Massive gout flare
Long post apologies…
I’m a 35yr/female, diagnosed with gout maybe 2.5yrs ago. I don’t drink alcohol or anything so confused how I got gout but nevertheless, first flare, I had no idea what it was and thought maybe my heels I wore that night triggered some inflammation. Didn’t have another flare for a good 6 months, then had one after eating fish and noticed it was happening more frequently after eating fish/seafood and any syrupy drinks so I stopped consuming. I had a really bad flare in my left hand last year where all my fingers were swollen and I couldn’t close them. Didn’t take anything and went away on its own within 3days. Hadn’t had another flare since but now a year later, I’ve had THE WORST flare I’ve ever had. I returned from Bali and caught ‘Bali belly’; symptoms lasted a week and during the time consumed lots of electrolytes (electrolytes are normally a trigger but I’d rather that, then become severely dehydrated). No gout flare during this time. 3 days after my symptoms subsided, my left knee starts hurting but as it was 1 day after Pilates, I thought I pulled a muscle. Had a massage and it got worse to the point I couldn’t even hobble with my other leg to move at all. The swelling came down on its own with no meds just rest and then my right arm flared. Currently I cannot move my right elbow, swollen, throbbing and then my left knee swelling/pain has returned full force after kneeling on it ONE TIME. I’ve tried colchicine with no luck and about to take prednisone.
How long do you think it will take to work? Allopurinol doesn’t agree with me so can’t take this long term. I feel like my body is falling apart and I’m still so young.
I’ve also tried tarte cherry juice which helped maybe 10% with the elbow but feel it may have worsened the knee.