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Permalink Reply by frank on May 31, 2010 at 9:49am

hi, i'm 71 and have had gout attacks on & off since my late 20's. ( mainly big toes, never in both toes at once ) i was diagnosed with type 2 about 2 years ago. i had had' no gout attacks for probably 10 - 12 years before i started to take meds for diabetes and other things. ( i was one of those: i don't need a doctor and had not seen one for probably 40 years. my self cure for gout attacks was lay off high protein foods and just drink lots of water, eat cherries and wait it out. now to your ( maybe our situation) over the last year or so i've had mainly back, lower knee and ankle problems. i'm an active person, so i've been mainly blaming it on pulled muscles, strains, getting a bit passed my prime, etc. and i have followed up with mri's, xrays, therepy and just living with it. when it tended to improve so at least i could get around without a cane. the result of exams was never so convincing that i should have periods of extreme pain that made me want to go into a wheel chair, and then some relief. i believe even though my uric acid levels are at high end of the acceptable range i have uric acid build up in my lower spine that drs./radioligist say is spinal stenosis. i'm going to see a neurologist in a few weeks to get his take. others seem to think that since i'm in the normal range uric acid wise it cain't be gout. i believe it is i just need a dr. that can go the next step and check out, other then depend on just blood tests; what it is in my lower back that puts pressure on nerves that mess with my right leg. i hope it is uric acid build up. if it's of all the athritious the easy one to deal with. haven't got an answer for you as that it has ant thing to do with diabetes or drugs taking just wanted to share thoughts.

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Permalink Reply by D.D. on May 31, 2010 at 10:15am

Thanks for your feedback Frank. I've learned from my recent medical research (from the best sites- all valid research - that there is gout and pseudogout and they are caused by different chemical imbalances. (Check out the National Institute for Health site). The only way the doctors can tell for sure is to do a fine needle joint aspiration. I just had a thumb joint replacement due to OA and lots of wear and tear and the intense pain is gone - I'm gaining my strength back. I feel "older" everyday physically (always a kid otherwise...) I got rid of one pain and now another...go figure! This ageing thing does hurt sometimes. I am having a difficult day physically - I am really stiff and achy today - I always know when a storm is coming!

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Permalink Reply by frank on June 1, 2010 at 11:56am

hi, thanks for the info. re national institute for health. the few times i've refered to various internet or articles/books as part of my discussing concerns with various doctors i always got the feeling that i was just another patient playing doctor. mainly because i could never give a good creditable source for my ?s/concerns. happy you mentioned them. hope you feel better soon.

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Permalink Reply by D.D. on June 1, 2010 at 12:31pm

Thanks Frank. glad I could help.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Holko on June 1, 2010 at 4:58pm

Get a prescription for indomethacin for short term relief and allopurinol can prevent the formation of uric acid in your body. Indomethacin can burn hole in tummy if used too much and I don't know the side effects of allopurinol since I stop taking it after the attack subsides.

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