Dear Kim, I am a 46 year old man, and was recently diagnosed with Gout. So far I’ve had four really bad attacks that were all very painful. What can I do? Please help. Clifford
Hi Clifford, Gout occurs when there is too much uric acid in the body. The uric acid then crystallizes, taking on the shape of a needle, which is what causes pain in the joints. Most people get pain particularly in their big toe, but other joints in the body can also be affected. Acute pain is usually the first symptom followed by inflammation which is red, swollen, hot and extremely sensitive to touch. Repeat attacks over a long period of time can cause joint damage.
The good news is that through simple diet and lifestyle changes, you are able to treat the condition. First, eliminate all alcohol. Alcohol increases uric acid production as well as limits uric acid excretion. This explains why alcohol is often a trigger in acute attacks of gout. For many people, elimination of alcohol is all that is needed to prevent gout.
Another important step is to eliminate / reduce foods that are high in a substance called purine. The reason is that purine breaks down into uric acid. Foods with high levels of purine include organ meats, meat (incl. chicken), shellfish, yeast (brewer’s and baker’s), herring, sardines, mackerel, anchovies, asparagus and mushrooms. In addition all sugary foods (incl. honey), increase uric acid production and should hence be limited. Saturated fat (found in animal products, e.g. meat, dairy & butter) should also be avoided as it has been shown to decrease uric acid secretion.
It is very important that you also drink plenty of water as this helps dilute the crystals. Drink at lease 2 liters of water per day. In addition I recommend supplementing with fish oil (e.g. The Real Thing’s Mega Omega, or Cod Liver Oil) as these help reduce the inflammation. Also try mixing the spice Cayenne Pepper with some oil (any oil) to make a paste, which you then apply to the affected area. This may cause a stinging sensation at first, but with repeated use, pain should diminish markedly. Celery seed also contains numerous anti-inflammatory compounds.
Dear Kim, I am a 32-year-old man. A while ago I developed pain in my right thigh with a bit of swelling. After some time this disappeared, but some pain then developed in my knees and big toe. The pain has now spread to many other areas in my body. Gout and arthritis diagnosis were negative. Please help me deal with this problem which affects me every day. Thanks, Evans.
Hi Evans, Pain in the joints can be caused by many different things and are usually diet and lifestyle related. The first thing I would do is cut out meat (including chicken) which tends to promote pain and inflammation. Instead, make sure to eat plenty of anti-inflammatory foods such as fish and seeds. Linseeds (also known as flax) are particularly good as they contain lots of essential fats, especially omega-3, which is a natural anti-inflammatory. You can also supplement directly with fish oil. I particularly recommend Mega Omega Fish Oil (by The Real Thing) as this supplement is very potent and guaranteed to be free of toxins like mercury (available at Link Pharmacy, Jubilee Chemists, Mary’s Herbal Clinic, The Farmers Market, MyAfya) .
Make sure to include a lot of ginger in your cooking as this root has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric (the yellow spice commonly used in curries) is also a natural anti-inflammatory and has pain-relieving properties. Pineapple contains a substance called bromelain which has also been shown to be excellent for reducing inflammation, but in order to be effective the pineapple has to be fresh and ripe (canned pineapple is of no use!).
Foods from the nightshade family, which include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and white potatoes, should be avoided as these may contribute to your pain and discomfort. Since gout and arthritis were not diagnosed, it may be the case that you have some disguised food allergies/sensitivities. The most common ones are by far wheat and dairy. I would therefore recommend that you cut out all foods that contain wheat and dairy for a period of 10 days and see if there is any improvement. You can then introduce the foods slowly and see if you react.
Another great supplement that I highly recommend is MSM (available at Natures Thyme, The Farmers Market, MyAfya). This supercharged natural supplement not only helps reduce pain but also help regenerate all types of tissue including joints.
To relieve pain you can also try a hot castor oil pack. Place some castor oil in a pan and heat, but do not boil. Dip a piece of white cotton cloth/material into the oil until the cloth is saturated. Apply the cloth to the affected area and cover with a piece of plastic that is larger than the cloth. Then place a warm blanket over the plastic so that it remains warm. Keep in place for one-half to two hours, as needed.
My son has “Septic Arthritis” (10 Feb '08)
Dear Kim, My four year old son was jumping from a bed onto a mattress and accidentally hit his hip on the side of the bed. The first day, he was just limping but the following day, he failed to walk. We took him to UTH were he was admitted for 16 days. The ‘Doctors’ said he had Septic Arthritis and they put a traction on his leg to straighten it and he was put on an antibiotic. Earlier, the X-Ray showed no breakage or fracture but there was pus which had formed, so they did a small operation just above the hip to remove the pus. After being discharged form the Hospital, the boy still can’t walk. Will it be a while before he walks again? I have never heard of arthritis in children and the boy still crys at night. Concerned Parent, Lusaka
Hi, Yes, normally we see arthritis in older people, which is caused by wear and tear of the joints together with poor lifestyle. However with regards to your son, the doctors at UTH were probably using the term “arthritis” as indicating damage and inflammation in some of his joints as a result of his accident. The word “septic” simply referred to the fact that it had also become infected, hence the reason why they prescribed antibiotics.
I am assuming that the infection has cleared, which means that what you really have to concentrate upon now is healing.
Firstly, there are many natural anti-inflammatories that you can use that do not interfere with the actual healing (unlike some pharmaceutical varieties). I particularly recommend fresh ginger and cayenne pepper. Mix either (or both) of these with a bit of oil and apply externally to the inflamed area and cover with a cloth. This may cause a slight stinging sensation at first but with repeated use, pain should diminish markedly. The herb turmeric also has anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. This herb is easily available (check Indian spice stores) and should be added liberally to food.
Also make sure that your son gets plenty of quality foods with lots of vegetables and fruits. His body will need as much nutrition as it can get to help rebuild the damaged tissues. Sulfur-containing foods are particularly beneficial. These include things like asparagus, eggs, garlic and onions. Sulfur is needed for the repair and rebuilding of bone, cartilage and connective tissue and also helps in the absorption of calcium. Foods to avoid include meat, dairy and sugar as these tend to worsen inflammation and slow down healing.
There is a wonderful natural supplement called MSM that I also highly recommend. MSM will not only help reduce pain, but will also speed up the repair of all connective tissues (cartilage, tendons, ligaments, etc.) and joints that may have been damaged by the fall. Just make sure to reduce the adult dosage in proportion to the size and weight of your son. (MSM is available at Jubilee, Natures Thyme at Crossroads, Hi-Life pharmacy at Downtown, Mary’s Herbal Clinic, MyAfya, etc.).
Finally, I recommend that you supplement with a good quality Fish Oil (e.g. “The Real Thing – Fish Oil”) as these fatty acids are also essential for healthy joints and may accelerate healing.
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