Gout
Gout, also called crystal-induced arthritis, is an arthritic condition that
occurs when uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints. Gout usually affects
the large joint of the big toe, but can also affect other joints, such as the knee,
ankle, foot, hand, wrist and elbow. In rare cases, it may later affect the
shoulders, hips or spine. Gout does not spread from joint to joint.
Symptoms-
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Gout generally occurs in four (4) stages (asymptomatic,
acute, intercritical and chronic) and has
the following signs and symptoms:
Asymptomatic stage - Urate levels rise in the
blood, but produces no symptoms
Acute stage - symptoms usually lasting
five to 10 days
1.sudden attack of joint pain
2.swelling
3.joints feel hot, tender and look dusty red or bruised
Intercritical stage - symptom-free intervals between gout
episodes. Most people have a second attack from six months to two years,
while others are symptom-free for five to 10 years.
Chronic stage
1.persistently painful joints with large urate deposits in the cartilage,
membranes between the bones, tendons and soft tissues
2.skin over the deposits develop sores and release a white pus
3.joint stiffness
4.limited motion of affect joint |
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Fig:
Case of Gout |
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Fig:
X-ray of Gout |
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Fig:
Acute Case of Gout |
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Fig:
Acute Case of Gout |
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Complications-
The list of complications that have been mentioned in
various sources for Gout includes:
Acute gout attacks
- Kidney damage
- Arthritis
- Joint immobility
- Urinary stones > -
increased risk
- Scleritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Arthropathy
- Pyrexia
Remedies-
1. Colchicum [Colch]
This is the great old school remedy for gout; every case gets it in some form;
and, strange to say, in the homoeopathic school it is one of the first remedies
thought of, but not every case of arthritic trouble receives Colchicum from the
careful homoeopathic prescriber. The typical case calling for Colchicum is
where the swelling is red or pale, with extreme tenderness to touch, a tendency
to shift about from joint to joint, and pains which are worse on the slightest motion. If the general symptoms of great prostration of the muscular system and
abdominal bloating be present Colchicum is the remedy. Gastric symptoms and
cardiac complications also characterize. It is more indicated when the smaller joints, fingers, toes, wrists and ankles are
affected; the pains are very violent, patient
cannot bear to have the parts touched or to have anyone come near him. The
Colchicum patient is apt to be exceedingly irritable and the gout is not apt to
decrease this irritability. Unless Colchicum be given
according to these indications it will do no permanent good. The habit of
giving Colchicum to every case of gout in order to palliate the trouble may
cause it to attack the heart or fly to other parts. Indeed in potency it is
Homoeopathic to gout, with metastasis to the heart.
2.
Arnica [Arn]
Arnica is also very good remedy
for gout which has
this fear that the part my be hit by anyone
passing; it has also arthritic pains in the
foot, worse towards evening; and a red big toe joint which feels as though it
has been sprained, so Arnica may be indicated well in gout.
Aconite is most useful in acute
attacks of gout in the joints of the feet. It corresponds only to the onset and
if continued for a day or two will cure many cases.
3. Ledum [Led]
Ledum is a useful remedy in gout as well as in many articular troubles. We have
the symptoms that the ball of the great toe is swollen, sore and painful on
stepping, drawing pains worse from warmth, pressure and from motion. It has
also gouty nodosities in the joints, it differs from Bryonia in having a scanty
instead of a profuse effusion; it is, perhaps, better adapted to hot swelling
of the hip joint than is Bryonia. All the pains of Ledum travel upwards. Ledum is also useful after abuse of Colchicum. It may be the first remedy to use when the patient comes
from allopathic hands, having been dosed with large doses of Colchicum, which
is a very asthenic remedy, producing great muscular weakness, as we have seen.
Ledum, it must be remembered is a cold remedy, and attending all the symptoms is a general chilliness
and lack of animal heat.
4.
Guaiacum [Gua]
Another drug very good for gout
and having gouty nodosities in the joints is Guaiacum. This remedy has tearing
pains in the extremities and contractions ;of the muscles. It is also
especially useful for gouty inflammation affecting the knee joint.
5. Ammonium phosphoricum
[Am-p]
This is a useful remedy in constitutional gout where there are nodosities in
the joints. It is not so much a remedy for the acute symptoms, but for chronic
cases where there are deposits of urate of soda concretions in the joints and
the hands become twisted out of shape. Antimonium crudum has gouty nodes in the
joints, but it is easily selected from its gastric symptoms. Urinary symptoms,
strong urine, etc., would suggest Benzoic acid, and much red Lycopodium, both;
of which may be found useful in gout. Staphisagria has a similar application to
gout when it becomes systematized, as has also Ammonium phosphoricum.
6. Rhododendron [Rhod] has enlargements of the joints not due to gouty deposits,
worse during rest and on approach of a storm.
7. Urtica urens. This remedy is said to cure more cases of gout than any
other. Under its use pain and swelling subside and large quantities of sand are
passed
8. Picric acid. Halbert mentions this remedy as useful in arthritis
deformans, and thinks that treating the disease from the homoeopathic
standpoint will yield best results.
