[jyl]

I've been having a flare in my right ankle for the last couple of days.

Started Fri. Sat am it was painful and stiff/swollen enough that I couldn't walk beyond a groaning hobble. Took 3 colchicine 0.6 mg (?) in 12 hrs and the ankle was okay enough to do the shopping and the marathon cooking for my wife's b-day dinner on Sun night (other thread). Mon it was okay, a little stiff and I limped, but felt like it was getting back to normal. Mon eve I flew down to SF for a conference. Like an idiot I took BART from the airport and walked 8 blocks to the hotel w/ bags, instead of taking a cab. By the last few blocks, it hurt.

Now, 1:40 am Tue, the ankle hurts so much I can't walk at all. I can hop around the hotel room holding on to furniture.

Took 2 colchicine tablets and had them bring up some ice. There is a drugstore across the street. I guess in the morning I will go buy some Tylenol, cherry juice, and maybe a cane (left my folding cane at home since I was feeling "so much better"). If it's still bad I'll skip day one of the conference and stay in the room.

Hope I don't run out of colchicine, I only carry 5 tablets with me, I guess I can call my doctor for a Rx. I've never taken more than 4 tablets for an attack. I don't take it chronically.

I used to carry a couple of Vicodin with me too - this was a pre-gout habit, just liked being prepared, just like I carry bandages etc in my briefcase. But I stopped because, oddly, Vicodin does not seem to have any effect on me. One Vicodin never changes whatever pain I'm having, like if I had a badly sprained ankle or a gout attack, and I'm too chicken to take two.

I don't know if the gout is flaring up or if walking with a stiff ankle caused the muscles to strain weirdly.

Since half the forum seems to suffer from gout, I just thought I'd share.