Guidelines for Managing Gout Pain
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
When to Contact Your Doctor
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
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.
Last reviewed September 2011 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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