Any advice on gout diet, eyesight, and Voltaren?

[Gigglos]

I am 47 and play a lot of football (soccer) and almost two years ago I noticed a problem with my right big toe. I actually thought I had broken it during a game but rest did not fix the problem. Then I saw a TV show which a woman’s diet put her at risk of Gout and immediately a bell went off. So I began to look into Gout.

I believe the causes for me are far too much alcohol, I was consuming half a bottle of champagne and half a bottle of red wine, every night plus we lived on spicy or BBQ food.

As well as a swollen and sore big toe, agony when I kick a ball or other player:

– I have slight numbness around my right knee and sometimes electric shock type feeling.

– I also noticed someone else mentioned here that their eyesight was effected, I have a problem now to read my PC and any SMS on my phone.

I am changing my life, no alcohol during the week, I drink a lot of water, I take Voltaren for the toe and knee problems but has anyone found anything which corrects the shortsightedness?

Also, how long do I need to take Voltaren before the swelling has gone in my toe and it does not hurt to kick a football?

Many thanks

David

Luxembourg

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Do you take Diclofenac for Gout as Voltaren Gel?

[Keith Taylor (GoutPal Admin)]

Voltaren is a brand name for diclofeenac – a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID). Though it will help ease the pain of gout, it does nothing to prevent it – i.e. it treats the symptoms, not the cause.

Though your symptoms sound very gout-like, it is a good idea to confirm the diagnosis with a rheumatologist, who should also be able to assess the seriousness of your gout and advise you if diet improvement is likely to be successful, or if you need medication to lower your uric acid.

I think the eyesight thing is probably an age related coincidence – there is no reason it should be linked to gout. However, are you sure it's short-sightedness? Vision deterioration is normally long-sighted. You need to see an optician – which is a good idea for anyone over 40. High uric acid is a recognised risk factor for diabetes, and I believe there is a vision issue with diabetes, though I'm not exactly sure what this is.

Normally, gout attacks go away after a few days, though there is little to stop them coming back if uric acid remains high. There is nothing intricsically wrong with spicy food, but too much meat may be an issue. Though it has long been suggested that high protein is the risk factor, I am now coming round to the view (thanks to Iron Brian) that it is probably too much iron.

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