Good progress on the sUA. I hope you can figure out what else is wrong. It sounds like you're not having so much of the intense gout flare pain in the big toe.

I am taking 600 mg allopurinol and finding no (or very very occasional) need for colchicine. Have not had my sUA re-measured.

jyl,
That's great! I like the fact that Allopurinol doesn't cause any side effects for me. The Colchicine almost killed me! I bet your SUA is in the high 2's or low 3's...

I had my appt with the rheumatologist a few weeks ago and he gave me the "good news, bad news" talk.

- Good news is that my gout is under control, he said I'm doing everything I should be

- Bad news is that the pain I still have in my toes and right shoulder is osteoarthritis, aggravated by the gout and there really isn't anything he can do for me

I'm glad the gout is controlled by the 600mg of Allopurinol and my liver enzymes are still low. I'm able to control the arthritis pain with 220mg of Aleve (naproxyn), taken as necessary. The Dr said that I probably had gout for 10 years before I ever had symptoms and it did some damage to the joints, but it could be worse... My SUA is 2.2 - 2.6, which is right where I want to keep it!

Art,

I'm happy to hear the good news and sorry that there is bad news to go with it. No doubt you have, or will be able, to compensate for the osteo. Has it affected your range time with your daughter, Becky?

Tom,
Thanks! Actually, I'll be taking the family to the range very soon. With our crazy schedules, it's tough to get everyone together. Becky starts her Junior year in HS next week and uis playing the cello and is on the swim team. Dan is in college and playing in his band and working part-time, so "together time" is hard to get!

I'm glad your gout is under control. I'm sorry about the osteoarthritis.

Read up on chondrotin and glucosamine, I believe these dietary supplements can help, over time, to slow the progression and possibly repair a bit of the damage. I also try to get gelatin in my diet, mostly via rich stocks made with beef tendons and knuckles, pigs feet, beef necks, stuff like that - find them in good Asian markets, add to bones and water and simmer for 4-6 hours (or 1-2 hours in pressure cooker). The resulting stock will have a velvety mouthfeel, if you cook it down enough, it will be so gelatinous and concentrated that it will set up at room temp. The shortcut is a packet of Knox unflavored gelatin.

I know that, for me, it has taken over a year to regain range of motion in my gout-affected ankle. I thought the damage was permanent and that I'd not be able to run or play tennis again, but now things seem back to normal, not a 20 y/o normal but an old-fart normal. Hopefully you'll also see some improvement in time.

Art, depending on your age, there are some joint replacements for the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint(the one hurting) that are much better than they had been in the past

Thanks, guys! When I was a surgical tech, way back in the '80's, I scrubbed a few cases where we installed Silastic implants to replace joints badly damaged by arthritis. I'm sure the joint implants/replacements are much better now and I may need to consider that in the future. For now, I just have to manage the pain with Naproxen and keep my weight where it needs to be and watch my diet. so far, the "liver diet" I'm on is also helping with my gout/arthritis.

I still can't press a heavy clutch pedal or play the drums for a significant amount of time without a nagging pain in my big toes...