Transition

[qbfubar]

Eight days ago I was awaken at 2AM by a pain that I had never experienced in my lifetime.  I have had a history of tendinitis in my left wrist (I play about 100 rounds of golf a year), but I couldn’t believe tendinitis could hurt that badly.  Long story short, I made an appointment for the following day, they drew fluid from my wrist on Friday, and I was diagnosed with Gout the following Monday.  He prescribed Vicodin and an inflammation med (not sure what it is, it’s at home), and referred me to a rheumatologist (appt. next week).

 

My question; Does the transition from intense pain to pain-free vary from person to person and joint to joint?  This is day eight, and while the swelling has subsided, the pain is relentless.  A friend of mine told me that his father has gout in his foot and his pain leave almost as quickly as it arrives.  Will I just wake up one day and feel like nothing happened when this “flare-up” passes or will it take some time?

 

The doctor I saw last week said it should pass by itself in a few days and wanted the Rheumatologist to decide how to treat me.  Everything that I’ve read (and I’ve read a lot over the past eight days) says a few days to a few weeks.  Eight days now and I’m still not having any luck.  I’m drinking about 3-4 gallons of water per day, tried black cherry juice, baking soda.  Any other ideas? 

Thanks.

[trev]

Everyone is different but my experience is that 10-14 days of bad discomfort followed by the same aftermath of residual pain, but some of this is due to memories of the pain rather than actual. ie: The episode sensitizes the body rather,and there is a mental backlash to lthis.

Pain, like death is natures way of getting you to slow down- so patience is a good trait to develop…

Thus 3-4 weeks can illustrate a typical gout attack and all the dodging tactics in the world can't undo a long term build up of SUA. In time a path through the wilderness can be ascertained but not without some application and required suffering en route.

If the episodes are too painful to stand or affecting finances too badly- then drug therapy is the logical conclusion.

[cjeezy]

Yes as Trev said everyone is different. It’s been 2 1/2 months since my first gout attack and I still feel slight pain at times…although I’ve been on Allopurinol for the past 3 weeks which could be causing this.

[trev]

3 levels maybe?…

Severe pain, fairly early in main attack –  twinges going in /out and then niggles, which just remind you how lucky you are not to be getting the other two !

[zip2play]

fubar,

My earliest  attacks were diffferent. Over a period of 3 years I would get very painlul attacks in my instep, arch, ankle, plantar facia and they would cripple me so that I needed crutches but after 3 days, POOF, they were gone completely.

Then I got THE TOE and I was certain it was gout and I waited 3, 6, then 9 days and I could beariti no longer and took my first intense round of 22 colchicine in a day. The pain, swelling and redness disappeared completely 45 minutes after the last pill.

Have you ever had any unexplained pains in your feet, seriously hurting pains?

If your doctor is certain that your wrist is gouty, he should not object to prescribing a bottle of colchicine since it seems clear that the Vicodin isn't doing much. Try some hot water soaks or a heating pad…crystals dissolve more readily when warm.

[qbfubar]

I appreciate all the responses, this has been the single most informative source I have found thus far.  You guys are great.

 

I think I'm coming out of this one, finally slept through the night and woke with very little pain.  So, Trev, I think I'm somewhere in that second level (and happy as hell about it).  Very week and still painful when I try to move it but I'll take it.

 

Zip, Like I said, the first doctor wanted to let the rheumatologist treat me… I will be sure to ask for some.  So you're saying if I feel another one of these come on, the colchicine will knock it out?   I just want to get back on the golf course.  Oh, and no, I have never had ANY foot problems, pain, nothing.  My doctor asked me the same thing.

 

Again, thanks for your help!

[zip2play]

fubar,

IF it is gout, then two or 4 colchicine in the first hours of an atttack will very often stop it completely. It is a nice insurance blanket to keep in your medicine chest.

Your next step is to get your uric acid tested and if high, get on allopurinol. BUT you don't want a lifetime of drugs if it is tendidnitis (which itself can hurt like Hell.) Gout without foot involvement is somewhat rare so consider your diagnosis still tentative. Many of us are sure only when we get THE TOE which is pretty much unmistakeable, so perhaps your rheumy will want to wait and see if you have another attack…some like to see 3 in a year before allopurinol.

Make sure they X-ray your wrist to see if you have a repetitive stress fracture from all those perfect swings.

Let us know how you make out at the rheumatologist.

[qbfubar]

They drew fluid and found crystals in it.  They took x-rays as well (negative on a fracture).  I'll let you know, thanks again.

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