Gout
Gout is one of the most cruel and painful things to ever be introduced to the human body. I go to bed each night praying that I don’t wake up with a gout attack, and am thankful each morning when I don’t wake up with it.
To my surprise, not everyone has heard of this painful disease. However, the people that have heard of it and know someone with it, know how painful it is. It is unfortunate that gout does not get a lot of attention in terms of medical problem solving.
Gout is basically extreme bursts of arthritis. A gout attack happens when uric acid, which sits on a joint, crystallizes. Most people rid themselves of uric acid through normal digestion. But people with gout retain uric acid, leading to an attack.
When an attack happens, I am out of commission for about a week. There are a few days of ramp-up pain, a few days of extreme (don’t move) pain and a few days of ramp-down pain. I cannot wear a shoe during the extreme phase, therefore, I cannot work. Its a shame when I have to take vacation days due to a painful toe or ankle.
There are certain behaviors that I can change to prevent an attack, but I will always have gout. I can never rid myself of this disease; this is why I think the medical community should pay more attention to a cure. Many people in our country live with gout, too many to just prescribe a daily med that may or may not work. I know with other major incurable diseases out there (Cancer, AIDS, Herpes), gout will never get the attention is should have.
Be Well
