In homoeopathy, the approach to illness is to treat the whole person and not only the presenting symptoms of the disease. Thus, rather than treating the disease therapeutically, knowing a person’s constitutional type, helps the homoeopath choose the most appropriate remedy. Homoeopathy is often helpful to fortify one’s natural healing mechanism for gout and other ailments. In conjunction with taking the appropriate homoeopathic remedy, it is also necessary to maintain a diet low in purines, to manage this condition. 

Gout or Gouty Arthritis:

Gout, or gouty arthritis, is characterized by the sudden onset of severe pain or tenderness in an affected joint, most often the big toe. Other areas that may be affected include the knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist and even fingers. The first symptom is usually an acute pain. As time goes on, the affected joints become inflamed, red, swollen, hot and extremely sensitive to the touch, and in some cases, there is fever or chills. Frequent attacks of gout over a long period of time can lead to joint damage.   

Symptoms of Gout:

Warmth, pain, swelling, and extreme tenderness in a joint. The pain often starts during the night. It may get worse quickly, last for hours, and be so intense that even light pressure from a sheet is intolerable. Red skin around the affected joint. The joint may appear to be infected. Limited movement in the affected joint.

Some people may not experience gout as many painful attacks. Instead, they have Gout nearly all the time (chronic gout). Chronic gout in older adults may be less painful and can be confused with other forms of arthritis. Gout may lead to inflammation of the fluid sacs that cushion tissues, particularly in the elbow and knee. Gout can also affect the joints of the feet, ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows.

Diagnosis of Gout:

Tests to help diagnose gout may include:

  • Joint fluid test– Joint fluid may reveal urate crystals.
  • Blood test to measure the levels of uric acid and creatinine in your blood. Blood test results can be misleading, though. Some people have high uric acid levels but never experience gout.
  • X-ray imaging- Joint X-rays can be helpful to rule out other causes of joint inflammation.
  • Ultrasound-Musculature- Ultrasound can detect urate crystals in a joint or in a tophus.