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I was diagnosed by my orthopedic surgeon as having gouty arthritis in my left knee approximately 3 months ago. Initally he thought it was a meniscus tear, but the X-ray and MRI were negative. I am scheduled to see a rhuematologist but I am moving so it will be a couple of months before I can see one. Since that time I've been taking approximately 10 grams of Vitamin C a day and drinking a lot of water. I have noticed a great improvement in range of motion of my knee. And, my joints don't feel as stiff. I haven't bought the “kit” to test my uric acid levels to see any verifiable changes. I realize I need to get my uric acid levels down to below the 6 mg/l level to dissolve all the uric acid crystals in my knee joint.
Also, I never had a gout flare-up in my big toes. No flare up at all. My first and only indication of high levels of uric acid was swelling of my left knee (previous injury). Unable to properly bend it.
I know Vitamin C has a uricosuric affect meaning it helps the kidneys process more uric acid out of the blood stream. I guess my question is: has anyone else tried Mega-doses of Vitamin C?
One of the problems with mega doses of Vit.C is that it tends to flush minerals from the body.
This is not a good long term policy for this reason , in my laymans view – BUT it may be helping you if your knee problem is Psuedo Gout, due to calcium deposits- rather than Gout.
This often presents at the knee and can be easily rolled up with gout 'proper', ie missed!
The water on its own would also help Gout.
You don't quote any UA test figures to date- so it will be good to hear more on your specialists' ongoing diagnosis.
As you don't mind these large doses of C right now- it could prove an interesting line of enquiry, which ever way it pans out.
By my rough calculation youve taken 2 POUNDS of Vitmain C over the last 3 months. THis produces an extraordinarily acidic urine. Yes, just like taking 6 grams of aspirion a day, you will excrete coopiuos amounts of urate in acidic form…uric acid. You will be excreting it in an environment where it is extremelly insoluble.
Get your uric acid tested post haste and have a kidney ultrasound to make sure you arren;t depositing crystals.
Paids,
See a rheumatologist becasue a gout diagnosis from only a wonky knee is often problemmatical. A big red toe is easy, a bad knee that was formerly injured is a hard call to make. I know I have 2 damaged knees, one goes back to shredded cartilege 50 years ago caused by a gym coach who wasn't smart enopugh to be gym coach…if anyone can CONCEIVE of a person quite that stupid who was not actually a rutabaga in disguise.
It thus took me a long time, even in the presence of confirmed gout, to realize that when my knees acted up it was becasue they were “damaged knees” and not gout attacks. MY best evidence is that every time I've taken up running/jogging I am fine for about 3 weeks and then my knees start to scream at me. When I stop, in a couple weeks they go back to painless. That's not gout, that's repetetive stress pain in joints that won't tolerate any more stress.
Trev/Zip,
Thanks for the replies. Initially I had a vertical fracture on the top of my tibia which was diagnosed by my Orthopedic Surgeon via MRI. Weightlifting accident. After it healed, I still had problems. He said he believed I had “gouty arthritis” in the knee. After doing another MRI and X-ray. I'm in the midst of a move cross country so I can't get into a rheumatologist here, but will see one in my new location.
I was simply taking the Vitamin C as a stop gap measure until I can get on allipurinol.
Yeah, never had the classic gout problem — big toe throbbing. Only swelling in the left knee and decrease in the range of motion. And, what I believe is very slight tophi like nodules on the outside of my ear lobes.
I'm not sure if it's the “C” or all the water I'm drinking but I feel as though my uric acid levels are dropping. Only by greater range of motion in the knee and less clicks and pain.
Again, thanks, and I will keep everyone updated.
On a positive note, given your relative success Paids, in the report Zip posted recently it was said that AP is not used so much in the US due to toxicity considerations.
I don't think Vit C comes into that category- whatever the claims of Pauling et al didn't seem to produce!
Safest as a 'stop gap'- but lower levels of 'C' could well maintain the progress gained later.
With a clearer diagnosis , you will know better what you're dealing with also!
There is a study reported in the Archives of INternal Medicine/JAMA http://www.medicalnewstoday.co…..141562.php
It suggestes that Vitamin C does help significantly. 1500 mg a day reduced gout 45%. Sounds good to me. Haven't tried it yet, but will consider it.
Sodium Ascorbate is vitamin C with neutral PH. I would take to bowel tolerance then back off to maintenance dose. Should help with inflamation. Bowel tolerance may be 10 to 15 grams/day or higher. Good referrence is “Curing the Incurable-Vitamin C, Infectious diseases, and Toxins” by Thomas Levy,MD. I have friend with gout. She told me she drinks 6 sodas a day(wonder why she has gout). Studies show 2 or more sodas a day increase chances of gout by 85%( Google “gout soda”). Capacitin ointment is good for inflamation of arthiritis, maybe good for gout too?
1500 mgs/day [slow release] is what I normally take as a supplement. [When I have them handy].
Perhaps the slow release is well intentioned- but a mistake as, like Colchicine, a flush through the system, if not the lower bowel , would be more useful for gout etc?
I've certainly never remotely felt a sense that Vit.C was making things worse, anyway!
After this read, I think I'll get back on them again- All hands to the pumps
[I'm still rather wary of mega doses anything, vitamins are always best found in a normal diet]
But gout may be an honourable exception… 🙂
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