GOUT RETURNS AFTER 6 MONTHS

[randy]

First timer here. Have had gout on and off for 20 years and this past year the worst ever. Started with Allurpurnal 300 and my UA is below 300 now for 6 months 3 blood tests show this. However my gout just flared up again as i thought i was over the hump with the allurpurnal. Back taking colchicine to stop spread x2 and indo for pain. I guess i still have some work to do to get better. I thought with my UA being under 300 the flares would stop? I guess I still have some work to do.

[Ron Avery]

Hi Randy,

Don’t despair as it is quite normal to have a flare-up or more after starting Alopurinol.

Since you have had gout for 20+ years you have a lot of Uric acid build up. Since the Allo has lowered your blood level uric acid the crystals that have been accumulating in your joints, tendons etc. start to dissolve. This can cause the flare ups you have been experiencing.

I started Allo a few months back and just had my second flare up, this time in my left big toe.(last month in my knee) The good news is if you manage it properly with colchicine, anti-inflammatories and painkillers it won’t last very long. And they happen less often and with less intensity as time goes on. Eventually you won’t have any flare-ups at all as long as you keep taking the Allo. My latest flare-up latest 1 day. The shortest ever !

Stay the course and you will be fine.

Cheers Ron.

[Keith Taylor]

Hi Randy, I hope you are encouraged by Ron’s comments.

I was in a similar situation, and I thought to myself, “If I’ve had uric acid crystals building up for 17/18 years, I’ll be happy if the flares stop in 17/18 months”

As it happens, I was about 6 months, but I did max out on allopurinol to try and reduce uric acid deposits as fast as I could. I got uric acid down to around 200. One of the factors that helped me persuade my doctor to go along with this was a large tophi lump on one elbow, and a couple of smaller ones elsewhere.

I’m sure it’s just a matter of being patient, and you will soon be gout-free. If you can’t be patient, talk to your doc about increasing the allopurinol dose for twelve months or so.

[Author]

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