Treatment of bumps on the legs
Bumps on the legs in people often occur with a disease such as gout. This rheumatic pathology, accompanied by the deposition of urate stones in the joints. In addition to bumps, a person will experience painful sensations, discomfort while walking. The fingers may become swollen and the affected area becomes bright red. You cannot ignore this condition, you need to contact a doctor and begin complex treatment.
Content:
- Basic principles of treating bumps on the legs
- Drugs to lower the concentration of uric acid
- Taking decongestants and analgesics
- How to prevent the reappearance of bumps on your legs?
- Modern approaches to the treatment of bumps on the legs
- Pros and cons of taking Allopurinol
- Treatment of bumps on the legs with folk remedies
Basic principles of treating bumps on the legs
Bumps on the legs require not only taking medications, but also a revision of the lifestyle in general. A person will need to receive one or another treatment all the time, since it will not be possible to completely get rid of the disease. However, if you start therapy on time, you can take control of the growth and progression of the lumps and prevent the development of severe complications.
Treatment is based on controlling the level of uric acid in the body. To cope with the pathology, you will need to consult a rheumatologist. The doctor will prescribe medications and give recommendations on how to remove uric acid and prevent it from re-accumulating. You should not take the drugs yourself, as their side effects can negatively affect your health.
As a rule, treatment begins with taking drugs from the NSAID group. The course lasts for 7-14 days. These can be drugs such as: Diclofenac, Metindol, Indomethacin, Naproxen, etc.
To quickly reduce the level of uric acid in the body, you will need to take Orotic acid, Allopurinol, Thiopurinol, Milurite or Hepatocatazal.
Colchicine helps to cope with an acute attack of the disease.
Medicinal correction has two basic directions:
- Decrease in the content of uric acid in the body.
- Elimination of acute inflammatory reaction, pain relief.
The sooner the patient is prescribed treatment, the less likely the attack will happen again. If there is no therapy, then the bumps increase in size, the inflammation increases, the patient's condition worsens. Pathology progresses especially quickly in people of mature and old age, therefore, one should not hope that "soon everything will go away by itself."
Drugs to lower the concentration of uric acid
Since gouty bumps on the legs appear due to an increase in the level of uric acid, in 90% of cases, a decrease in its concentration in the body allows you to cope with the problem.
Medicines that can be used:
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Allopurinol. This is an analogue of hypoxanthine, but it is of synthetic origin. Taking the drug can reduce the activity of an enzyme called xanthine oxidase. He, in turn, is responsible for the transformation of human hypoxanthine into xanthine and then into uric acid. Therefore, taking Allopurinol makes it possible to reduce the level of uric acid in the body as a whole. Over time, urate deposits in the joints of the legs will dissolve. The same applies to the kidneys and soft tissues. It is not worth taking the drug on your own, as it has a number of side effects. It is strictly forbidden to prescribe it to people with renal failure, as it increases the rate of excretion of xanthine and hypoxanthine during the emptying of the bladder. However, today this drug is the mainstay of therapy for bumps on the legs. For a package of 30-50 tablets, you will need to pay 80-100 rubles.
- Febuxostat (Uloric, Adenuric). This drug also allows you to suppress the production of xanthine oxidase, but acts selectively. It does not involve purine and pyrimidine enzymes in this process, which are needed by the human body. The drug is excreted not by the kidneys, but by the liver. This tool has recently existed on the pharmacological market. Its production has not been established in Russia. The drug is produced only in Western Europe and America. There he underwent clinical trials and proved himself to be the best. In just 3 months, it dissolves the accumulations of uric acid crystals in the joints of the toes and avoids their re-accumulation. The drug can be administered to people suffering from renal failure.
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Pegloticase. Other names of the drug are Krystexxa, Pegloticase. This drug is a solution of enzymes that quickly dissolve urate stones. It is administered intravenously, 2 times every 30 days. It is used only when the disease has a severe course, if other medicines do not allow you to cope with bumps on the legs. The introduction of the drug is associated with the risk of developing a severe allergic reaction up to anaphylactic shock. The drug has a high cost, since it is not produced in Russia. It can be purchased only by prior order.
- Probenecid (Benemid, Santuril). This drug prevents uric acid from being reabsorbed in the kidneys, thereby accelerating its elimination from the body. Previously, it was only used in combination with antibiotics in order to reduce the damage done to the kidneys by antibacterial drugs. Now it is used to treat bumps on the legs if there is an increased level of uric acid in the blood. In this case, the drug does not affect the rate and volume of its production in the body, but only enhances its evacuation. Therefore, Probenecid is prescribed only when the disease is in remission. If you start taking it during an acute inflammation, then the already existing urate stones will quickly disintegrate, which will provoke severe pain attacks. Therefore, in the first months from the start of taking it, the patient must take anti-inflammatory and hormonal drugs. The cost of the drug is high, it varies between 3500-7500 rubles.
Taking decongestants and analgesics
Bumps in the legs are manifested by severe pain and tissue swelling.
To manage these symptoms, medications such as:
- Colchicine (Colchicum, Kolkhikin). This drug contains a substance that is extracted from poisonous plants belonging to the melantid family (colchicum autumn). Taking the drug allows you to suppress the production of leukotriene, prevents the division of granulocytes, inhibits the accumulation of leukocytes in the affected tissues and prevents the growth and development of uric acid stones in the joints. It is taken in the acute stage of the disease, namely in the first 12 hours from inflammation of the bumps on the legs. After the onset of pain, the patient needs to take 2 tablets of the drug, and an hour later another tablet. Then, within a week, the patient should take 1 tablet a day. Colchicine is capable of provoking the development of disorders on the part of the digestive system, which manifest itself in stool dilution, nausea and vomiting. The cost of the drug ranges from 1000 to 2000 rubles.
- GCS (Cortisone, Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, Prednisone). These drugs are analogs of a person's own hormones, which are produced by the adrenal cortex. They help reduce the inflammatory response. However, their disadvantage is that they suppress the immune system, so they are prescribed only in emergency cases. The price for GCS varies considerably from 30 rubles to 1500 rubles.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This includes Diclofenac, Analgin, Aspirin, Ibuprofen. They block the enzymes that are responsible for the production of thromboxane and prostaglandins. In general, their principle of action is similar to that of GCS, but they do not have a negative effect on the immune system. For bumps on the legs, Ibuprofen and Diclofenac are most often prescribed. Their price is 10-30 rubles. Nurofen is somewhat more expensive and costs about 150 rubles.
How to prevent the reappearance of bumps on your legs?
After the acute stage of the disease has been stopped, some recommendations must be followed in order to prevent its recurrence:
- Do not load the joints of the legs, which have already undergone the appearance of bumps. For half an hour a day, you can apply cold to them, until the pain subsides. At the same time, the legs must be kept on an elevation.
- You should not take too often Aspirin, which increases the level of uric acid in the body. This can worsen the course of the disease.
- It is necessary to regularly measure the level of uric acid. The indicator of the norm is 60 mg / l.
- Exercise every day. You can ride a bike, run. Swimming is good. In the morning, you need to do exercises. The loads should be feasible for a person. You need to train regularly.
- Drink at least 2 liters of water every day. This will allow the kidneys to excrete enough uric acid.
- If the body has a deficiency of vitamins or minerals, then additionally you need to take them in the form of synthetic supplements. Patients who are prone to the formation of bumps on the legs especially need foods rich in ascorbic acid.
- It is important to exclude alcohol from your life. Do not drink carbonated water containing sodium benzoate and fructose.
- The menu should contain a sufficient amount of fresh vegetables and fruits, you need to eat more cereals. The amount of animal proteins is cut to 120 g per day. Sausages and offal are prohibited.
Modern approaches to the treatment of bumps on the legs
Recent studies have found that bumps on the legs most often develop in people who are prone to gaining excess body weight. Moreover, it was in those patients who preferred fatty foods of animal origin and sausages. A high intake of protein in the body contributes to an increase in lactic acid levels, and a large body weight puts excessive pressure on the joints. As a result of the combination of these two factors, inflammation develops.
Scientists from America have identified a relationship between the appearance of bumps on the legs and a deficiency of substances such as ascorbic acid and calcium. The older the person is, the less of them in the body. However, he can continue to lead an active lifestyle and not have weight problems. Therefore, people over 40 years old need to undergo a routine examination every year and take vitamins and minerals that the doctor recommends.
A new drug called Benzobromarone is already undergoing clinical trials. Moreover, in some countries they have already been completed, and the drug is being used to treat patients with bumps on the legs. Taking it allows you to reduce the production of uric acid in the body.
There is also evidence that innovative drugs are being developed to help reduce inflammation. However, they do not contain a hormonal component. They work to suppress the production of a protein called interleukin. It is he who causes the inflammatory process and the appearance of bumps on the legs. However, it is impossible to say exactly when these developments will be completed.
Pros and cons of taking Allopurinol
Allopurinol is the most commonly prescribed drug for treating bumps on the legs. However, many doctors severely criticize it, as it provokes many side effects. The statistics are such that this drug causes sudden death of 1 patient out of 260 patients who took it. Death occurs against the background of the development of hepatic coma or due to the cessation of cardiac activity.
However, there are other data from a large-scale study. Its results are reflected in the journal Annals of the Diseases. Scientists point out that Allopurinol is highly effective in treating bumps on the legs and even prevents the likelihood of death of patients who take it. However, this study does not disprove the fact that the drug has many side effects.
Despite all the disadvantages of this drug, it remains the drug of choice in the treatment of bumps on the legs, since it has been used for a long time. Moreover, the price of the drug remains affordable.
The researchers followed 5927 patients who took Allopurinol to treat bumps on their feet. At the same time, they followed the fate of 5927 patients who were taking other drugs to reduce the level of uric acid in the body. It was possible to establish that the mortality rate among people taking Allopurinol is 19% lower compared to the control group.
Therefore, Allopurinol continues to be prescribed to patients with bumps on the legs. Moreover, its reception is shown both in the acute and in the chronic stages of the disease.
Treatment of bumps on the legs with folk remedies
Source of recipes: Newspaper HLS, All-Ukrainian newspaper-healer "Babushka"
Treatment of bumps on the legs with soap and iodine
A good folk remedy for treating bumps on the legs is ordinary soap. It must be finely grated, applied to the skin and massaged well. After that, the soap is washed off and the mesh is drawn with iodine. The course of treatment with this remedy is 30 days. It will help relieve pain and inflammation from a deformed bone.
The bump on the leg can also be lubricated with camphor oil and iodine (in this order!). First, the legs must be steamed and wiped dry with a towel.
You can also lubricate the affected area with iodine, and then make compresses from medical bile, which is sold in pharmacies. Compresses are best done daily before bedtime. A piece of soft tissue or cotton wool is moistened in bile and applied to the lump. Above the leg is wrapped in cellophane, covered with warm cloth and a sock is put on. One and a half to two months of treatment - and you will definitely feel a positive result.
Treatment of bumps on the legs with potatoes and propolis
Potatoes can also become a good folk remedy in the fight against bumps on the leg. A gruel of grated potatoes is applied to the affected joint, or foot baths are prepared. It is not difficult to do this: the pan is two-thirds filled with potato peelings and a quarter filled with water. The mixture is boiled for fifteen minutes, after which 300 ml of this broth is added to a bowl of hot water.
During the bath, care must be taken so as not to burn yourself. As the water cools, the broth is added. While the patient soars his legs, he needs to apply cleaning directly to the bone. The duration of such a procedure should be at least half an hour. If you do it several times a day, after a couple of weeks, bumps on your legs will no longer cause concern.
Propolis is also used to treat bumps on the legs. It is rubbed in hands until it becomes soft, after which it is glued to the diseased bone and tied on top with a dry cloth. The propolis tincture, which is sold in pharmacies, is also suitable for the procedure, but in this case the compress should be moist.
Treatment of bumps on the legs with egg ointment
Doctors recommend using a special ointment for the folk treatment of bumps on the legs. To prepare it, you need to pour a fresh egg with white shell vinegar and leave for a couple of weeks in a dark place. During this time, the egg should dissolve. Then its shell can be thrown away, and the egg itself must be stirred with melted lard (1 tablespoon) and turpentine ointment (10 g). The ointment is applied to the bone every other day, alternating with iodine.
You can also put pieces of unfrozen river fish on the cones. The course of treatment with fish is seven days, after which fir oil is rubbed into the affected areas for another seven days. The course can be repeated, with a break of three months.
For rubbing, they also use warm honey, heated in a water bath.
At home, you can make a gruel from 3% iodine (1 part), lemon juice (2 parts) and crushed aspirin (2 tablets). The product is applied like a compress, then covered with cellophane and tied with a woolen scarf. The course of treatment is three days, after which a weekly break should be taken.
Used for the treatment of seeds and means for internal use: infusions and decoctions from plants that have a diuretic effect. These include field horsetail, bearberry, lingonberry, birch buds, etc.
It should be remembered that full treatment of bumps on the legs is possible only under the supervision of a specialist.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
