Gout
Acupuncture for Gout in North Vancouver
A gout flare can come on overnight, with intense pain, heat and swelling in the big toe or another joint. AcuLife Wellness offers acupuncture as complementary support around and between flares, alongside the medication and advice from your physician.
Overview
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood, which can form needle-like crystals in a joint. Flares often start suddenly, frequently at night, and most commonly affect the big toe, though the foot, ankle, knee, wrist and fingers can also be involved. Without treatment, repeated flares can damage joints over time.
Medication to calm flares and, for many people, long-term medication to lower uric acid are the foundation of gout care, together with attention to alcohol, sugary drinks and diet. At AcuLife Wellness, we start by learning about your flares, your medical treatment and your overall health before recommending an approach.
Common Symptoms & Experiences
- Sudden, severe pain in the big toe or another joint, often at night
- Redness, heat and swelling around the joint
- Tenderness so intense that even a bedsheet hurts
- Stiffness and lingering discomfort after a flare settles
- Flares that return, sometimes several times a year
How Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine May Be Used
Acupuncture for gout usually uses points on the legs and body chosen for your pattern, keeping needles away from an acutely inflamed joint. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, gout is often described in terms of damp-heat in the joints, and treatment also looks at digestion and overall constitution. Chinese herbal medicine may be suggested alongside acupuncture after a review of your medications.
Some small studies suggest acupuncture may ease gout pain for some people, but the evidence is limited. Acupuncture does not lower uric acid levels and doesn't replace the medication your physician prescribes.
AcuLife's Approach
Hong Ji, R.TCM.P., is a registered TCM practitioner in both Canada and China with 35 years of clinical experience. She often combines acupuncture with Chinese herbal medicine and takes a whole-body view, so your plan considers your diet, digestion, sleep and activity as well as your joints.
Learn more about Hong JiWhat to Expect
Your first visit includes a conversation about your flares (how often they happen, which joints are involved and likely triggers), your medical treatment and recent blood tests, followed by an individualized assessment and treatment. How often you come in is discussed and adjusted over time.
Gout is one of several joint concerns we help with. See also our rheumatoid arthritis page.
When to Seek Medical Care
See your physician promptly for a first flare, so the diagnosis can be confirmed, and if flares keep returning. Seek urgent care for a hot, swollen joint with fever or chills, as this can be a sign of a joint infection, or for severe joint pain after an injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for Gout Support in North Vancouver?
Book an appointment with AcuLife Wellness.