Gout is a form of arthritis. It occurs when there is a build-up of uric acid in the blood which then leads to inflammation of the joints. A person can have sporadic random acute flare-ups that just affect one joint or they can have chronic gout with repeated flare-ups to multiple joints.
What Causes Gout
Gout occurs when there is too much uric acid in the body because either the body is creating too much uric acid or isn’t able to get rid of it. Uric acid is a waste product that the body makes as it breaks down purines. While purines do naturally occur in the body, these chemicals can also be found in certain foods such as liver, anchovies, dried beans and peas, and beer.
When uric acid levels are too high, they may form crystals in the fluids around the joints. These crystals lead to the joint becoming inflamed, swollen, warm, and painful. The most common joints affected are the big toe, knee, and ankle. The pain is often sudden and starts in the middle of the night, waking the person up. It is described as being severe and throbbing. While it usually goes away on its own within a day or so, it can make your loved one very miserable and unable to perform certain duties while the attack is happening.
Tips For Dealing with a Gout Flare-up
Most people who have their first gout flare-up will have another within 6-12 months. Learning how to manage it and reduce the painful symptoms of a gout attack is important for your loved one to get back to normal as quickly as possible. Talk to him about meeting with a doctor to prescribe medications to help during the attack. He can also try some at-home techniques that may help speed up his recovery time.
- Take the recommended medicine right away. If your loved one has prescribed medication, he should follow the dosing instructions. If he’s taking over-the-counter pain relievers, he should avoid aspirin and stick with ibuprofen or naproxen.
- Ice it. Throughout the attack, he should repeatedly ice the area to help reduce swelling. If it occurs in an area he has a hard time reaching, he might need help.
- Call the doctor. His doctor may want to see him again if it’s repeatedly happening to help develop a different plan.
Push hydration. Staying fully hydrated helps push the uric acid out of the system so your loved one should drink lots of non-alcoholic drinks to flush it out and find relief.
- Keep the area elevated when resting.
- Avoid any beer. Since beer has a high purine content, your loved one should consider eliminating beer from his diet to reduce the risk of uric acid buildup.
- Get a cane, walker, or crutch to help with walking during a flare-up and reduce the pressure on the affected area.
Senior Care for Gout and Arthritis
Your loved one may get to a point where he cannot do some of the needed home activities on his list because of recurrent gout flare-ups or chronic arthritis pain. A senior home care provider is a great resource for those who need a little extra help around the home. Talk to a senior care provider about what services they can offer your loved one to help him manage his home while managing his gout.
If you are considering senior home care in Summerlin, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616
