Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis and causes acute attacks of pain in the joints. Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the body. Some people have frequent attacks, whereas other people have gout only once. It is important to seek treatment for gout to reduce the risk of having another attack. During an attack, a person can have difficulty with mobility and movement for several days or even longer.

Around 1 in 40 people in the UK have a diagnosis of gout, and research suggests it is becoming more common, which may be due to dietary and lifestyle changes. It is more common for men to develop gout, and it is more common in older age.

For more information on gout, visit the NHS website.

As our bodies break down the substances that come from the foods we eat, there are waste products released. Many foods contain purines, which are converted into uric acid or urate in the body. Urate is not needed by the body so it is carried by the blood and flushed out through the kidneys. Gout symptoms are caused by high levels of urate in the blood stream, which causes crystals to form under the skin or within joints. It is these crystals that cause gout pain and joint inflammation. This process of urate build up may take years.

You may be wondering what triggers gout to occur in some people and not others.

For detailed information about what causes gout, visit the Arthritis Research UK website.

Usually, only one particular area or joint is affected in a single attack, and it’s normally upper and lower limb joints that are affected e.g. toes, fingers, wrist, elbows, knees, ankles and feet.

Sometimes, more than one joint is affected at once, and this is a different type of gout called polyarticular gout.

For some people, gout causes urate crystals to form under the skin which look like pimples called tophi.

For more information about gout symptoms, visit the NHS inform website.

If you think you may have gout symptoms, visit your GP, who may be able to diagnose the condition straight away based on your symptoms. They may also carry out a blood test, to see how much urate is in your blood and confirm if it is likely to be gout. To find out more about gout diagnosis, visit the NHS website.

For detailed information on gout treatments, visit the Arthritis Research UK website.

You are also likely to be advised how to change your lifestyle to prevent further gout symptoms, and lots of people who follow this advice do not have any more gout attacks.

Gout can cause a great deal of pain during an attack, but it may only last for a few days and medications can help reduce the pain and discomfort of gout symptoms. However, some people may worry when another attack is about to occur and the pain can be severe enough to require a few days off work or a rest from normal routine.

Some people report that there is a lack of understanding about gout, and it is wrongly seen as a condition experienced by those that drink or eat to excess. This may make it difficult to tell people about the condition, such as friends and employers. However, gout is a genuine medical condition and nothing to be ashamed of.

Some people find it useful to read other people’s experiences of living with gout, to understand the challenges and hear how others live positively with their condition. Read Danny’s story about gout here.

Gout can cause temporary or even permanent disability in some cases, the latter occurring when joints are badly damaged due to frequent gout episodes which can lead to joints being fused together. Many people though, are able to take medication and make lifestyle changes where necessary, to reduce the risk of gout occurring again or too often.

Some people are unable to walk for a few days if gout occurs in their foot, which can have an impact on their ability to undertake daily activities. If you are experiencing gout, you may wish to consider having an assessment from an Occupational Therapist (OT), who can help recommend ways to adapt your daily tasks in order to make them easier when gout symptoms are causing challenges. You may be eligible for an OT assessment via your local social services department, or you may wish to consider paying for a private OT assessment.

If gout is causing challenges in your daily life, and making everyday tasks or mobility difficult, you may wish to explore what gout products are available to help. There are many daily living aids that can help. Here is a selection of daily living aids that may provide temporary or more long term help or relief for those living with gout, depending on the activities they are finding difficult.

Healthcare Pro provides a range of products and gout aids for daily living that may provide gout help. If you need further advice, our team of in-house Occupational Therapists are on hand to recommend products to suit your needs. Contact them on 0345 121 8111 or email productadvice@healthcarepro.co.uk

Gout is not solely caused by diet, but making changes to your diet can help prevent gout. This is because gout is caused by a high level of uric acid in the body, which is a by-product of purine.

Therefore, a healthy diet for gout should look to reduce the amount of (or completely remove) these foods, to try and lower the level of uric acid in the body. This should be an ongoing and permanent change, to help prevent gout occurring in the future.

These may increase the level of urate in the body.

Alcohol, in particular beers, spirits and fortified wines, also cause uric acid in the blood to rise, so it is advisable to reduce your consumption of these drinks to help prevent gout.

Staying hydrated is also really important so that the kidneys work effectively to flush out urate from the body.

You may wish to read the Gout Society’s booklet All About Gout and Diet.

Some people choose to take supplements for gout, such as omega-3, Montmorency cherry capsules and Quercetin. There is little evidence to prove that taking gout supplements reduces the frequency of gout, lowers uric acid or relieves gout symptoms. However, if you are interested in taking gout supplements, speak to your GP in the first instance for advice.

Maintaining a healthy body weight and taking regular exercise can help reduce the level of uric acid in your body, or help the body to process uric acid more easily.

Gout exercises should include stretches to keep joints moving, aerobic exercise to get the heart pumping, and muscle strengthening exercises.

If you feel you need help to improve your fitness or develop a gout exercise programme, a physiotherapist may be able to help you.

Many people with gout are able to work, but may need time off during an attack. Some people are able to do different duties at work when their gout symptoms flare up. Many people find that speaking to their employer about their condition can help manage workload and sick days. Your employer has a duty to make reasonable adjustments to your job or tasks, to support you whilst you have a healthcare condition.

Arthritis Forum – an online forum for people affected by all types of arthritis, including gout

GoutPal Gout Help – a member’s forum for people with gout to share their experiences, tips, advice and stories

Arthritis Action – a charity providing practical arthritis help for members, such as therapy programmes and education, as well as online information about practical aspects of living with arthritis

Arthritis Care – a charity providing lots of information about living with arthritis, as well as an online community, helpline, local arthritis support groups and face to face services

Arthritis Research UK – lots of arthritis information, including specific information about gout, an online forum and arthritis helpline

NHS – source of official medical information in the UK, including information on gout and related arthritic conditions

UK Gout Society – UK charity dedicated to supporting people with gout, providing information about the condition, living well with it and an online ‘check your risk’ assessment quiz