Four Home Remedies for Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis that attacks the joints, usually in the knees or toes. If you've ever had a pain in your big toe so bad that it actually woke you up in the middle of the night, you might have gout.

People who have gout often suffer from these symptoms.

* Intense pain in your joints. While most people seem to experience gout in the largest joint of their toe, you can also have gout in your hands, wrists, knees, ankles, or feet.

* Swelling or redness of the joints.

Attacks of gout usually hit very suddenly. Once the pain starts, it can last for anywhere from a few hours, to ten days. In some cases, a gout attack can last for weeks, or even months.

Gout is a very painful condition that can make doing even simple things, like walking, a challenge. But here are some home remedies that can help you deal with the pain.

Use ice to soothe gout pain.

Packing the effected joint in ice will help ease gout pain temporarily. Wrap an ice pack in a towel. (If you don't have an ice pack, put crushed ice into a plastic bag and wrap it in a towel.) Wrap the ice pack around the joint, and leave it in place for about twenty minutes. Repeat this treatment up to three times a day as needed.

Take it easy.

When you're having a gout attack, any movement will make the pain worse. So, stay off your feet. Call in sick, and let someone else do your chores and run your errands.

Take some ibuprofen.

An over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine, like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), will help joint pain and inflammation. Taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) won't do much good. Gout pain is mostly caused by the swelling of the joints, and acetaminophen doesn't fight inflammation.

Don't take aspirin. It can actually make gout worse.

When should you see a doctor?

Often, you can deal with the pain of a gout attack yourself. In fact, even if you do nothing at all, the pain will go away on its own, leaving you feel perfectly fine.

But, if you suffer from frequent, recurring bouts of gout, or your gout attacks last for more than a few days, you should see a doctor, and the earlier the better. There are prescription medications that can shorten the duration and severity of gout attacks. There are also medications that can actually help prevent you from having gout attacks in the first place.

Gout attacks can be excruciating. But these home remedies will help you deal with the pain.