How to Break Up Gout Crystals
When an acute gout episode occurs, breaking up the gout crystals and reducing the pain is all you can think about. From medicines to dietary changes, there are numerous ways to break up gout crystals. In fact, certain foods and herbs have been scientifically proven to remove uric acid from your body.
In this post, we're exploring what gout is, why it occurs, and how to break up gout crystals. Whether you're in the midst of a gout attack or you're a long-time sufferer, following these recommendations can significantly improve your symptoms.
What is gout?
Why does gout occur?
How to break up gout crystals
What is gout?
Gout is a painful, inflammatory condition affecting the joints. According to the American College of Rheumatology, gout affects over 32 million Americans annually, being one of the most common types of inflammatory arthritis.
When uric acid levels increase in the blood, at a certain concentration, needle-like urate crystals begin to form in the joint. These crystals irritate the surrounding tissue, causing inflammation (redness, swelling, pain, loss of function, and stiffness).
Why does gout occur?
Uric acid is a typical component of blood. It is produced by the breakdown of purine: a component critical to DNA and RNA. Purines are found in many foods, including organ meats, red meat, shellfish, alcohol, and more. Increasing uric acid levels either occur due to increased intake of purines, increased breakdown of purines, or reduced excretion of uric acid.
Whatever the cause, the rising uric acid levels inevitably reach concentrations right for crystal formation. Crystals typically occur in the extremities: as uric acid is temperature sensitive. Episodes also commonly occur at night, likely due to the lower temperature and increased risk of dehydration, which further spikes uric acid concentrations.
The big toe is the characteristic site for gout to occur. However, other common joint locations include knees, ankles, wrists, elbows, finger joints, and foot joints.
How to break up gout crystals
Unlike a tumor, which can often be excised without affecting the surrounding tissue, there's no way to break up gout crystals physically. Rather, the method of removing these crystals is to reverse the cause, i.e., lower uric acid levels in the blood.
Treating a gout attack
During an attack, however, the immediate treatment is an analgesic to relieve the pain. Most commonly, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed, like ibuprofen, indomethacin, or naproxen. In high doses, NSAIDs provide fast relief of the pain without causing any significant side effects.
Corticosteroids, such as prednisone or methylprednisolone, can also be administered if the pain is especially severe or the patient cannot take NSAIDs. In the most severe cases, steroids can be injected directly into the joint.
Colchicine is also a common treatment with a potent anti-inflammatory effect. However, like the other treatments, it does not resolve the root cause of the problem: high uric acid levels
Reducing high uric acid levels
Medications are typically used to reduce uric acid levels long-term. That's particularly true of patients who experience repeated gout flare-ups or have abnormally high blood uric acid levels.
Allopurinol is the most popular drug, as it blocks the production of uric acid; febuxostat also works in a similar manner. Other medications include probenecid and lesinurad, which help the kidneys remove uric acid, and pegloticase, which breaks down uric acid.
In addition to medication, your podiatrist or doctor will recommend dietary and lifestyle changes, including:
Reducing alcohol consumption
Reduction consumption of purine-rich foods, e.g., organ meats, red meat, shellfish
Weight loss
Drink more water
Increase exercise
Specific foods are also associated with lower uric acid levels. Cherries, for example, can minimize pain in gout patients; meanwhile, turmeric lowers uric acid levels and reduces inflammation. Other potentially beneficial foods include coffee and fiber.
While these foods can help relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of future attacks, they should never be used as a substitute for medical treatment. If you are suffering from gout, seek immediate medical help.
Final thoughts
Learning how to break up gout crystals is all about lowering your blood uric acid levels. As the concentration of uric acid drops, the crystals will naturally dissolve, relieving your symptoms. In cases where gout is recurrent, enacting lifestyle and dietary changes as well as the long-term medication will reduce the risk of future attacks.
Are you suffering a gout attack? Do you experience frequent episodes of gout? If so, please contact our expert team of podiatrists for advice and treatment. We've got the expertise to relieve your symptoms and prevent future attacks.
