The pain and immobility of gout can really put a dent in your lifestyle if you’re a very active person. Gout is a type of arthritis and even when the pain settles down, you may still feel like you don’t want to move around much.
The fact is, if you have Gout some movement is good for you and will help you recover. You may not feel like dancing, but you can slowly increase your activities to a near normal level. It is helpful to get some range of motion exercises in each day with gout. Slow stretching of the muscles near the affected area can help to increase movement to the joint. Walking at a slow pace starting with short distances and increasing a little each day can help as well. Swimming is also a good activity with any arthritic condition. Water acts as a natural shock absorber and can relieve pain and swelling.
Anything you can do with gout will help you get back on your feet faster and improve your quality of life. Ask your doctor for a referral to physical therapy to help get you started and then do the exercises yourself at home.