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My gout is getting worse. For 20 years ago, I had my first bad attack at a time when my heel on my right foot was injured and gout attacked not only the big toe, but the injured ankle and it swelled up twice the size and I couldn't even touch it to the ground… it took 1.5 months for it to subside enough for me to go back to work. Since then I've had maybe one attack a year that left me limping and about two weeks to go away. For some reason, over the last year, I've had 5 minor to major attacks. They seem to come out of nowhere with no warning, usually I wake up with it. What's odd is that of those 5 attacks, the first effected my right big toe joint, but the remaining 4 attacked my left, which has NEVER happened before! Now, this morning, though I've had small pain starting two days ago, I work up barely able to put weight on my right ankle. Allopurinol I took for years, and it had no effect at all, so I stopped taking it with my doctors agreement. I'm now considering taking generic colchicine without a doctor's prescription, since I have no medical coverage, and I”m scared of it's side effects, but getting desperate… this is not a time to lose a job thanks to a sudden inability to perform, as my job requires being on my feet all the time. With the frequency of attacks this past year, I'm beginning to wonder if I should look into disability, but I have my doubts there as the gout comes and goes seemingly at a whim, and disabilities seem only be be counted if they are constant for 12 months. I'm lost and looking for direction.
Matt
gnarledwolf said:
My gout is getting worse.
If not treated properly, gout does get worse as time goes by. Each day spent with high uric acid is another day where you get more uric acid crystals building up in your body – you may not always get pain, but the chances of getting pain increase. More joints become affected and gout flares become more frequent.
Allopurinol I took for years, and it had no effect at all, so I stopped taking it with my doctors agreement.
Allopurinol only works if the dose is right. Did your doctor check your blood regularly and ensure uric acid stayed below 6mg/dL? If not he was wasting your time completely.
I'm now considering taking generic colchicine
Colchicine eases gout pain, but does not lower uric acid. Use it during the first few months of uric acid lowering treatment. Once all uric acid crystals have dissolved, you will not need to use colchicine, but you must continue with allopurinol and keep checking uric acid levels.
I'm lost and looking for direction.
Read GoutPal once a day, and write in this forum whenever you feel the need.
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