A gout attack or gout flare is a painful and disabling inflammatory arthritis, usually involving a single joint but occasionally involving two or more joints. The attack can begin with a burning, itching, or tingling feeling in a joint an hour or two before the flare-up starts. The joint may even feel a little stiff or a bit sore.

Not to worry though, here are ways to manage this intense pain.

1. Use of Medications

• Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): These can quickly help relieve the pain and swelling of an acute gout episode. They can also shorten the attack, especially if taken in the first 24 hours of the attack.
• Corticosteroids: They can be taken orally or injected into an inflamed joint to quickly relieve the pain and swelling of an acute gout attack. It starts working within 24 hours of use.
• Colchicine: Another anti-inflammatory medicine that works best if taken within the first 24 hours of a gout attack.
• Medications for reducing uric acid levels: These are prescribed to reduce the uric acid in the body. This prevents future attacks. Allopurinol and Febuxostat are medications that help reduce uric acid production in the body, while a drug like Probenecid acts on the kidneys to help eliminate uric acid. Another drug known as Pegloticase can be injected every 2 weeks to reduce uric acid levels quickly.

2. Pain Relief Without Medication

• Application of ice: If the pain is not severe, application of ice packs to the joint for about 20 minutes helps to lower inflammation and soothe the ache. However, caution should be taken if an individual has a nerve problem from diabetes or other causes.
• Rest the joint: The affected joint can be rested until the pain eases up. If possible, elevate the joint with a pillow or other soft object.

3. Lifestyle modifications

This is particularly important in the prevention, and reduction of the severity of subsequent attacks.

• Stay hydrated: When the body doesn’t have enough water, uric acid levels rise even higher. Drinking adequate water throughout the day helps to flush uric acid from the body.
• Diet: Foods that are high in substances called purines, some seafood, organ meats like liver, and fatty foods, can raise the uric acid in the blood. This is the same for fructose-sweetened drinks and alcohol- especially beer. Watch what you consume.

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