Swimming cures gout

[Bluebird Bill]

Hi All,

I wonder whether anyone has had a similar experience to mine…

I had my first attack of gout when I was 19, always in my big toes and elbows. It would leave me crippled for a month or so and no matter what I tried I’d have at least one bad attack every year. (I’m 41 years old now)

I could minimise the attacks by drinking plenty of water but all it would take was a hot day and I’d dehydrate then hey-presto a gout attack. That was until my daughter was born three years ago. Almost immediately I started swimming at least once a week with her and the gout stopped instantly and has never returned except on one occasion when I was prevented from swimming for three weeks.

Having been miraculously cured I sat down to consider what mechanism might be at work here and came up with a theory. Considering that when floating about in fresh water the body takes up water by osmosis as the salt concentrations either side of the skin try to balance – hence the wrinkling of skin on the fingers, etc. I’m wondering whether my extremities are being flushed of uric acid by the inflow of water from outside. I notice also that my urine is particularly clear when I leave the pool too so the uptake of water is definitely having a noticeable effect there.

In conclusion, I seem to have been completely cured of gout by simply lounging around a swimming pool for one hour a week and I wondered whether this had been observed anywhere else or whether any of the readers would care to try it out to see whether any benefit can be gained.

Best…

Bill

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How does Swimming Help your Gout?

[Keith Taylor (GoutPal Admin)]

I asked Bill for a little more information, and he replied

On the gout thing, I'm extremely interested to find out whether it'll work for anyone else because it stopped my gout dead in its tracks. I'm not kidding or exaggerating in any way. My toes used to throb a warning at me almost every week and at least twice a year I'd be on a walking stick completely unable to put my foot down. When it hit I kept a washing bowl of ice cubes by the bed so I could numb my foot then catch a few minutes sleep before the throbbing started again. I munched codiene phosphate, diclafenac and naproxen like they were smarties.
Then I started swimming once a week and that was it – gone. Stopped just like that never to return except for the one time I missed for three weeks. believe me – I've never missed since.

That kind of pain sound familiar? Yes, me too.

So has anyone else noticed this? Does it matter if the water is chlorinated (as it was in Bill's case) or not. Is an hour a week enough?

Lots of questions about this, and I would love to see it repeatable. In fact, given the state of my feet today, I wish I'd gone swimming this morning.

[Thomas]

Like you I have had gout since I was 18 and have tried everything under the sun to get it under control.  I have my own fresh water chlorinated pool and go in it every day but it hasn't helped the gout in my elbow (had it for 6 weeks now).  The cures for gout are all so unique to the individual which makes it even more frustrating to combat, man I hate gout. 

[persianlady]

My gout returns so often. my gout is in the tops of my feet and sometimes my big toe and others hurt so much, I try to eat properly ,take my medicene  it comes back so much one day here one day gone I walk reguardless of pain unless its so bad i cant walk what the heck are we suppose to do there are so many foods we cant eat i am going to try the swimming thing and lots of water I do drink soda so il cut it down im glad i found this site thanks all

[gpenthus]

GoutPal said:

I asked Bill for a little more information, and he replied

On the gout thing, I'm extremely interested to find out whether it'll work for anyone else because it stopped my gout dead in its tracks. I'm not kidding or exaggerating in any way. My toes used to throb a warning at me almost every week and at least twice a year I'd be on a walking stick completely unable to put my foot down. When it hit I kept a washing bowl of ice cubes by the bed so I could numb my foot then catch a few minutes sleep before the throbbing started again. I munched codiene phosphate, diclafenac and naproxen like they were smarties.
Then I started swimming once a week and that was it – gone. Stopped just like that never to return except for the one time I missed for three weeks. believe me – I've never missed since.

That kind of pain sound familiar? Yes, me too.

So has anyone else noticed this? Does it matter if the water is chlorinated (as it was in Bill's case) or not. Is an hour a week enough?

Lots of questions about this, and I would love to see it repeatable. In fact, given the state of my feet today, I wish I'd gone swimming this morning.

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I believe it may not to specific to swimming, instead the overall coordinated motion upon various joint, especially with the lower body joints which has residual uric acid crystal deposits or areas suseptable to gout attack would produce a certain chemical or lubrication antigen which will either reduce or eliminate joint inflammation, of course this theory will be defeated if straneous pressure were act upon the joint, which will cause an attack. Anyone agree?

[HeavySigh]

I sort of agree that “coordinated motion upon various joints” etc. is a good thing for attack prevention, but wouldn't recommend it during an attack.  I have read articles suggesting that warm water (with and without various additives) baths and/or foot soakings are good for prevention and/or cures.  Generally the responses to these articles put this down to the general explanation of cold joints are more likely to be affected so warming them up will help, but if it works for you then don't stop!

I have found that my attacks are more likely during extended periods of inactivity (i.e. the dietary naughtiness hasn't changed, I've been less active for whatever reason).   Its my belief that the body works better if you undertake some form of regular exercise, and swimming is an excellent one for gout/arthritis sufferers as the weight is taken off the joints while you do it.

The other thing to remember, I guess, about exercise is that you will perspire (or “glow” if you are a girlie) and that should get rid of some of the uric acid in the body.

[pault]

I always found that a swim in the ocean was a great cure for lots of things. Colds, Cuts/Wounds.

I don't see that it could do any harm.

Maybe the water draws the crystals and stuff out of the affected joints (when you get that wrinkly look).

There seems to be beneficial qualities in salt water. Not sure about chlorinated pools though?

Cheers,

Paul.

[Author]

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