I have been told that I have Gout but..........

[Freespirit]

Hi,

Approx some 5 or 6 years ago I woke up one morning and had a problem/pain in my shoulder and have had it every day since. So approx 4 years ago I went to the Doctor explaining my symptoms and to be honest he never had a clue. So as good Doctor's do he started giving me a course of cortizone injections and then on to a course of physiotherapy which again had no effect. After this he suggested drugs, which I declined as he did not know what the problem really was.

Maybe 2 years ago, my Aunt mentioned that she had Gout and I should test for it and further research suggested that a number of Family members have suffered from Gout. So, after the tests the Doctor confirmed 4 + Uric Acid in the Blood and so it brings me up todate. I now have major problems in both shoulders every day and find it hard to sometimes lift them in certain positions. In addition I have problems with a pain in my big toe in my left foot - but more recently I must have heel grout which I have had every day now for 5 months which makes it hard to walk.

So, the reason for this post is ask if anyone else has had pain none stop for years, but no swelling as seems the norm. All I read about is Gout attacks, however I never have an attack as I pain every single day. I Doctor to check for other forms of Arthritis, which he says is clear.

As things are so bad I atarted to try Allopurinol and gave up after 2 tablets due to the side effects. I have been trying Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother, however seems to be another myth which certainly has not worked for my Gout or Gallstones.

So, intersted to hear from any readers who have had similar experiences/problems.

Joe

[thurstonb]

Can you describe the pain you are getting? Is it a sharp stinging pain which is really sensitive to any pressure?

It seems to me that gout may not be the issue here. A level of 4 (mg/dl) for Uric Acid is below the level at which it crystallizes out of the blood and causes gout attacks.

I had significant pain in my ankles for some time, which was eventually diagnosed as gout, but I used to get the accompanying swelling and redness no matter where I got my gout.

I'm wondering if you have osteoarthritis. I've got arthritis in one shoulder and it limits my range of motion considerably. And it's painful in certain positions and there's various movements I can't do. But having had gout for so long, I know for a fact that this is not gout.

Did the doctor actually say you have gout?

Cheers
Brett

[podagra]

Gout is extremely rare in the shoulders, you're far more likely to have pseudogout, which is not caused by sodium urate crystals, but by calcium pyrophosphate crystals, which form when you are low in magnesium and thiamine (vit B1). by the way, magnesium deficiency (sometimes caused by hyperparathyroidism) is the only thing that both gout and pseudogout have in common. Take 200 mg/d magnesium (as citrate), 800 IU/d vitamin D and 50 mg/d thiamine and you'll be much better off. Magnesium deficiency often also causes constipation, poor short term memory, cramps, hypersensitivity to pain, and several other symptoms that you will also eliminate.
It would be a good idea to check your parathyroid hormone, if it exceeds 60 you have hyperparathyrodism and it is causing your pseudogout.