Why does gout pain get worse in the night ?

[yonmons]

Well new to the forums, and new to gout ! I am sat here not having slept due to pain in my big toe joint, this started yesterday I knew instantly it was gout, I used to work with a colleague years ago who suffered it in his 30`s. I carry all the alarm bells like alcohol over wieght but have ALWAYS drunk at least a litre of water a day, but for some strange reason I have not been doing and whammmmm ! I have never known pain like it. Bad enough during the day but in the night ! its just cranks up A LOT. Why is it the pain seems to dramatically increase at night ?

[thurstonb]

Sorry to hear you have gout. It's pretty nasty stuff isn't it!

My understanding about why gout happens in the middle of the night is that it is to do with natural body processes, the level of urate serum at various times, and also the fact that your body temperature lowers during the night. As to the specific mechanisms, I'll have to leave that up to the doctors.

You don't want to mess with gout. Make the necessary changes to get rid of it otherwise it can really stick around for a long time. Take it from one who has been there. I reckon a part of the reason gout keeps coming back is that the gout pain is so intense for only a short time, but it can then go away for extended periods with no symptoms. But if you don't cure gout, even though you have no gout symptoms the damage is still being done by the uric acid crystals that are already in your system

Good luck with your gout. I hope it doesn't stick around too long!

Brett

[bertmiddleton]

@yonmons I think thurstonb is right about what he said but just to add a little more to it - it seems like if your not moving the crystals can "set" and as they start to set the howling begins. It used to be for me in the time right before I was really awake I would start feeling around my body to see if any Gout was coming on - don't let that happen to you - start making changes now cause now you've got the Curse! It will be back! Check with your doctor before doing this but what used to work for me was hitting the Baking Soda hard for a few hours - my understanding is it will dissolve the the crystals that have formed. Good luck with it!

[benale]

One possible (and additional) reason gout attacks often happen at night when sleeping, is because when we sleep our blood gets more acidic.

[bertmiddleton]

@benale That sounds reasonable, although it has me back to Google to look into it some more. As I come to understand the body works very hard to keep the blood between 7.35 and 7.40 . . . very tight range. I will do some digging and be back!

[Gout-hero]

I’ve been suffering from Gout for the last about 2 months. My doc prescribed me to have half of Allopurinol (150mg) and also Indomethacin (25mg each) (1 or 2) to take at the same time after dinner. My question is, do these two medicines go together? I asked my Doc & he replied that there is no problem to take both of the medicines at the same time as soon as I’ve pain on my foot. I’ve been suffering from Gout pain on my left feet. At the moment my Uric acid level is about 0.32 mmol/L. It used to be 0.61 mmol/L few months ago. But still I’m having pain on the right side of my biggest toe of the left feet with light red colour & the pain get increased during middle of the night! Please advise me regarding the above matter. I appreciate it. Thanks.

[bertmiddleton]

Of course check with your doctor first . . . but here's what I'd do . . . Baking Soda. Do a tsp in about 8oz of water every hour, on the hour, for 4 hours. In-between, do 2 tbsp of ACV in 8oz of water for those 4 hours. Baking Soda is salt, so too much is not a good thing but it can help dissolve the crystals and the in combination with the ACV it will help raise the pH of your chemistry up into a more alkaline level; alkaline is opposite of acid . . . like Uric Acid.

My old doctor used to have me on Allopurnol and Colchicine so that sounds normal. He made me a take a low dose of Colchicine everyday just to stay in check. If you take too much of it all at once it gives you the shits. Good Luck! :)

[benale]

Gout-hero, I agree with ^ "bertmiddleton" on alkalizing your system before bed.

I take 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 4 oz. of water right before bed to alkalize my system. I believe this is a very, very, significant reason, I've been able to ward off gout.

Of course, everyone is different in what works, but definitely alkalize you system before bed.

[goutsoreashell]

37 getting gout since 18 started in both ankles then big toe then knees now near every joint. i think its more sore at night because your mind is more active during the day

[thurstonb]

Gee goutsoreashell... that's terrible that you ahve had it for so long and it's getting worse.

I had it in my toes first, then in my ankles (that was the worst because it would hit both ankles at once at times), and then it started migrating North. I had several episodes of bursitis in my elbows before starting to get full blown gout in my elbows and arms.

At that point I decided enough was enough and basically made some pretty major changes in my lifestyle, diet, and for me a drastic reduction in the amount of alcohol I was drinking. Let's just say that's a whole story in itself!

It takes some pretty big changes, but I can tell you it's definitely worth it!

Cheers
Brett

[ford31]

just curious, I don't eat much red meat, don't drink at all, don't have any of the so called criteria for gout but I'm suffering the pains of hell with it for the last few months, started in my hands 2 yrs. ago, now it's in my feet, and right knee.. I was on allpurinal but went off it recently because of a rash and cough.. now I'm on herbal gout-relief but so far nothing helps the pain, how do you make your system alkaline instead of acidic..?? any suggestions for the pain much appreciated..

[bertmiddleton]

ford31 - sounds very curious and exactly what I'm what I've been hot on the trail of . . . if gout caused by "eating high purine foods" why do guys like you come down with it? It's because your whole system is acidic not just too much uric acid.

My guess is that you live in a city and the air quality is poor, and/or, you work around or with some kind of toxic chemicals, and/or, you work in a some kind of high-stress situation, and/or, the quality of the food you do get is marginal.

It would be great to hear back about these assumptions.

Nevertheless, a few posts back there is a baking soda trick that I spelled out that will get you alkalized and away from the pain but it is not the end all be all . . . getting to a state of acidosis took a long time and it will take some commitment and discipline to get out of it. Good Luck! :cool:

[ford31]

Bert, it is very curious and I can't convince the doctors that its the way it is, even my husband tried to tell them I do not have the criteria! I have lived in the city but small, I have been in air pollution as my husband had shown cutting horses over 20 years, dust, dust, dust!! I also lived in the vineyards, which are sprayed often but by hand not by air.. my work was wonderful, all of that has been gone from my life now for over 15 years, we are retired 9 years, do full-time rving, very relaxed lifestyle, but we do spend the winter in Az. where there is tremendous dust, close by is Del Monte so lots of chemicals being dropped by air over the ag. area..my diet has always been good, never been a fast food person, always sit down dinners cooked at home, healthy stuff.. so I'm very confused, nevertheless I have it I guess, altho' I do wonder if I actually have Rheumatoid arthritis which everyone in my mothers side has severely..will be tested again this nov. but last test said gout.. I've been on the Gout-Relief now for a week, and see some relief from the pain, so maybe???? I will try the baking soda (yuck) and see what it does, I've also already been trying lemon juice in water, have you heard of that working? thank you for responding, it's such a frustrating thing isn't it... ford31

[bertmiddleton]

ford31 - it definitely sounds like the tame and thoughtful life you live shouldn't be producing gout. But if you look at it from symptoms, somehow a build up of acidity has happened. I used to be on Allopurinol and Colchine for years and still had lots of Gout attacks. Personally, from my experience and all that I've learned, our whole bodies become acidic, not just too much Uric Acid. Maybe accumulation from all the years has added up and is finally only now over-flowing. Google around for acid/alkaline diets and see how well your present diet compares. My relief and fascination started when I sort of accidentally started eating huge amounts of antioxidants, then learned what free radicals are, then learned how the cells worked, then it all made sense why my gout disappeared. Since then I really got all revved up about acidity and acidosis and spent all day everyday learning more and talking about it.

Most of the antioxidant foods seem to be most of the same foods that are good alkalize-ers. How much water are you drinking? Most people are chronically dehydrated and don't even know it.

I would really like to hear how things are progressing for you and if the Gout Relief, whatever that is works, keep on it!

And one more thing; I apologize for my assumption in the last post, I always think it's only men that get gout! ;)

[ford31]

I drink gallons of water in the last few years, as you I learned that almost everyone is dehydrated to some extent.. The Gout-Relief is a natural herbal remedy that was recommended to me, so far I actually think it is helping, the pain has lessened, I have been on it one week now.. I will definitely look up the fruit, veggies, etc that I'm eating and see if they are akaline or acidic..! I've lost 28 pounds in the last few months, mostly because I'm no longer on steriods for my back, had intense back surgery in March, now I'm finally ridding myself of morophine, peracet, steriods by mouth and in shots etc for over ten years.. I wonder if that has anything to do with my gout? probably not but I was really drugged up to just survive the days before surgery probably for at least 3 months prior on heavy drugs.. never know I guess. no problem, most gout victims are men as I've found out.. just an old grannie here.. LOL! thanks for all the input..

[bertmiddleton]

Eureka! ford31! I think we found it! I wanted to get a quick post back to you right now, but later I'm going to dig into finding out more about the acid-forming actions of Steroids.

However, I don't want to minimize this in any way and it would be a good idea for you to do some research of your own but pharmaceutical drugs in general are a WAY acid producing! :eek:

They are synthetic chemicals! They are really hard on our bodies and that's why we don't stay on them indefinitely! It's because they are Acidic! :eek:

There are even better things to do than this but this is where I would start; every few days do about a 1/2 tspn of baking soda in about 8oz of water. But everyday use about 2tblspns of Apple Cider Vinegar . . . with the "Mother" . . . in about 8oz of water.

As I said there are much better, faster and more powerful ways to alkalize but this is a cheap fast way to start.

Looking forward to hearing more about your adventure! :)

[c matthews]

What is the link between gout and a bursitis in the elbow ? I have not had a gout attack for some time , but got an elbow bursitis earlier this year. It lasted a while and went ?

[bertmiddleton]

c matthews - have you had gout in that elbow before? Never had bursitis before but do feel that I put some wear and tear on my ankles and wrists for having too many gout attacks. They say that something like that with Gout can cause bursitis. Good Luck! :cool:

[c matthews]

Bert,

No I injured my elbow crawling along the joists in the roof , it swelled for quite some time before subsiding . No pain , but i read it is linked to gout ??

[bertmiddleton]

c matthews - even though the two might be related in some cases, as you know since you've had gout in the past, when those crystals form the pain begins . . . and since I couldn't hear you howling from here it must not be gout. ;)

[c matthews]

Bert> Yes, the pain is something you never forget !! Hope the bursitus was a one off . I am interested in the apple cider vinegar and baking soda remedies , will try them .... I eat so much fruit my system must be on the acidic side , yet I havent had a gout attack for some time ... what is going on ???

[bertmiddleton]

c matthews - if you are eating a lot of fruit that is most likely helping to Alkalize you - it shouldn't be acidic. Dark skinned fruits and green leafy vegetables usually have the most antioxidant power and the greatest alkaline-forming actions.

ACV is very alkaline-forming - sort of the chemical reaction in the body, lemons do the same thing - even though they are acidic in nature.

I've been very consumed with how big a role being over acidic in general creates all kinds of illness and disease and it's pretty hard to live in our modern world and not be on the acidic side.

Google around for acid/alkaline diets and get a little more info on all of that, I think it is what we all need to be doing - Gout or No Gout! :cool:

[c matthews]

Bert,

Thanks for that , very interesting . I'm a little confused though , how can oranges be alkaline , surely they are acidic !! I must eat 7/8 pieces of fruit a day ( 2 bananas , 2 apples , 2 oranges , kiwi + another ) , I enjoy it , but others tells me its bad for my teeth etc . I thought it may be the fruit that has put me on the acidic side ? Will google and see.

[bertmiddleton]

yes c matthews - someday when I grow up I might become a molecular biologist, but it's highly unlikely I will grow up, but it is always that confusing thing about how something on the outside is acidic but when it gets on the inside the chemical reaction causes alkalinity. Good Luck and happy Google-ing! :cool:

[c matthews]

bert > thanks for your help,will try ACV