1. Don’t put any weight on the joint. This usually means staying off your feet as much as possible until episode subsides, accoring to Stewart. Any pressure you put on the joint will increase the plain and possibly damage the area further. “This is a serious condition because it can go on to cause a lot of major joint damaged and destruction.
2. Keep the joint elevated. This again will reduce some of the pain and keep the blood from rushing to the area, which can cause additional inflammation.
3. Immobilize the joint. This could be achieved by lying still or by actually building a splint for the joint. The less you move the joint, the better it feels.
4. Take ibuprofen. “This will help to reduce some of the swelling and decrease some of the pain associated with that swelling”. Ibuprofen and aspirin are anti-inflammatories, but taking aspirin is not advisable. Aspirin in low levels can actually exacerbate the problem.
5. Avoid icing or heating the area. Heat may feel good in the area, but it also increases circulation to the area and brings in more white blood cells, which can make it more irritated. Icing the joint can cause more crystals to form.
6. Wear comfortable shoes. Shoe that forces big toe inward can make the problem of gout worse.
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