En Español (Spanish Version)
by Alan R
Other Treatments for Gout
During a gout attack, the following measures can help relieve the pain:
- Putting a warm pad or ice pack on the affected joint
- Keeping the weight of clothes and bed covers off the affected joint
- If possible, avoid moving or placing any pressure on the affected joint
The above treatments can help ease the pain of a gout attack. Drug treatment is usually needed to treat a gout attack and prevent recurrences. A gout attack is best treated as soon as possible to limit the severity of the attack and help prevent permanent joint damage. Contact your doctor immediately if:
- You think you may be experiencing a gout attack for the first time
- You have had gout attacks before, but your prescribed treatment does not control this attack quickly
- Your symptoms worsen, do not improve or keep coming back
References
American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at:
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html
.
American College of Rheumatology website. Available at:
http://www.rheumatology.org/
.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at:
http://www.niams.nih.gov/
.
The Merck Manual of Medical Information.
17th ed. Simon and Schuster, Inc; 2000.