Research over the last few decades has demonstrated conclusively that, the foods to avoid if you suffer from gout are ‘high purine’ foodstuffs! That is, foods containing high levels of purines. For example:

• Sea food
• Fish
• Liver, heart, kidney and other organ meats
• Generally, red meats
• Beer, lager and certain other alcoholic beverages
• Products containing brewers yeast

If you some more reading on this blog, you will find details of specific diets which will help you choose the best foods that cater for your personal taste and gout.

Comment:

Interesting website and I like your ideas and articles. From time to time, my chronic pain has forced me to lie down and rest my feet a lot. Yes, you’re right – pain relief is a personal thing. On the last attack, a warm water bottle helped me. Gout has caused me serious joint problems, but I think my diet and choosing the right and avoiding other foods helps – especially if you suffer from gout severely! I’m trying to read as much as I can, I believe it all helps! I love your site, wonderful! Miss Peters

What are typical gout symptoms and best available treatment?

Typical symptoms include:

• Joint pain;
• Joint swelling and redness;
• Fever during attacks;

Treatments include:

• Drugs such as NSAIDs, febuxostat, colchicines;
• Dietary advice (low purine diets) and supplements.

It seems in many cases it’s a matter of personal experimentation to find what alleviates your symptoms and therefore the most effective treatment for you!

Comment:

Great site. Gout causes unbearable toe pain for me! Terrible! I get some crazy symptoms when it starts. My doc suggested regular rest as treatment; which helped me a lot. My gout followed kidney disease - just shows how this is one factor. I read many sites on a weekly basis which helps in understanding my disorder. I’m Pleased I found this site. Paul Porter

Usually the first signs of gout are big toe pain and inflammation. However, there are numerous other gout symptoms, including:

• Some patients experience fever during attacks.
• Joint aches or tenderness.
• As mentioned above, sever toe pain.
• Reddish rash around joint pain.
• In vulnerable patients nausea may occur.
• Skin rashes or lumps.
• Joint swelling.
• Elevated blood pressure may lead to hot flushes and dizziness.
• Limb shooting pains have been reported.
• Unexplained warming of painful joints.
• In some sufferers, anxiety may occurs during gout attacks.

This is not an exhaustive list of gout symptoms! But it does list the most frequent according to clinical studies and experience.

Here's an example of other symptoms that may be related to gout.

I was diagnosed with gout many years ago, after excruciating toe pain and swelling. But within a year or so I noticed shooting pains down my elbows and legs. I queried these with my doctor, and she said they are probably connected to gout; crystals forming around my knee and elbow joints affecting nerve muscle.

Anonymous

This study demonstrates that gout may cause other symptoms than the traditional ones associated with it – in this case pelvic pain.

Gout as an unusual cause of pelvic pain

Authors: van den Berge M, Vrugt B, Holt C, Smit CJ, Hoogenberg K.

Institution: Martini Ziekenhuis, afd. Interne Geneeskunde, Postbus 30.033, 9700 RM Groningen.

An 89-year-old woman was admitted for high fever and debilitating pelvic pain, notably in the pubic area. Physical examination revealed multiple gouty tophi in her hands and feet. Laboratory investigation revealed severe leukocytosis and a sharply increased C-reactive protein level.

The patient was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics in view of the possibility of a serious bacterial infection, but there was no clinical effect. CT of the pelvis revealed an osteolytic process and a mass anterior to the pubic symphysis. Histological investigation of a biopsy revealed an inflammatory infiltrate with signs of gout. Culture of the biopsy specimen was negative.

The diagnosis was confirmed by the finding ofneedle-like urate crystals under the polarizing microscope. After treatment with colchicine and later with prednisone, the symptoms disappeared. She was given uric acid-lowering therapy with allopurinol as a preventive measure.

Study link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract