Gout is inflammation of the joint. This is due to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint spaces as well as in the connective tissue of the joints.
It happens to be a disorder of purine metabolism and does occur when its final metabolite, uric acid, do crystallize in the form of monosodium urate, precipitating in the joints, on tendons, as well as in the surrounding tissues. These crystals do tend to trigger off a local immune-mediated inflammatory reaction.
Causes:
- If the parents have gout, then no doubt the children have a 20% chance of developing it.
- Consuming alcoholic beverages, especially beer, does increase the risk of gout.
- Diets which are rich in red meats, internal organs, yeast, and oily fish to increase the risk for gout.
- Uric acid levels increase at puberty in men as well as at menopause in women, so men first develop gout at an earlier age (after puberty) as well as women (after menopause).
One suffers from gouty arthritis that can be precipitated when there is a sudden change in uric acid levels, which may be caused by
• overindulgence in alcohol as well as red meats,
• trauma,
• starvation as well as dehydration,
• IV contrast dyes,
• chemotherapy,
• medications,
• Cyclosporin A,
• diuretics and some other anti-hypertensive medications,
• aspirin (Bayer, Ecotrin),
• nicotinic acid (B-3-50, B3-500-Gr, Niacin SR, Niacor, Niaspan ER, Slo-Niacin),
• Cyclosporin A,
• allopurinol (Zyloprim) and probenecid (Benemid),
• Medical conditions such as Metabolic syndrome, a combination of abdominal obesity, insulin resistance hypertension, and abnormal lipid levels that usually occurs in nearly 75% of the cases
Signs and symptoms
They are indeed acute that often occur at night as well as without any warning. These are:
Intense joint pain
Gout does usually affect the large joint of one’s big toe, but it can also occur in one’s feet, ankles, knees, hands as well as wrists.
Lingering discomfort
After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks. Later attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints.
Inflammation and redness
The affected joint or joints to become swollen, tender as well as red.
Homeopathic medicines for gout
Benzoic acid:
This is made use for gout, especially of the knee or even the big toe. One suffers from tearing as well as stitching pain in the affected joints, for acute rheumatism as well as gout with stiffness, swelling, and lameness.
Berberis vulgaris:
This is made use of when one suffers from sudden twinges of pain — for instance, pains in gouty joints. The pains do often emanate from the affected part or move to a different area altogether. The person can develop kidney stones.
Urtica urens:
This is useful in eliminating uric acid from the body. The patient has a tendency to gout and uric acid formations. The joint symptoms are indeed associated with hive-like eruptions. There is the pain in one’s shoulders (deltoid region), wrists and ankles. The patient feels worse from exposure to cool moist air, snow-air, water, and touch.
Colchicum:
Gout is one’s big toe or heel happens to be very painful such that the person cannot bear to have it touched or moved. Joints are red, hot as well as swollen. The pain is often worse in the evening and also at night. Pains are worse in cold, damp weather and flare-ups can also occur with weather changes or even during spring. One feels internal coldness.
Ledum:
One can use this for gouty pains that shoot through the foot, limb as well as the joints, especially in the small joints. The foot and ankle get extremely swollen. Cold or even ice cold applications do relieve the pain and swelling.
Lycopodium:
This is for chronic gout, with chalky deposits in the joints. There will be the pain in the heels on treading. One foot does feel hot and the other rather cold. The urine becomes slow to produce and does also have heavy, red sediment. There may be a backache, which gets relieved by passing urine. The right side of the body gets affected and all these complaints do get worse between 4 pm and 8 pm.
Rhododendron:
This is useful for gouty swelling of one’s big toe joint that does flare up before a storm. Other joints may ache and swell, especially on the right side of the body. Pain usually is worse in the early morning. The person may feel better from the warmth as well as after eating.
Calcarea fluorica:
One experiences rather stabbing pain and one’s joints do tend to crack on movement. Discomfort is indeed worse when weather changes occur.
Belladonna
Joints do get swollen, red, throbbing and are extremely sensitive. It gets worse from touch as well as jarring. The person experiences restlessness and suffers from flushes and feels hot.
Arnica:
This is useful when the pain is sore as well as bruised and one finds it difficult to walk. The person may fear to be touched or approached because of pain.