Can I Use Ice Or Heat On My Foot For Gout Pain?

Gout is a medical condition that is known to cause people suffering from it inflammatory arthritis and hot swollen joints. It is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the bloodstream which become crystallized and are deposited in the joints and tendons as well as the tissue surrounding them. Since gout most often causes swelling the best home treatment for it is an ice pack.

Without treatment in the form of a number of drugs used by doctors, an acute attack can last anywhere from five to seven days. A majority of people who suffer from gout will also experience more than one attack in a year. Without treatment, these episodes can develop into chronic gout which can result in the destruction of the joint surfaces of the body. Gout is quite frequently complicated by kidney stones in a high percentage of people.

Gout is becoming a more common disease with cases of it having doubled in the twenty years between 1990 and 2010. This is attributed to increased life expectancy, diet changes, and an increase in diseases that are often associated with gout such as high blood pressure. A number of factors influence the probability of a person getting gout including age, race, and the season of the year. Women over the age of 50 and men over the age of 30 are affected at about a 2% rate.

If you or someone you know has gout, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible. There are drugs on the market today that can lower the amount of uric acid in the blood therefore lessening the possibility of an attack of gout in the long and short-term. With the right medical care, a person suffering from gout can live a normal and long life relatively free of pain from this disease.

Try this site www.goutpal.com . Ice pack for 10 minutes followed by hot moist towel. It says to not leave ice on for more than 10 minutes since uric crystals will form more readily. I have also heard several people using cherry juice as it is an anti inflammatory. You can buy it at health food stores. Good luck--I hope you get some pain relief.

Gout is caused by the increase in the uric acid in the blood. Small joint of the toe is usually affected. Other affected joints can be ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows. Pain, swelling, warmth, tenderness and redness are common symptoms. Fever can result from acute attacks. Gout can be treated by increasing fluid intake, taking medicines like non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs and drugs to reduce uric acid.
Gout pain can also be managed by use of Ice and Heat. You can use either one or both options alternatively. This can relieve pain and swelling to some extent but will not treat gout.

Have had excruciatingly painful gout in left foot a number of times treated with Prednisone. Now have it in other foot and can barely walk. Should I use heat or ice?

I believe you can use both. Ice reduces swelling so I would use that first. Then maybe a couple hours later use heat to dull any pain the foot might have.

Either/or - 10 minutes on with the ice and 15 minutes off