lucky luke Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Given the abundance of wine, beer, pate, rich foods and the like, has anyone any advice on managing long-term gout?! More importantly has anyone visited their French doctor with gout, what is the standard medication/treatment? Anything that surprised you or was contrary to UK advice? Any observations would be greatly welcomed. Many thanks LL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony F Dordogne Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I have gout caused by another medical condition.Gout is just gout, there is no reason at all why treatments in France would differ from the UK. It's a commonly treated and well understood condition across the world and the standard treatment is an easy take, benign medication called Allopurinol which French doctors understand and prescribe without any problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarkkent Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Treatment for acute gout does differ between Britain and France.The British approach is that - in most cases - gout is self-limiting and the clinical priority is to control the inflammation and pain and therefore NSAIDs are prescribed and the patient is advised to drink lots of water and given other dietary advice. The doctor will usually discuss the usefulness of long-term medication (allopurinol).The French approach is that there is a substance which counteracts uric acid - colchicine - and this is prescribed. Colchicine gets rid of the gout in less than 24 hours, but it causes stomach cramps and diarrhoea which can last for two or three days.I have received treatment for gout in both countries and I know which approach I prefer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jc Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I've found the same side-effects with NSAIDs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I once had gout in my ear. Or at least, that's what I think the doctor said, but I had gout in my ear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony F Dordogne Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Gout only becomes acute if left untreated. The build up of uric acid can make attacks of gout more prolonged, difficult to deal with and to get rid of.The 'French approach' - I've also had that in the UK - doesn't help at all with the long term management of the condition, it just eliminates the uric acid quickly, hence the side effects.The 'UK approach' manages the development of the uric acid and makes the longer term effects of the gout - it doesn't stop the attacks all the time - more managable.I've had both treatments in both countries, Allopurinol is the accepted long term drug for treatment of gout in both countries. Advice on maintaining water levels to fludh through is also the same in both countries. My specialist told me today that the other method is usually restricted to emergencies and high levels of uric acid which have to be dealt with immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I am wondering whether I have gout. I would really hate to have it because it is something middle aged men get, but my symptoms are a hot feeling which comes and goes deep in my shin bone. Any advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackduff Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I don't have gout but I take allopurinol daily, to try to keep the uric acid under control. So far, so good.I have heard for many years that cherry juice helps people with gout. I do eat a lot of cherries each year but I didn't have any results yet.Didn't gout called to be a King's disease. The rich food and drink caused gout to arrive.Blackduff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Truthful answer to the question- OH visited our French doctor the answer was 'mais wee gout its normal'. Have a nice day that will be 21 Euros. Merci. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 No, Katie - gout is caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in the joints of the toes, usually the big toe. In my case it is a side effect of one of the drugs which I take for hypertension (bendrofluomethiazide) which is a diuretic so reduces the amount of water in the body, thereby making the uric acid concentration higher. Gout won't be felt as a sensation in the shin bones. That'll be something else!M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Or in the lobes of your ears - seriously - it happened to me when I was about 14. Very painful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suze01 Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 [quote user="Just Katie "]I am wondering whether I have gout. I would really hate to have it because it is something middle aged men get, but my symptoms are a hot feeling which comes and goes deep in my shin bone. Any advice? [/quote]It may be shin splints: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_splints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 Thank you very much Suze, what a cool illness. I don't mind having that at all.[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 Sure sounds like shin splints. Very painful, a bit like cramp. It's inflamation of the muscles in the shin. I get it if I walk very fast or if I wear shoes worn down at the heel. I was told that it was due in part to all the cycling I used to do as a young 'un. Don't know the validity of that but I sure used to cycle a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 I get a bad pain in my shins too, it is a weird pain and is not one of those pains I have much success ignoring. Nothing to do with gout, but one of the nerves beneath the sciatic nerve (? well around there somewhere) that gets trapped. I have accupunture for this with great success.My pain can also have a burning on my front thigh too and sometimes it gets as far as my feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 Yes TU. It is a burning. It is not too painful but it feels as though it is in my bone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 Well go to your doctors about it. Yes burning is a good description. The bit on my thigh feels sort of half numb and it hurts too, bit like when say my foot has gone to sleep and when the blood starts circulating again, hurts but still feels numbish.I can't say that I get any back pain with this problem, just which ever leg that hurts and the accupuncture always does the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PossumGirl Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 [quote user="M"]No, Katie - gout is caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in the joints of the toes, usually the big toe.[/quote]Actually, it can occur in other joints, although the big toe is the most frequent. I had an attack in a wrist and it was the worst pain I've ever had in my life. My father used to get it frequently and I think he almost would have preferred death to another attack.PG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 I have an idiot of a friend who is a big softie at heart, but not many people know this. For some strange reason, he likes to show off how tough he is every so often and I have seen him releasing a big rat trap on his little finger and not wincing just to make his mates laugh. Yes, I know, it takes all sorts. However, I have also seen him cry in pain with an attack of gout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWINKLE Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 [quote user="Just Katie "]I am wondering whether I have gout. I would really hate to have it because it is something middle aged men get, but my symptoms are a hot feeling which comes and goes deep in my shin bone. Any advice? [/quote]Sew up the holes in your jeans and put some wooly socks on[:P]Don't worry - I'll get bored soon and leave you all in peace and quiet[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 Will you Twinks? About what time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky luke Posted March 9, 2007 Author Share Posted March 9, 2007 Many thanks for all your replies - having an OH with gout, we've spent years trying to find the right medication, diet etc..It really is a horrid thing - we're now out to buy cherry juice to see if that works! Thanks again - any other advice/ observations greatly received.Luke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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