Article: In general, the first 36-48 hours of a gout attack are the most painful but you can relieve the initial pain and make sure you are doing all you can to end the gout attack as soon as possible. You can relieve some of the pain of gout by icing the joint. Use an ice pack wrapped in a towel and apply to the affected area for 20-30 minutes every hour that you are awake. Keep the affected joint elevated as much as possible while you ice it. This will help to avoid the blood settling in the area that is being iced. Your can take common pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (eg.Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen (eg.Aleve). Use any OTC NSAIDs for as short a time as possible. Long-term NSAID use can increase the chances of a heart attack or stroke and can also increase the risk of ulcers and bleeding. Make certain you follow manufacturer's directions exactly. However, avoid any aspirin or topical aspirin products (eg. Aspercreme or any topical cream with salicylates). Aspirin products can cause more uric acid to deposit in the joints. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is not an anti-inflammatory medicine and is not likely to help. You could also take colchicine, but you may need a prescription from a doctor for that medication. For chronic control of gouty flares, you should take allopurinol, which decreases the amount of uric acid in the body. Topical analgesics have been shown to be very effective, especially for joints such as the toes, ankles, knees, elbows and hands. For example, Voltaren gel is a prescription topical NSAID that can greatly reduce gout pain. Talk to your doctor about the use of Voltaren gel Over-the-counter topical treatments that may be helpful include: Capsaicin cream: Capsaicin is a substance derived from cayenne peppers that depletes Substance P a pain signal. Make sure you wash your hands well after applying capsaicin it can cause an intense burning sensation, especially if it gets near your eyes. Homeopathic creams: These include Topricin, which contains a mixture of homeopathic pain remedies. Gout relief ointment: Tanza Botanicals has a Gout Relief Ointment that is made of a number of pain-relieving herbs.

What is a summary?
Ice the area. Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Try a topical pain-relief cream or gel.