The last bad flare up I had, the doctor had to drain the knee. Wow did that help! Looked like cloudy pee. Anyway, I have not had a serious attack in maybe a year and a half, and have ceased my medication. Now I just get the odd kidney stone anywhere from "." this size to "O" this.
My worst was the very first. Must have had it for 4 or 5 weeks. Other attacks swelled up my knees causing the joints to separate enough to dislocate them when I walked. I went thru nearly 2 years on and off crutches and canes until I was able to fighuire out my protein intake threshold.
While my uric acid level does spike sometimes (I get a few warning signals) I have been able to keep it in check by changing my diet, limiting my protein intake and increasing my water intake.
It does work for some people, I think I read about 10% or 12% of gout 'victims'. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones it does.
Glad to hear the attacks for Brian and Ken have subsided. The pain is almost undescribable.
Ken, Vicodin, good stuff. Makes me loopy but really takes the pain away – but I use it for the stones not the gout. For gout attack I wind up with a shot in the leg that works about 8 to 12 hours. Then I just grit it out.
