<p>It’s hard to get a definitive diagnosis for this. Doc currently thinks it is gout, has given him medication for gout. Apparently, he did do the synovial fluid test, but we don’t know yet if that proves anything. Both H’s brother and mom have had similar symptoms and his brother was indeed diagnosed with gout, so perhaps it is genetic.</p>
<p>@dadx - hurts like the devil is so right! Haven’t seen H so miserable. But with the medication yesterday, he almost seems back to normal today - keeping my fingers crossed!</p>
<p>Someone asked about rheumatoid arthritis - they don’t believe it is this, but then again, they haven’t ruled it out :)</p>
<p>Gout (if that’s what it turns out to be) can be exacerbated by dehydration. In my experience, it sometimes is triggered by mild inflammation from an activity that you’re not used to. In my case with the first attack in the knee, I walked for 18 holes on a golf course a day or two before, and I think I had some mild inflammation in my knee from walking down some steep hills.</p>
<p>If uric acid levels are high, that is seen as a sign that the attacks are gout. But its also true that you can walk around for weeks and months at a time with high uric acid blood levels and not have an attack at all. The high uric acid levels lay the groundwork, but there is also some triggering mechanism that is not well understood. And, bizarrely, to me, it usually is just an isolated location. Almost never more than one place…toe, knee, ankle,maybe elbow, but only one.</p>
<p>I wonder if your husband had any unusual (i.e. non-typical) activity using his wrist within a day or so of the last attack?</p>
<p>A friend of mine developed gout as a result of chronic high blood pressure, which wrecked his kidneys. He’s got the huge list of foods to avoid, but job 1 was to fix his blood pressure.</p>
<p>For Chronic stuff like this, after getting the medical diagnosis, in the past, I’ve consulted a Naturopathic Physician (ND). He ran some tests that for me at least, accurately diagnosed food sensitivities which when i stopped eating, I felt better and it stopped a lot of chronic symptoms. He also prescribed supplements. </p>
<p>The tests (not the visit) were covered by my insurance subject to the deductible. It was around $200 and change. </p>
<p>There is nothing that the naturopath does that your MD can’t do, but they have a different perspective and more often prescribe natural medicines that are over the counter (i.e not covered by insurance) in the US but are prescription drugs in Europe, where MDs and insurance companies aren’t so beholden to drug companies and national health insurance covers can cover them. In the US, by law, natural compounds are over the counter as dietary supplements. </p>
<p>I definitely tell my MD what my ND prescribes and recommends and my MD doesn’t object unless the substance is actually harmful, which so far it never has been. </p>
<p>Had the exact experience few years ago. Went to bed fine, woke up with pain in the feet joints and could not even standup. Doctor said gout and the treatment was life long medication or Very restricted diet. In desperate, asked around and found the following therapy helped me:</p>
<p>30 min. After a “gout inducing” meal, in my case soy bean based food, dissolve one table spoon of Baking Soda in a glass of worm water and drink it. It solved my problem. Taste awful but works for me. </p>
<p>The lack of a conclusive diagnosis kind of makes this very frustrating. H’s hand pain is gone - he’s back to normal now. Was that a reaction to the medication? And if yes, does that mean it is indeed gout? No definite answers - he’s done with the medication today and does have a follow up with the doc later this week. He’s pretty certain he doesn’t want to go on lifelong medication - but we need to figure out what options there are.</p>
<p>I think taking a look at blood pressure and kidney function, as someone else suggested, could be worthwhile. Also, even though he’s a vegetarian, there are some vegetables like beans, and some others, that can be gout triggers. </p>
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