Type of Arthritis ..

Gout is a painful form of arthritis caused by uric acid crystals that form in and around the joints. 

It’s the most common type of inflammatory arthritis.

Gout occurs in people who have high levels of uric acid, also known as urate, in their blood. Urate is created every day when our bodies break down purines. Purines are chemicals that are naturally created in our body, but they are also present in certain foods.  We all have urate in our blood, this is normal and healthy. But if levels become too high it may cause gout. 

People used to think that gout was caused by overeating and drinking too much alcohol. While this can make attacks of gout more likely, it’s not the whole story.

On any day, about three-quarters of the urate in our bodies comes from the breakdown of purines produced within our body, while only about a quarter comes from food and drink. As urate levels build up, your body gets rid of any extra through your kidneys. But ,if  your kidneys are unable to get rid of enough of it, then levels start to rise.  

If urate levels stay too high, urate crystals can slowly form. They mainly occur in and around firm joint tissues, such as the cartilage. But crystals can also appear under your skin and may even occur in your internal organs, such as the kidneys.  

Symptoms:

Symptoms of gout aren’t usually noticeable unless you are having an attack of gout. Attacks of gout usually last between five and seven days, where you will experience symptoms.

Attack?

When there are a lot of crystals in your joints, some of them can spill out from the cartilage into the space between the two bones in a joint. 

The tiny, hard, sharp crystals can rub against the soft lining of the joint, called the synovium, causing a lot of pain swelling and inflammation. When this happens, it’s known as an attack or flare of gout. 

The affected joint becomes: 

• Very painful
• Tender 
• Red 
• Hot 
• Swollen.

The skin over the joint often appears shiny and it may peel off as the attack settles.   

Attacks usually come on very quickly, often during the night.

Gout attacks are especially common in joints at the ends of your legs and arms, such as in your fingers and toes.

What is tophi?

Tophi aren’t usually painful, but they can get in the way of normal daily activities. They can sometimes become inflamed, break down and leak fluid with gritty white material - these are the urate crystals. 

Tophi can also grow within your joints and cause damage to your cartilage and bone.

Having high urate levels and gout for a long time can lead to other health problems, including: 

• Narrowing of the arteries - which can lead to an increased risk of stroke, heart attacks or other heart problems
• Osteoarthritis which occurs when the urate crystals and hard tophi cause joint damage
• An increased risk of developing kidney disease or worsening of the condition if you already have it
• Kidney stones 
• An increased risk of some cancers, especially prostate cancer
• Mental health problems, including depression  
• Underactive thyroid 
• Erectile dysfunction.

Common conditions associated with gout include: 

• Chronic kidney disease
• High cholesterol and fats in the blood 
• High blood pressure 
• Type 2 diabetes  
• Osteoarthritis

What can trigger an attack?

Several things can cause the crystals to shake loose into your joint cavity, triggering an attack. These include: 

• A knock or injury to the joint 
• An illness that gives you a fever 
• Having an operation  
• Having an unusually large meal, especially a fatty meal  
• Drinking too much alcohol 
• Dehydration 

 

Treatment

• Treating the acute attack
• Treatments to prevent future attacks.

Homeopathic management?

• Case is studied in acute presentation, considering the type of pains, the modalities of each person in pain are unique. Associated symptoms like thirst of that person, ability to tolerate heat or cold in surroundings, disturbances in sleep are studied to make a good prescription. Effect of pain on each ones Psyche is different that will be considered while prescribing homeopathic medicine.
• There are many specific medicines like Belladonna, Ledum Pal, Colchicum autumnale, Arnica …etc.
• Depending on exact nature of symptoms medicines are prescribed in homeopathy.

How does it Help?

• Homeopathy helps in subsiding the acute flare up. Thus, recurrences of such attacks are reduced substantially. Gradually with a good follow up, medicines help to rectify the cause of such defective metabolism, and healthy state is soon restored.

For appointment 

Call, 

Prana Homeopathy Yoga Centre, Dr. Sonali Bhonsle.

Consultant Homeopath

BHMS,PG hom (London),PG Dietetics,, Fellowship In Advance Homeopathy

www.drsonalibhonsle.com

9371460427