What’s gout all about?
Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. It causes symptoms like burning pain, stiffness, and swelling in joints – most specifically the big toe. Over time, if it’s not managed, gout can cause permanent damage of a joint or many joints, similar to arthritis, and can also cause renal damage (kidney failure). Here is what gout looks like in a hand – you can see the crystals in an X-ray.
When uric acid stays high, little tiny crystals made of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) form in the blood. There is also something called pseudogout, which is caused by calcium pyrophosphate crystals.
Sadly, the only medical treatment is getting a shot of a corticosteroid or a large daily dose of multiple meds. Gout tends to happen to men more than women, and symptoms are usually worse at night. Although you can also take things like ibuprofen, don’t take aspirin because it can make the symptoms worse and elevate uric acid further.
I’ve seen many cases of gout, both acute and chronic. Here are some easy tips I can give you:
- Don’t drink alcohol. If you are drinking alcohol and suffer from gout, stop it. The liver and the kidneys both need TLC when you have gout.
- Decrease the quantity of saturated fat in your diet. I would even suggest a 2-4 week cleanse.
- Drink water more frequently and eat a LOT of water-filled foods like fruits and vegetables. This is a really big key to eliminating gout symptoms.
I also recommend using MELT as part of your self-care plan.
If you have gout, start off with the Soft Ball Foot Treatment once a day and stick with that for about 3-5 weeks.
After 5 weeks, you can add in the Rebalance Sequence and the Upper and Lower Body Compression and Length Sequences. These sequences can be flipped around and used 3 times a week for 4-6 weeks.
You may want to find a MELT Instructor to guide you in your self-care. Find out if there’s one near you at meltmethod.com/finder
If there are no MELT instructors nearby, you can still MELT! I’d recommend the Hand and Foot Treatment Kit and the Hand and Foot Treatment DVD set to start, then add the MELT Soft Roller and the MELT Method DVD. You can get all of these at meltmethod.com – and you save a lot if you buy them together as a bundle.
Remember, MELT complements all forms of medical care, but it is not a replacement. If you are currently under a doctor’s care, talk to your doctor before you start your self-treatment.
Don’t let this disorder progress as is shown here in this image. Ouch! It’s not a pretty sight and the calcifications can cause permanent damage.
Originally posted August 29, 2012
