Gout is not a new disease; people suffered from it a thousand years ago. Excess uric acid in the patient's blood leads to intoxication. The organs of the urinary system cannot cope with the withdrawal of its metabolites, which leads to the accumulation and deposition of salts in the joints. The patient suffers from pains that literally make his life unbearable. What painkillers for gout are most effective? The list of the most effective ointments and drugs, as well as alternative methods of treatment is presented below.
The reason for the development of the disease
This is a chronic disease that is most often triggered by metabolic disorders. Excessive protein breakdown leads to increased formation of uric acid. Gout has been popularly called the "disease of the kings", since its manifestations affected mainly wealthy people who could afford the regular immoderation in drinking alcohol and eating junk food. The disease manifests itself as severe pain in the joints. Most often, the patient feels severe discomfort in the legs. Depending on the stage of gout, the patient may lose the ability to move independently - such intensity can reach the intensity of pain. The clinical picture of gout is frequent, in which a person suffers from pain and discomfort in the joints of the hands.
The cause of gout is the deposition of urate in the cartilage of the joint. This process is accompanied by inflammation, which is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort or severe pain (the intensity of the sensations may vary depending on the stage of the disease).
The acute form of gout (characterized by severe, sometimes unbearable pain in the joints) is manifested when an increased concentration of uric acid in the blood is more than 60 mg / l. Such a quantity of urate in the blood occurs due to a combination of the following reasons:
- alcohol abuse;
- improper nutrition - regular overeating of fats and simple carbohydrates;
- hereditary predisposition;
- sedentary lifestyle, disability, previous surgical interventions;
- obesity of any degree.
Most often, obese men suffer from gout. The average age of the development of pathology is about forty-five years. Older people also suffer from gout, younger ones rarely. Women are less likely to develop joint problems, they usually do not abuse alcohol and fatty foods. In addition, girls at any age try to monitor weight, and obesity is an additional factor that provokes gout.
The main symptoms of gout
The diagnosis of joint diseases and the appointment of treatment is carried out by an orthopedic surgeon. Often, consultations with a surgeon, endocrinologist, immunologist, and nutritionist are also required. Before prescribing a pain reliever for gout, a correct clinical picture of the disease should be made.
Signs of joint inflammation (most often develops on the foot, in the thumb or valgus, much less often on the hands, knuckles):
- severe, sharp, paroxysmal, excruciating pain;
- redness of the skin and swelling in the area of the inflamed joint;
- the presence of the so-called tofus - pale nodules near the location of the gout;
- increase in body temperature;
- drawing pains in the lumbar region;
- signs of pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis - weakness, asthenia, turbid urine, low-grade fever.
Why do gout symptoms often go hand in hand with signs of kidney disease? This fact is explained simply: excess urate in the blood negatively affects the organs of the urinary system. Painkillers for gout during an exacerbation should not have a toxic effect on the kidneys, since they already work on wear, trying to deprive the body of excess uric acid. In parallel with gout, chronic pyelonephritis often develops, urolithiasis is formed.
Depending on gender, the clinical picture of the disease may have slight differences:
- in men, gout most often affects the hands and joints of the fingers of the upper extremities, in women, the main place for the dislocation of the disease is the big toe and valgus;
- in women, only one joint is more often affected, and neighboring ones are affected by gout only in case of untimely treatment;
- the fair sex often in parallel with joint pain suffer from weakness and kidney problems - for men this symptom is less characteristic.
Effective drugs during an attack
Before an attack of the disease, as a rule, the patient feels normal. About a day, aching pain or tingling in the joint may begin - at this point, an anesthetic ointment for gout should be used. The sooner treatment is started, the more effective it can be. Pain pills for gout should be used directly during an attack.
- An exacerbation most often begins with an attack of so-called gouty arthritis. The process affects one joint, during the period of exacerbation, the number of dislocations can increase.
- In most cases, the big toe suffers in women (less often, the ankle or knee joint). Men have a higher percentage of joint damage on their hands.
- Exacerbation of pain usually occurs in the early morning. Less often - at bedtime, very rarely - in the daytime.
- Gout is characterized by severe swelling and redness of the location of the problem. For example, with arthritis, hyperemia is also characteristic, but not to such a significant extent as with gout.
Of the complications of gout, various nephropathies, proteinuria, and arterial hypertension are most often observed. With the complete absence of treatment: a competent diet, proper rest, taking special medications, chronic renal failure can develop. Painkillers for gout during an exacerbation, as already noted, should not have a toxic effect on the kidneys. Since they are already working to the limit, trying to remove excess uric acid. How to anesthetize gout during an exacerbation? You will have to take drugs orally prescribed by an orthopedist or surgeon:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- uricosuric preparations;
- uricosynthesis inhibitors;
- local anesthetic ointments.
How to anesthetize gout, if for health reasons it is forbidden to take pharmaceuticals? You can try the use of alternative medicine. But modern pharmacology refers to such methods with prejudice: the pain is most often so severe that the patient cannot tolerate it and is forced to take painkillers with gout, even if there are contraindications.
Preparations for the prevention of exacerbation
A disease is always easier to prevent than to treat. This statement is also true for gout. If you lead a healthy lifestyle, then the seizures will almost completely come to naught. An anesthetic for gout does not have to be taken, if you follow simple rules:
- completely eliminate fatty meat dishes, fast food, everything fried from your diet - such food leads to an increase in the level of uric acid in the blood;
- once a quarter to undergo physiotherapy for spinal health;
- monitor your weight and prevent the development of obesity;
- daily full rest, lack of overwork and chronic stress.
If the disease has reached late stages, then simple dieting and a healthy lifestyle are unlikely to contain the exacerbation. As soon as the patient senses an approaching relapse, a short course should be started with the following means (the exact dosage is prescribed by the attending physician):
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (the best pain medication for gout);
- corticosteroid tablets and injectables, as well as topical preparations based on this component (long-term use is prohibited, since such drugs can thin out bone tissue and become addictive);
- "Colchicine" (directly affects the composition of the blood, promotes the breakdown of urates);
- ascorbic and nicotinic acids (contribute to the removal of excess urate from the blood);
- uricodepressive drugs quickly and effectively reduce the concentration of uric acid, often lead to pain relief the very next day after the start of treatment, are prescribed by an orthopedist or neuropathologist with hyperuricemia;
- uricosuric drugs improve the evacuation of urates from the blood with excretion rates less than 3.56 mmol / day.
List of ointments for relieving symptoms of gout
How to anesthetize gout at home? For the most effective therapy, not only tablets, but also ointments should be used. Below is a list of the most popular outdoor remedies for simple patients at home.
- "Fullflex" can be used both in remission and in the period of exacerbation. It differs from competing ointments in its natural composition - it does not contain hormonal ingredients and is not addictive. The therapeutic effect of the ointment lies in the ability to remove urate from the joints, and when used three times a day, you can achieve light pain relief.
- "Vishnevsky Ointment" is one of the cheapest means (about 30 rubles per bottle). It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. Apply to the problem area of the body two to three times a day, preferably under a compress for twenty to thirty minutes.
- Diphenhydramine ointment is most often used as an anesthetic for exacerbation of gout on the toes. Its effect is felt after the first application. Diphenhydramine (the main active component of this ointment) helps to quickly cope with pain and swelling, relaxing smooth muscle spasms.
- "Ketonal-gel" allows the treatment of gout more dynamically. When applied three times a day, it contributes to an almost complete relief of symptoms on the second day. Ketonal-gel helps to eliminate deposits of uric acid salts in the joints, as well as reduce acute pain. The drug has many contraindications - before use, you should consult your doctor.
Pain relievers for gout
In some cases, tablets are powerless to stop an attack of gout. In this case, it is necessary to use injectable drugs - they are sparing for the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and enter directly into the blood.
- "Movalis" is a modern drug for injection for pain in the joints. After primary relief is achieved, therapy with the tablet form of the drug should be continued. The main disadvantage of Movalis is the availability of an extensive list of contraindications. It is strictly forbidden to use during pregnancy and lactation, as well as people with chronic liver and kidney diseases. Reception is carried out after consultation with your doctor.
- "Diclofenac" in ampoules for injection is available at any pharmacy. For some patients, injections of an anesthetic for gout on the legs are even preferable to tablets, since they do not carry a serious burden on the stomach and intestines, but get through an intravenous injection directly into the blood.
Uricosuric preparations for gout
If the patient’s health allows, uric acid excretion through the kidneys can be stimulated. It is undesirable to choose such a way to anesthetize gout with drugs if there is a history of kidney problems (urolithiasis, chronic pyelonephritis or glomerulonephritis). To date, there are two of the most effective drugs with uricosuric action.
- "Probenecid" suppresses urea reabsorption, is able to enhance the effect of painkillers with gout on the legs, already on the second or third day of administration the patient experiences significant relief. With prolonged and uncontrolled administration in some cases, it can lead to the development of drug dependence.
- "Sulfinpyrazone" - a powerful drug, stimulates the removal of urea through the kidneys. Thanks to this action, it helps to reduce pain in the joints. If you combine taking pills with proper nutrition, relief comes literally on the second day. The daily dose is not more than 600 mg. Sulfinpyrazone tablets are prescribed by an orthopedist most often for a rather long course of treatment - from a month or longer.
Uricosynthesis Inhibitors
If the patient has contraindications for taking drugs that can have a stimulating effect on the excretion of uric acid through the kidneys, then uricosynthesis inhibitors should be used. This is a special class of pain medications for gout. They are able to inhibit the production of urate, the effect is especially good when following a therapeutic diet in parallel with the course of drugs.
- "Allopurinol" is an uricosynthesis inhibitor, a gout medication that prevents the synthesis of uric acid and its release into the blood. The dosage should be increased gradually, therefore it is best to start taking Allopurinol in the period before the immediate attack.
- Orotic acid and medicines with it have a weaker hypuricemic effect than Allopurinol. Nevertheless, orotic acid is considered in pharmacology as an effective pain reliever for gout on the legs. The maximum allowable acid intake per day is 500 mg for a person of average build. In case of an overdose, serious toxic effects on the internal organs are possible.
Painkillers for gout: how to understand which drug is right?
The most effective modern drugs (tablets and injections) noted in the reviews of doctors and patients were listed above. An inexperienced patient may hesitate and choose the wrong drug, as a result, it will not be possible to stop the attack. To avoid such problems, you should definitely visit a doctor and take the drug prescribed by him. If you need to take a course of injections, you should visit the clinic daily - skipping even one day can entail an aggravation of the condition.
What painkillers should be taken for gout so that the pain goes away as soon as possible? In some cases, tablets are powerless to weaken the manifestations of a gout attack. In this case, reviews recommend using injectable drugs - they are safe for the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and enter directly into the blood.
A special role in the treatment of gout and other joint diseases is played by the diet. Eating better than any pill or ointment reduces excess urate in the blood. You should reduce the use of fats and proteins, give preference to fresh fruits and vegetables (not acidic). To get protein and amino acids from fermented milk products - cottage cheese, milk, kefir, cheese, etc.
Alternative methods of dealing with discomfort during an exacerbation of the disease
Alternative medicine offers many ways to anesthetize an attack (according to reviews, they are much weaker than pharmacological drugs by their degree of influence).
- Lubricate the skin over the joint in which the exacerbation began, with white clay - it can stretch the accumulated urate to some extent (modern pharmacology does not recognize the effectiveness of this method in the fight against gout, but some patients still use this method).
- Lubricate the location of the disease with sour cream - it is popularly believed that this method reduces the intensity of pain.
- If gout is deployed on the feet, the condition of the patient will help relieve the bath with chamomile infusion. To prepare the solution, boil a tablespoon of dry chopped chamomile grass in half a liter of water for ten minutes. After the broth has cooled to room temperature, immerse the feet in it.
The ability of alternative methods to anesthetize gout is weaker than pharmacy drugs. If the attack does not occur for the first time, then the patient is aware of what severe discomfort can bring the disease. So it is better to stock up in advance with quality and proven pharmacological agents - ointments, tablets, ampoules and syringes.