, drink a lot of water

For gout patients, should increase the amount of water, because a lot of water can promote the uric acid discharge, so as to reduce the symptoms of pain, but it should be noted that the drinking water should be white water or light tea is the best, do not drink strong tea and coffee.

5, appropriate and reasonable supplement protein

Regulation of the diet can not just eat light food, but also at any time to supplement protein, to avoid the body will be malnutrition.