Currently, there is no cure for Gout, but the sympytoms can be well managed through a combination of medication and specialised diet such as below:
- A ‘Low-Purine’ Diet is recommended to reduce the level of Uric Acid in the blood (Purine is broken down by the body where it is changed to Uric Acid): Avoid foods that are rich in Purine such as alcohol, liver, kidney, salmon, sardine, dry beans, bean curd and soya bean drink
- Limit your daily intake of protein-rich food such as red meat
- Colchicine (an Anti-Gout Medicine) is effective for relieving acute pain and can also prevent acute attacks
- Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs to reduce the pain, swelling, and stiffness
- Steroids can be used for an acute attack, and can be injected directly into the joint if the pain is extreme
- Surgery is rarely used to treat Gout, but may occasionally be needed to remove infected uric acid crystals, or those that interfere with joint movement
- Uric acid crystals tend to recur unless the high uric acid level in your blood is reduced.