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How can I Relieve Gout Swelling?

Patti Kate
Patti Kate

A good way to relieve gout swelling is by consuming enough water to flush excess uric acid from the body. Uric acid build up is a contributing factor of swelling and inflammation. You can also apply ice at 20-minute intervals throughout the day directly to the swollen area to reduce the pain and swelling caused by gout. Limit your intake or avoid foods such as beans and all legumes, mushrooms, alcohol, and shellfish. Anti-inflammatory drugs can help as well.

In addition to icing the painful area, it is important to rest the affected body part. When you are experiencing a painful flare-up affecting the foot, for example, stay off your feet. Relax throughout the day as much as possible. If lying in bed or on a favorite chair, prop up your affected foot to keep it elevated and alleviate the pain. Putting too much pressure on the swollen area by standing or walking too much can further increase swelling and pain.

Full fat dairy products can exacerbate gout.
Full fat dairy products can exacerbate gout.

Gout swelling is a direct result of inflammation. To reduce the inflammation and help ease the pain, take an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen. You can also take aspirin, although if you are taking an anticoagulant blood-thinning drug, you should not use this medication. In severe cases of swelling and pain, a medical professional may prescribe a higher dose NSAID.

Many types of meat, especially those high in fat, can contribute to gout.
Many types of meat, especially those high in fat, can contribute to gout.

To prevent future flare-ups of painful gout swelling and inflammation, you may want to re-evaluate your diet and alter some eating habits, as well as keep your weight under control. Being overweight can worsen symptoms of gout. If you consume beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages regularly, limit your intake. Seafood and red meat should be consumed in moderation as well, and avoid rich gravies and sauces in your diet to help reduce gout symptoms.

Blueberries may help lower uric acid in the body and relieve gout swelling.
Blueberries may help lower uric acid in the body and relieve gout swelling.

If you're looking for natural remedies, aloe vera gel can be very helpful. Aloe has natural anti-inflammatory properties, so rubbing the juice derived from an aloe plant (or some aloe gel from a bottle) into the inflamed skin can help relieve the swelling.

A healthful way to decrease the pain associated with gout is to eat some fresh fruit rich in antioxidants. Experts suggest that consuming blueberries, cherries, or cherry juice may help reduce inflammation. Especially helpful are the deeper red, tart cherries. This type of fruit contains anthocyanins, which contain beneficial and powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Some researchers have discovered that these tart cherries may provide more anti-inflammatory benefits than aspirin.

Discussion Comments

anon999031

I have soaked my foot. I've tried baking soda, aspirin, tart cherry juice, and my foot is still swollen for 5 days. Waiting for pills ordered from amazon to regulate uric acid levels. I hope fo good results as my dog wants to go to the park!

anon938072

If your gout flare up has subsided and you are still seeing swelling that will not go away, go to a massage therapist. I had a gout flare-up last April that lasted the entire month. The swelling lasted four more weeks before I decided it was not going away naturally. My therapist worked on my foot and ankle for an hour. Within two days, the swelling was gone. Also, I was drinking lots of water during this time to help flush out the toxins.

anon355944

Take cherry pills, charcoal pills and drink a lot of water.

anon335715

A podiatrist told me not to use ice on gout. It actually can make it worse and it certainly did when I used it.

anon323340

@simrin: Using heat (in my case, a heating pad) made sense to me because ice may help to form more uric crystals which bring on the pain of gout. Heat may also help break up the formed uric crystals. But my flare up was three days ago and using heat just led to more and more swelling. I finally tried ice and got some relief.

anon315234

I am also getting a lot of swelling in my feet and stomach, hands and everywhere. I have gone through so many doctors and they are telling that I don't have anything. All my results are normal, but I am really suffering a lot. Can anyone help me?

bear78

I have also tried the baking soda treatment, but I don't recommend it to everyone. Baking soda can help to some extent, but it has a lot of sodium in it. So it's not healthy to use the baking soda treatment on a regular basis for treatment of gout. And if anyone has high blood pressure or any other health conditions that require you to restrict sodium consumption, you can't use the baking soda treatment.

I much prefer to take prescribed medications and do diet control. What you eat has a huge impact on gout symptoms. Alcohol and fatty, heavy foods just make things a lot worse. Cutting them out has to be the first step to treating gout. To reduce gout swelling, keeping the feet elevated works really well. Even when I'm a work, I put a stool under my desk and elevate my feet. I put two or three pillows underneath my feet when I'm sleeping.

fify
@simrin-- No I haven't tried that, but I've been trying the baking soda remedy and it's really working!

I read about this remedy on a forum. Since gout is caused by the formation of uric acid crystals and baking soda helps prevent that because it makes the body's pH more alkaline.

I just dissolve half a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and have this three times a day. Ever since I started doing this, I've had less gout attacks, my gout swelling has reduced by about fifty percent and the pain is also a lot less. Even the prescribed medications for my gout hadn't worked so well. I'm so glad I found this remedy and I recommend it to everyone.

SteamLouis

I don't know about others, but icing doesn't help my gout foot swelling. I actually get better results with warm foot soaks or hot compresses. I don't know if it's just me or if heat can really be as beneficial as ice. I know ice is always recommended for swelling, but I feel that keeping the area warm improves circulation and speeds healing time.

Has anyone else tried applying heat?

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    • Full fat dairy products can exacerbate gout.
      Full fat dairy products can exacerbate gout.
    • Many types of meat, especially those high in fat, can contribute to gout.
      Many types of meat, especially those high in fat, can contribute to gout.
    • Blueberries may help lower uric acid in the body and relieve gout swelling.
      By: Mariusz Blach
      Blueberries may help lower uric acid in the body and relieve gout swelling.
    • The gel from an aloe vera plant can be used to relieve gout swelling.
      By: sassyphotos
      The gel from an aloe vera plant can be used to relieve gout swelling.
    • Consuming water helps eliminate excess uric acid from the body, alleviating gout swelling.
      By: anyaivanova
      Consuming water helps eliminate excess uric acid from the body, alleviating gout swelling.
    • Aspirin can be taken to reduce inflammation.
      By: blueskies9
      Aspirin can be taken to reduce inflammation.
    • Consuming cherry juice can help reduce inflammation from gout.
      By: Swetlana Wall
      Consuming cherry juice can help reduce inflammation from gout.