It’s 3 a.m. and suddenly you’re awake, with sharp stabbing pain coming from your ankle. It hurts so much that just having the sheet over your foot is painful. Fortunately, there are several measures that can help ease your pain and get you through a gout attack:
- Take it easy. Rest the affected joint and keep pressure off it.
- Apply ice. Ice can offer relief by decreasing inflammation and dulling pain signals.
- Elevate. If your foot is affected, prop it up on a pillow or footstool.
- Stay hydrated. Drink water to aid in flushing uric acid from your system.
- Take medications. Over-the-counter pain medications can help you through a gout attack.
- Take prescriptions. If you've had an attack before, your doctor may have prescribed drugs to treat future attacks.
