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32 year old male. I’ve had Gout since I was 19. My mum has it, so the odds were never in my favor.
I am lying on the couch at the moment with it in my elbow. I have pretty much got it under control with Allopurinol. But still have the odd attack (1-2 per year). I find it is brought on now when I fly.
I travel a bit with work and I don’t know whether it is the altitude or dehydration (even though I drink lots of water) that brings it on. But its certainly something to be aware of.
My mother said the pain of Gout is worse than child birth. So I guess I know what its like to give birth (I’m sure the girls will like that).
Happy gout cure hunting.
Do Gouty Feet Stop You Flying? My very first attack of gout was after a transpacific flight to Tokyo on business. I thought I had a sprain in my foot and since I was at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, went to the hot water public baths to bath my foot….after a bit, the hot water jets on my foot “cured my sprain”
It wasn't until a few more attacks (several more on the same type of flight) that I went to my Dr. who diagnosed the gout.
He treated it with an injection of ACTH, a steroid of sorts that provided immediate relief. I don't think the drug is available any longer, but it was “magic”
I don't know about ACTH specifically, but corticosteroids are widely available from doctors.
They cannot be used for long periods, but they are an ideal solution for gout sufferers who just need to lose the pain for a few days, and get a chance to keep mobile.
Airline Flight Precipitating Gout Attack?
I recently suffered my first attack of gout at age 60 after mildly injuring my ankle and then flying from N.Y. to CA two days later. The pain and swelling started in my ankle on the flight but, by a week later, had migrated to the big-toe joint way more intensely. Has this co-incidence of airline flight and/or injury been noted anywhere else?
If you are prediposed to gout (i.e. high uric acid levels), then anything that retricts blood flow can trigger a gout attack.
Trauma as a result of a fall or sprain is common, as is restricted movement for long periods such as long-distance driving or flying.
My job means I need to do fair bit of travel including long haul flights. I find that after a long flight the build up begins in one or both feet. It's a real pain!!
Hey, @mgmnj – it’s been a long time.
I wondered how your gout is progressing. I’ve also been looking for more information about ACTH and gout. I couldn’t find much.
However, I did learn that ACTH is a treatment that encourages us to produce more natural steroids. This is better, as other steroid treatments inhibit our bodies ability to produce our own natural steroids. So much that, if regular steroids have ever been prescribed, then ACTH is not an option.
Do any other readers know more about ACTH and gout? If so, please start a new topic about your gout experiences, opinions, or questions.
I see many people still asking “Does altitude affect gout?”
I used to think that flying had little or no effect on gout. But I’ve spotted a report that suggests otherwise:
Jefferson, J. Ashley, Elizabeth Escudero, Maria-Elena Hurtado, Jackeline Pando Kelly, Erik R. Swenson, Mark H. Wener, Michel Burnier et al. “Hyperuricemia, hypertension, and proteinuria associated with high-altitude polycythemia.” American Journal of Kidney Diseases 39, no. 6 (2002): 1135-1142.Serum uric acid levels were elevated in groups chronically living at high altitude compared with sea-level controls
Note, this is about living at high altitude rather than flying to high altitudes. At least one other study about aircraft and uric acid mentions decreased uric acid excretion.
Kramer, E. F., H. B. Hale, and E. W. Williams. “Physiological effects of an 18-hour flight in F-4c aircraft.” Aerospace medicine 37, no. 11 (1966): 1095-1098.But that might be related to reduced fluid intake during long flights. Or I might just need to dig deeper.
So let me know if you want me to investigate further into the effects of flying and/or altitude on uric acid and/or gout. Either start a new gout forum topic. Or use the feedback form below.
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