Severn Clinics - Gout Treatment Specialists

IS NOW

Gout Treatment Specialists

Gout Treatment

Our approach to gout treatment is drug free, natural, but also somewhat high tech. We use lasers therapies and lifestyle changes to dramatically speed recovery from gout episodes and work towards prevention.

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that causes the knee, ankle, foot, wrist, or elbow joints to swell accompanied by pain and redness. In many cases, it affects the metatarsophalangeal joints connecting the big toe to the foot. The onset of symptoms is called a gout attack that can last for weeks at a time rendering normal everyday activities challenging. This may in turn reduce the freedom of enjoying an active lifestyle with family and friends or even make completing daily tasks a painful endeavour.

Gout affects 1-2% of the population and researchers predict numbers to increase. It is more common in men due to higher levels of uric acid and more likely to occur in women after menopause when the hormonal levels change and the levels of uric acid may rise. While gout can occur as acute episodes of painful symptoms, leaving it untreated can lead to the symptoms becoming chronic over time and have a lasting negative effect on the quality of life.

At Severn Clinics our experienced team of clinicians offer a wide range of drug-free pain treatments and faster recovery so you can return to enjoying your everyday life and being active without unnecessary discomfort or restrictions.

Comprehensive Gout Treatment Approach

Outside of the traditional medical approach to gout treatment, there are now advanced non-drug treatments that may dramatically speed up your recovery. The key is having access to the right clinicians and the right treatment tools. Our primary treatment approach involves the use of LLLT and HPL Laser therapies. We can also help identify underlying causes of gout.

At Severn Clinics we provide safe and non-invasive solutions that can relieve gout pain very fast in many instances. Our treatment strategies for gout don’t come with major restrictions or side effects, making them suitable for more or less everyone. Most of our patients experience extremely quick relief from their pain with our gout treatment.

 5/5

We have over 350 five star Google reviews!!!

What Causes Gout

Gout can affect anyone and is usually the result of several different factors combined. Understanding the spectrum of factors that may cause/trigger gout attacks can help with making the kind of small changes that add up over time and help prevent gout attacks.

Diet & Lifestyle

It is a myth that all gout cases are caused by a bad diet, but many of course are. An active lifestyle and a healthy diet are the cornerstones of a healthy body. Working long days in the office sitting in front of a computer or taking care of a family can naturally affect the amount of time we have to spend being active. Grabbing fast food after a long day may seem like an easy fix. The stress of our modern fast lifestyles also contributes to our activity levels and can easily lead to weight gain due to the body’s natural reaction to constant pressure and low sleep quality. All this can contribute to many health issues in the future including gout.

Alcohol

In some cases, gout is triggered by alcohol consumption and others are not. The list of conditions that are caused and aggravated by alcohol is long. It is worth noting that not everyone who drinks red wine gets gout so it’s highly likely that unseen factors conspire to create this kind of intolerance. In some cases, we find that a simple liver detox protocol can help increase tolerance to alcohol in those who aren’t quite ready to let go of their Friday night glass of wine. But of course, the obvious option to quit drinking is always on the table too.

Medical Conditions

Diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease are just a few conditions that are commonly accompanied by gout. As well as metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and abnormal lipid levels are all related to an increased risk of obesity that in turn increases three times the risk of developing gout compared to people with a lower BMI. If you have a condition that puts you at a higher risk, consult a professional to find the best course of action for you.

Medication

Some medications have been shown to increase the risk of developing gout. Diuretics, beta-blockers and even aspirin have been associated with promoting gout attacks in some cases. While some of those medications cannot be avoided, always consult a professional if you suspect that your symptoms may be due to medication. In many cases, alternative treatments can be prescribed.

Genetics

Our DNA is what defines us in terms of our eye or hair colour, our physical abilities and also how our bodies work and react to the environment that we live in. Family history of gout can be an indicator of a higher risk of developing it in the future. This is related to the production level of uric acid in the body. While it can be daunting to know that your genes put you at risk of developing gout, it’s also a positive thing to have the knowledge beforehand. While genes may increase the risk by up to 60%, a lot can be done by making informed choices along the way and avoiding contributing lifestyle factors.

Biomechanics

Ever wondered why we tend to get gout in some joints and not others? Many people get gout in certain joints because those particular joints are suffering from repetitive strain injuries that impact their metabolism. From this perspective, it’s unsurprising that the toe and foot joints that support your whole body weight countless times a day are the ones that tend to suffer most with gout. It is easy to overlook the role of mechanical joint stress in predisposing individuals to gout but it is nonetheless a common sense factor.

Gout Treatments

There are many different ways to treat gout, and it’s just as well because we don’t all respond to the same stuff.

The ultimate key to successful treatment of gout is working with a team who are willing to take a sufficiently flexible approach, and trial a number of different therapies to see what works best on your specific case.

Traditional Medications

The commonly used medications for reducing the pain and swelling can definitely be useful. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are not prescribed to people with kidney disease, stomach ulcers and some other health issues. Colchicine has to be taken within 24 hours for the best results. Corticosteroids can relieve gout pain but have a long list of undesirable side-effects. While we support the short term use of gout medications where necessary we don’t prescribe them at our clinic, you can see your family doctor if that’s the route you wish to take.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy reduces the inflammation in the soft tissues while promoting blood circulation and restricting the pain signals being carried by the nerves in the affected area. By reducing the inflammation, the naturally occurring swelling is reduced as well, providing a more rapid relief for the symptoms.

Laser Therapy

Laser Therapy uses red to near-infrared light (660nm–905nm) to promote blood flow in the area and support the body in combating the inflammation. It also helps to stimulate the release of natural endorphins and a substance called ATP. Many of our patients report instant relief from gout pain when they receive laser treatment.

Shockwave Therapy

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is the use of intense soundwaves to trigger healing in the body. This treatment has shown great results in promoting new blood vessel development and the reduction of pain in gout. Shockwave therapy has been used for a long time to dissolve kidney stones and it may yet be shown to dissolve crystal formation in gout attacks.

Acupuncture / Dry Needling

The impact acupuncture can have on pain signals is now well documented. The pain of many gout attacks is so extreme that acupuncture alone is unlikely to help. Used as part of a suite of treatments, acupuncture can be a very useful tool when managing gout attacks.

Lifestyle Advice

There is little doubt that gout attacks can be triggered by certain foods and various forms of stress. Navigating this by yourself can be tricky and not all family doctors are receptive to these conversations. We are often able to help our patients identify lifestyle factors that are causing gout attacks and enable them to significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of those attacks.

Our 5 Pain Treatment Fundamentals

Hands On Treatments

We are in the business of helping you get out of pain. The beating heart of our clinical process is a committed and very hands on approach to getting you moving comfortably as quickly, painlessly and safely as possible. We are willing to use a wide range of tools and also to work tirelessly in our efforts to get you out of pain.

Flexible Treatment Approach

Even among professionals there is little agreement on the best ways to treat pain. If there is one thing that we know for certain about pain management though, it’s that a flexible multidisciplinary treatment approach to pain is best. This is why we take such great care to provide the most diverse range of treatment tools possible under one roof.

Get To The Bottom Of It

The human body seldom if ever generates pain and stiffness for no reason. Pain is a highly organised and intelligent form of feedback that we have evolved over millions of years. In other words, if you have pain and stiffness it will be for a good reason. We always strive to find the deepest possible explanation for your pain so that you have the best possible chance of preventing it in the longer term.

Excellent Communication

Unlike a one-off filling at the dentist, successfully relieving most gout pain is a process. A process that often requires commitment, trust and clear communication. We believe that clear and open communication combined with genuine rapport are fundamental pain management tools.

Assume Nothing

Just because a treatment has worked for us a thousand times before; doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to work on you! Pain management is not a ‘1 size fits all’ moment in life. We monitor our patients’ response to treatment very closely. This approach enables us to make agile treatment protocols that can be altered in real time; should we find that you aren’t responding to the tools and techniques that we expected to work for you.