Treatment For Gout In The Hands Background
Gout can attack any joint in your body. It is created when uric acid builds up in your body and the excess uric acid is converted to urate crystals.
These urate crystals then attach to your joint forming what are known as tophi .
The result is what we know as gouty arthritis or gout. The result of a flare up is likely to be painful redness and swelling. So when we treat a gout flare up, it is typically done by trying to counter the swelling with some form of anti-inflammatory.
Preventing Future Attacks
After the flare up however, treatment focuses on reducing the build up of uric acid that forms the urate crystals. This can be done by either reducing the amount of uric acid our body produces or speeding up the rate at which our kidneys get rid of it.
Since Gout is ultimately started by the build-up of uric acid, it really is a simple balance equation.
Unfortunately, your hands and fingers will always be a key target for gout as they are one of the cooler parts of the body .
It has long been considered that urate crystals were much more likely to settle on cool joints, where the blood flow is slower and they are further away from your heart.
Given also the very functional use of your hands it is often almost impossible, in a practical sense, to rest your hands. This can make both pain and preventative treatment for gout in the hands rather tricky.
Exceptions
While we try to look at specific treatment for gout in the hands, it is not always appropriate.
Pain Relief Without Medicine
Use cold. If your pain isn’t too bad, try cold packs or compresses on the joint to lower inflammation and soothe the ache. Wrap ice in a thin towel and apply it to the joint for up to 20 minutes several times a day. Do not apply ice to your hands or feet if you have nerve problems from diabetes or other causes.
Rest the joint. It’s a good idea to rest it until the pain eases up. You probably won’t want to move it much anyway. If you can, raise the joint on a pillow or other soft object.
Drink water. When your body doesnât have enough water, your uric acid levels rise even higher. Stay hydrated to help keep those levels normal.
Watch what you eat and drink. Foods that are high in substances called purines, such as some seafood, organ meats like liver, and fatty foods, can raise the uric acid in your blood even more. So can fructose-sweetened drinks and alcohol — especially beer.
Treatment For Gout In The Hands Prevention
Exercise.
To specifically strengthen your hands and prevent future attacks there, you should consider getting some hand grippers.
These are cheap to buy but often recommended for various forms of arthritis and in this case, gout is no exception.
Other options include getting a stress ball and squeezing for further hand flexibility and strength or taking on a number of hand exercises as will be included soon.
Dietary Change/ Giving Up Smoking
This is fairly universal as its designed to alter the uric acid levels in your stomach, thus affecting the build-up.
Whether gout is in your foot or your elbow, it wont change and I go in to much more detail on diet in other articles on exactly which foods are good for you and why.
Mindful Remedies
Strategies such as self-hypnosis or cognitive behavioural therapy can all be effective with any form of long-term pain relief.
However, this is particularly true when it concerns the hands, because you may not be able to avoid using them, so training yourself not to feel the pain can be a great idea.
The Final Word
The hands are a particularly delicate, but essential tool in our daily lives. Gout in the hands can quickly and easily change your plans.
Treatment for gout in the hands vary slightly according to which part of your hands are affected, but a custom approach is required to achieve the best results.
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Further Gout-Related Investigations…
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Top 37 Effective Home Remedies For Gout In Hands And Feet
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Besides using apple cider vinegar as a remedy for headaches and stomachaches, people often use it as one of the natural home remedies for gout. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, apple cider vinegar can help assuage the soreness and pain related to a gout attack. Besides, it helps to break the uric acid deposits. Vinegar consumption may also enhance insulin sensitivity in those without and with diabetes .
Method 1:
- Take one teaspoon of raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar and put it in a glass.
- Add some water to it.
- Consume the mixture 3 times every day.
Method 2:
- Soak a cloth in some apple cider vinegar.
- Secure it to the joints which are affected by gout. Leave it overnight to relieve pain.
- Do this every day.
- Put some apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Place the bottle in the freezer for a few minutes.
- Spray the apple cider vinegar over the areas affected by gout every hour.
2. Ginger Root
Ginger root contains anti-inflammatory compounds to combat joint inflammation in gout. According to a study, topical ginger may reduce pain associated with uric acid in gout. Besides, ginger may help reduce levels of uric acid .
Method 1:
- Take the powder of fenugreek, turmeric and ginger root in equal amounts.
- Add some warm water to the mixture.
- Consume the mixture 2 times every day.
Method 2:
- Consume raw ginger root every day or add it in your daily dish.
Method 3:
Method 4:
3. Baking Soda
Here is what you can do with baking soda to save you from gout.
Super Foods For Alleviating Gout
Cherries
Vast reserves of anthocyanin and ascorbate in cherries have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which lower the risk of a gout attack. As per the study conducted by Boston University, a person with gout who had consumed cherries over 2 days had a 35% lower risk of gout attack than those who did not take the fruit. It is recommended to consume three servings of cherries or cherry extracts to minimise the risk of a gout attack .
Papaya
The goodness of enzymes papain and chymopapain in papaya possess strong anti-inflammatory effects which help in easing inflammation and reduces swelling in the joints. It also helps in getting rid of excess uric acids from the body by increasing the alkalinity. Besides these, it is packed with antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C which helps to reduce inflammation and mitigates pain and redness in the joints. Also Read: Best Health Benefits of Eating Papaya
Celery Seeds
The plethora of nutrients present in celery seed such as iron, manganese, calcium and other bioactive compounds support in curing gout. Luteolin, 3-n-butylphthalide and beta-selinene notable plant compound in celery reduce uric acid levels in the blood and lower inflammatory nitric oxide production which aggravates gout attack. Add celery seeds in the diet in the form of juice, extracts or seeds.
Ginger
Lemon
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Remedies For Gout Symptoms In The Hands
There are number of ways to reverse the ravages of hand gout:
- The first course of action is to take advantage of a specific order, or FORMULA, of simple baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Done correctly, in most cases it can bring the intensity of the attack to a halt in a matter of just a few hours.
- Next, soak the hand/wrist in warm water with Epsom salts. This helps to neutralize the acidity in the tissues affected. Alternate soaks with icing wrap icepacks in a towel and ice thoroughly.
- Take large doses of vitamin C. Studies have shown vitamin C helpful in reversing the effects of a gout attack because it is a powerful antioxidant. The brand Emegen-C Lite with MSM is an inexpensive choice.
- Eat fresh celery, apples, bananas, and cherries. These fruits help move acidity out at the cellular level, and assist in raising the pH up to more alkaline levels.
- And . . . Breathe. Long slow inhales through the nose, pause, long slow exhales out the mouth, pause start over. The blood has too much uric acid in it breathing in a focused and sustained manner, oxygenates the blood and reduces acidity.
Common Locations For Tophi
Gout results from uric acid buildup in your blood. Uric acid normally gets removed from your blood through your renal system in urine, but your diet or certain conditions can make it hard for your body to excrete uric acid. In this case, uric acid builds up around joints.
Tophi can form in any of the following body parts:
- feet
Types of tissues where uric acid most commonly builds up to form tophi include:
- tendons that connect joints to muscles
- cartilage around your joints
- synovial membranes that line your joint cartilage
- any soft tissues in your joints, such as fat or ligaments
- bursae, small sacs that create a cushion-like barrier between bones and other soft tissues
Tophi can also form in connective tissue that isnt found in a joint. Some of these locations include:
- sclerae, better known as the whites of your eyes
- renal pyramids, which are triangular-shaped parts of your kidneys made up of ducts and nephrons that help absorb nutrients before releasing waste as urine
- heart valves, such as the aorta
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How To Get Rid Of Gout In Fingers At Home Naturally
A gout is a form of arthritis, which causes pain and inflammation in the joints. The condition is featured by symptoms like severe pain, swelling, redness, and a warm feeling in the affected area.
The increased concentration of uric acid in the blood is the major cause of gout. Gouty arthritis most commonly affects the big toe. However, it can involve other joints like knees, feet, ankles, hands, elbows, wrists, and fingers.
When the fingers are affected by gout, they are not the first location of a gout attack. Gout usually affects other body parts and then turns to fingers. Another important feature of finger gout is that it generally lasts longer as compared to gout attacks in other body parts.
Gout in fingers indicates that uric acid levels are not reduced by the treatment. It should be taken as a warning sign that you must try everything to control gout.
Lemon Juice Neutralizes The Excess Uric Acid In The Bloodstream As It Can Alkalize The Body And Thus Relieves Gout Pain
9. Make A Lemonade
Indulge in the goodness of lemons by pouring in some lemon juice for yourself but minus the sugar. Lemon juice neutralizes the excess uric acid in the bloodstream as it can alkalize the body and thus relieves gout pain. Squeeze some lemon into a glass of water and drink three times a day preferably after meals to get the best results.
10. Soak in the Goodness of Epsom Salts
Epsom salts are rich in magnesium and good for your heart. They are also known to regulate blood pressure. It also removes toxins from the body soothing the inflamed joints and relaxing the body. Take ½ cup of Epsom salts and mix it in a bucket of warm water and soak the affected parts in it. Wash with regular water afterward.
11. Exercise Regularly
Exercise is also a great way to unwind
Lack of exercise and obesity also causes gout in people and hence exercising regularly is the key to a good & healthy system free from gout and other diseases. Exercise keeps the insulin levels normal in the body which reduces the uric acid deposits. Controlling our weights by eating right will also aid in weight management and hence provide relief from gout.
12. Eat Right
A diet high in purines causes uric acid levels to rise. Avoid eating rich in purine foods like the following to avoid gout-flare-ups.
- Red meat, liver or kidneys or any meat form in large amounts
- Seafood such as mackerel, scallops or any other oily fish in huge quantities
- Spinach and cauliflower in large quantities
- Beer
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Exercise Regularly And Properly
Engage in a moderate form of exercise that does not push your body too much but keeps it active enough to avoid unnecessary weight gain. As gout can render your joints achy and feeble, subjecting them to a rigorous workout will only add to the strain and will worsen your condition.
Ask your doctor to recommend exercises that are appropriate for your condition.
Preventing Future Gout Attacks
Maintaining more alkaline body chemistry is the way to avoid gout symptoms in the hands after the current attack has been extinguished. While the viable methods vary, common to all of them is good breathing and blood oxygenation, consistent hydration, and a healthy diet of mostly alkaline-forming foods fresh fruits and vegetables.
Avoiding all types of processed foods and fast foods is mandatory as they are one of the sure causes of gout.
Remember! The symptoms of gout in the hands have to be dealt with as soon as they present themselves.
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Remedies To Cure Gout And Gout Pain At Home
Gout is common these days and causes acute pain and swelling in our joints. It is a form of arthritis which is different from rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Gout can be painful as it leads to tender, swollen, heated or reddened joints.
Caused by hyperuricemia or increased uric acid in the body it can affect several body parts like big toe, ears, wrists, knees, ankles or small joints of the hand. Some other causes of gout are lack of physical activity or exercise, excessive alcohol consumption, high protein intake, high-stress levels, and genetics.
Getting yourself thoroughly checked for underlying causes and getting a proper treatment is a must when suffering from gout since it can also be linked to more serious health conditions. Also, trying out these 12 home remedies until you pay a visit to the doctor can help ease out your symptoms and also lessen the excessive uric acid for sure.
1. Drink Loads of Water
Drinking water could help ease gout pain
Drinking lots of water really helps with gout pain and swelling. The more you will drink water the more will it flush away excess uric acid from the body. The decrease in uric acid from the body can provide you instant relief from gout associated symptoms.
2. Pluck Those Cherries
Cherries Or Tart Cherry Juice
According to a , cherries whether sour, sweet, red, black, in extract form, as a juice, or raw are a very popular and potentially successful home remedy for many.
One 2012 study and another that same year also suggest cherries may work to prevent gout attacks.
This research recommends three servings of any cherry form over a two-day period, which was considered the most effective.
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Three Ways To Treat Gout Using Apple Cider Vinegar
You can take apple cider vinegar internally or apply it topically to get relief from gout.
For taking it internally, dilute one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water. Drink the mixture twice a day for best results. If you don’t like the bitter taste, add a little honey or a low-calorie sweetener. You can also mix apple cider vinegar with oil and use it as a salad dressing.
Along with taking apple cider vinegar internally, you can apply it on the affected joint to get better and faster relief from gout. Take a dry and clean cloth and dip it in pure apple cider vinegar. Now, wrap this cloth around the affected body joint and keep it on overnight. It will help soothe the pain. You can repeat this process every alternate day.
Another way is to take a hot bath in an apple cider vinegar mixture. Add a cup of apple cider vinegar in a bucket of hot water. Then soak the affected hand or leg in it for about 30 minutes. Do this on a daily basis for best results.
Elevate The Affected Fingers
Poor circulation is one of the key reasons behind swelling in any part of the body, including the fingers.
To reduce swelling due to poor circulation, elevate your hands and fingers above your chest level. This will help improve blood circulation and provide relief from discomforts like swelling, inflammation and pain.
Keep the swollen fingers elevated above your chest level. You can sit on a sofa, put a few pillows on its arm rest and rest your hand on it.
To keep the fingers elevated while sleeping, put a few pillows under your hands.
Keep your hands and fingers elevated for 30 minutes a few times a day.
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I Causes And Symptoms Of Trigger Finger
Understanding more causes and symptoms of this condition can help you battle with hand pain. There are a few factors that can lead to trigger finger. And this problem often occurs in
- People who have gout symptoms or rheumatoid arthritis
- People who use the fingers extremely hard for a long time
- Old people
In terms of symptoms of trigger finger, this problem can result in swollen fingers and in some cases, cause painful feeling. Also, people with trigger fingers can find difficult to perform a movement of the fingers, even the slightest ones. Often, the pain can come and go in its own way. But, in some cases, the pain can last for a longer time and cause lots of discomforts.
Read 24 Natural Home Remedies For Neuropathy Pain In Feet And Hands to discover some of the best home remedies for neuropathy pain occurring in both hands and feet.