Are you suffering from gout pain? Then you know that the pain occurs suddenly in the form of an attack. The gout attack commonly starts in the feet. It is a type of arthritis in which the feet swell up. There is also a burning sensation and stiffness in the feet and usually, the big toe swells up visibly.

The main cause of gout is high levels of uric acid in the blood.

Most of the times, a buildup of uric acid does not end up in gout. However, when this uric acid gets crystallized in the joints of the feet, the chances of getting gout increase. With time, gout can spread to the other joints, tendons, and tissues of the body. This problem is very common in men. Here are some of the ways in which you can get instant gout pain relief.

Using medications for instant gout pain relief
Doctors usually give the patients corticosteroid shots or suggest the use of colchicine to provide immediate relief from pain and reduce the swelling. These doses need to be taken daily till the symptoms go away. Anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal medicines like Ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin, and meloxicam can also help. When the gout attack occurs, the patient looks for immediate relief because the pain is unbearable and the feet become tender and sensitive even to the slightest touch. These medications can help in providing instant gout pain relief but they should be taken under the doctor’s supervision because many of them can have unwanted side-effects.

Use ice packs
Ice is the most common anti-inflammatory solution for any kind of swelling including gout. When the gout attack comes and the feet swell up, you can apply an ice pack on the area for a period of fifteen minutes at a time. The cold sensation will help in counteracting the flare up and numb the area giving instant gout pain relief.

Soaking the feet in warm water
This is yet another common home remedy for treating swelling. In a tub of warm water, you need to add two cups of Epsom salt. The magnesium in the salt will help in increasing the blood circulation and reduce the swelling.

Using apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a magic ingredient which provides relief from all kinds of pain including headaches, stomach pains, and gout pains. One teaspoon of undiluted apple cider vinegar needs to be added to a glass of water and consumed twice or thrice daily. You can also add honey to the water as it has anti-inflammatory properties.

Vitamin C
Lemon juice can be mixed with half a teaspoon of baking soda to activate it. This activated mixture should be mixed in a glass of water and consumed. You can only add lemon juice to the water if you want. Both the ways help in making the body tissues strong and help in counteracting the effect of the uric acid.

Bananas and apples
Bananas contain a high potassium level which can help in converting the uric acid crystals into a liquid form which can then be discarded from the body through urination. The vitamin C present in the bananas also helps in reducing the swelling. Apples contain malic acid which also neutralizes the force of uric acid and provides instant gout pain relief.

Cherries
The antioxidants present in cherries are very good for curing gout. Consumption of cherries can flush out excess toxins from the body. The anthocyanins which are also present in cherries have anti-inflammatory properties. Consumption of a handful of cherries every day can help in preventing gout flare-ups.

Activated charcoal
Mixing charcoal powder with a small amount of water to form a glue-like substance and adding this mixture to a tub of water creates an effective solution for soaking the affected parts. Using charcoal is the best way to cure gout completely because it absorbs uric acid which is the main cause of gout flare-ups. The glue-like mixture can be applied directly to the affected parts for thirty minutes before washing off to get instant relief.

Ginger root
You can mix half a teaspoon of ginger root powder to a cup of boiled water and drink the mixture once daily. You can also add ginger to your food in any form. Mixing dried ginger root powder with turmeric and fenugreek powder in equal proportions and adding one teaspoon of this powder to a little bit of lukewarm water to form a paste for applying on the affected areas can give instant gout pain relief.

Castor oil
You can heat up castor oil and then soak a ball of cotton in it. This cotton can be used to apply castor oil on the affected areas regularly to get instant gout pain relief.

These are just a few ways in which you can get instant gout pain relief. You may try a few or all of the above to see what method suits your body and gout condition best.