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Hi,
I had my first major gout attack on 2/21/10, after going on a family ski trip to New Hampshire (USA). I hadn't had a beer in a week, I'd been eating a lot of seafood lately, it was probably the shrimp that did me in.
I began to notice a problem with my right ankle on Sunday night, 2/21, it was sore to walk that night. On Monday when I went to work I was limping and walking like Charlie Chaplin by the end of the work day. By Wednesday I could not put weight on my right foot andd my ankle was extremely swollen. I went to the Dr on 2/24.
I told the Dr. I thought I had gout because I've had right big toe pain off and on over the years (I can remember seeing a Dr in 2001, but it was never this bad) and my brother has gout. The blood test showed my euric acid was too low to be gout. The xray showed not arthritis and no bone problems, so the Dr decided I had sprained my ankle and didn't realize it. 800 mg of ibuprophen and crutches were prescribed. After 10 days I could walk without crutches again and I stopped taking the ibuprophen. Two days later my ankle was swollen again, on the third day I was on crutches again.
I saw the same Dr, he was puzzled. He put me back on the 800 mg of ibuprophen 3 times a day and he made an appointment with an Othopedic Dr. When I saw the Orthopedic Dr. he agreed with my self diagnosis and said the blood test was probably too late to detect gout, it would have required a test prior to or at the very beginning of the attack on 2/21. He told me to keep taking the ibuprophen, drink lots of water, no alcohol, and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. A long time friend and gout sufferer called me and told me the only thing that worked for him in his 15 years was Colchicine. So I got that prescribed a couple days later.
I was still on crutches at this time, I could not walk normally and it was causing back and knee problems. I took the Colchicine on 3/17 through 3/22, then stopped. They seemed to do the trick. I was able to walk without crutches again on 3/22 also.
I'm wondering if I should make an appointment with a rheumatologist at this point?
I haven't been able to excercise since all this happend. I used to walk on the treadmill for 30 – 60 minutes every morning. The lack of exercise has caused my sciatica to act up. I had a ruptured disk in my back in 1993 and had back surgery. Walking and situps used to control that
.Dino, glad you found this site. It will help you understand gout. I was misdiagnosed for 5 yrs. I trust the information I get here more than my doctor. I read here that sua levels might be low during an attack. Get another test when you are back to normal. My level was 9.7. Needs to be below 6. I am sure others will chime in soon to help you. Good luck
DinoSS100 said:
I'm wondering if I should make an appointment with a rheumatologist at this point?
Yes, Yes, and Yes. I feel your pain. I was misdiagnosed for years and then have been unable to walk without a cane for 4 months. The inability to exercise and live my life is horrible. Finally got proper diagnosis and treatment (thanks to gout-pal) and shed the cane a few weeks ago and am doing much better.
Yes, call a rheumatologist right away and get proper diagnosis and treatment. You need to get your UA measured and go from there. Keep posting, the gurus on this web site know more about gout than most doctors.
There is hope and you can beat this. You need gout-pal advise and a good rheumatologist.
A long time friend and gout sufferer called me and told me the only thing that worked for him in his 15 years was Colchicine. So I got that prescribed a couple days later.
You are lucky to have such an astute friend. If colchicine works when other NSAIDS don't, it's gout. Alas if doctors cannot see it on an X-ray, often it doesn't exist to them. Even the worst cases of gout look like blurs on an X-ray…early cases are completely invisible.
Dino,
Get a few uric acid readings and consider getting on daily allopurinol if your numbers are too high and/or you start getting more frequent attacks. With the first severe attack only a month ago, perhaps a wait and see attitude might be wise. A lifetime of allopurinol shouldn't be rushed into without certainty of both diagnosis and degree of involvement.
My situation was similar in that a look back at my foot pain of a couple years made any sense only AFTER I had the attack from Hell that was both unmistakenly gout AND among the most God-awful pain imagineable. Then it all fell into place and I started allopurinol.
p.s. You must have a cast iron stomach if you can tolerate 800 mg. ibuprofen 3 times a day. I am gettin gastritis just TYPING this.
zip2play said:
p.s. You must have a cast iron stomach if you can tolerate 800 mg. ibuprofen 3 times a day. I am gettin gastritis just TYPING this.
And also the heart that can pump the blood through every known canal in the world. I was given 800 mg ibuprofen 3-4 times a day. My stomach some how tolerated it wothout any gastric problem but the BP went roaring through the roof( 180/110 appox)….I was told prescription dosage of ibuprofen can cause it. I am still on the BP reducing medication since then( 9 months now) though I did not have BP problem before I took ibuprofen….I have reduced the dose of BP medication to half for last few months and if everything remains fine, may withdraw it altogether in the coming days.
DinoSS100 said:
The lack of exercise has caused my sciatica to act up. I had a ruptured disk in my back in 1993 and had back surgery. Walking and situps used to control that
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Sit ups aren't a good idea for sciatica or back problems. Stretching is far more effective, if done correctly, and can be done by simply sitting in a chair with your legs crossed. Here's how:
Although I know every back disorder is unique, I find that any exercise that opens up the rear of the disc spaces is idea because all of the spinal root nerves go out through the rear sides…and they like the extra space.
Given this structural setup I find for myself the very best exercise to preserve back fuction is bicycling with a slight lean forward…but no need for the pronounced lean of those old racing bikes, unless of course you are training for the Tour De France.
I destroyed my back in 1973 and have tried everything. I get occasional sciatica now but DID go through an almost interminable year with sciatica every day, every hour, every minute. I have reached an accord with my back…I won't antagonize it and it won't antagonize me. For a very infrequent achey-breakey day and that certain electrical shock down the leg I immediately use 2 x 325 mg SOMA (carisoprodol…another wonder drug) and hit the bed, but usually a couple of ALEVE do the trick for just a run of the mill sore back that is more frequent…like after 2 days of Spring cleaning this weekend.
I have often wondered about the connection between backache and gout…now THERE'S a doctoral thesis for someone. But so far, it's maybe yes, maybe no.
zip2play said:
Post edited 3:22 pm – March 28, 2010 by zip2play
I have often wondered about the connection between backache and gout…now THERE'S a doctoral thesis for someone. But so far, it's maybe yes, maybe no.
Too late, the Chinese got there first: low back pain is the number one sign of Kidney deficiency in TCM.
However, I think most people's problems are postural & lack of exercise, weak stomach muscles etc.(which is why they do sit ups – fine if you don't have a bad back, but if you do, you need to sort that out first with more gentle stretching and strengthening work) 2 very good (easy) exercises for strengthening are
1.) hyperextentions: lie face down, arms by the sides, palms up. Inhale as you lift everything off the ground, exhale as you lower slowly. Breathe naturally and slowly using this as your tempo. 10 reps.
2.) Lie on your back with the upper body supported on the elbows, fists close to the armpits. Raise your entire body off the floor, so only heels and elbows are touching and hold for10 slow abdominal breaths. Lower slowly, rolling the lower back down so it touches the floor, followed by the rest of the back without the lower back losing contact with floor. Relax for 5 mins in this position, abdominal breathing. This is the kind of posture we should be aiming for when standing. Lying like this helps train muscle memory. (if you can't manage this at first, bring the knees up to keep lower back flat ). Do this every day for the rest of your life (the hardest bit).
3.) Take up tai chi
DinoSS100 said:
I told the Dr. I thought I had gout because I've had right big toe pain off and on over the years (I can remember seeing a Dr in 2001, but it was never this bad) and my brother has gout. The blood test showed my euric acid was too low to be gout.
Never accept “too low” or any other descriptive analysis. You must get the exact number from your uric acid blood test result.
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