HONG KONG: Chronic sufferers from gout are being given an alternative to medication as an option for dealing with the pain and the immobilizing effects of the affliction: emotion management. It's a program initiated by the Hong Kong Arthritis & Rheumatism Foundation about learning to live with pain. And sufferers are finding their symptoms are showing remarkable improvement.

The method used in the treatment was to teach patients to approach their symptoms from a different perspective. Since arthritis and rheumatism are incurable and sufferers normally experience increasing pain over time, sufferers are taught to accept gout as a part of life and to approach it with a positive attitude. That's one of the keys to the emotion-management course.

The course also instructs patients about self-affirmation and attention-diversion. The course is not intended as a replacement for a normal regime of painkillers. It does however suggest scientific approaches for dealing with the diseases, such as taking antiepileptic and antidepressant drugs under prescription as a means to condition patients for long-term pain.

The program is also intended to steer people away from misconceptions about various folk remedies meant to mitigate pain. For example, some provoke bees to sting inflamed parts of their bodies; some consume powders prepared from the remains of ants; some use mixtures of eggs and highly concentrated vinegar; some even drink urine, believing it to be an effective pain remedy.

Rheumatology specialist, Lee Ka-wing, said the folk remedies are worthless. Not only do they fail to provide relief of pain and other symptoms, they increase the burden on the kidneys.

"Drinking urine, you are just taking in the metabolic waste of your own again," said Lee.

Lee said chronic gout tortures hundreds of thousands of people in Hong Kong, but many misunderstand proper treatment, either through lack of confidence or through impatience.

"Some people stop taking exercises immediately when they find they've suffered from arthritis or rheumatism. This is totally wrong, which only worsens the function of the heart and lungs as well as joint movements. Appropriate exercises such as swimming, jogging and walking help relieve pain. Patients should keep in mind the three approaches to treat chronic gout: moderate exercise, doctor's prescriptions and emotion management," said Lee.

The Hong Kong Arthritis & Rheumatism Foundation conducted a telephone survey over the past two months. Among 227 chronic gout sufferers interviewed, more than 40 percent of respondents said they had suffered with the disease for more than 10 years. Sixty percent said they've lost certain interests, and 40 percent complained that the quality of their sleep was poor.

More than 30 percent said they spend more than HK$1,000 a month to relieve their pain, including acupuncture, massage or cupping. About 40 percent of respondents either never consulted doctors or if they did, they did once and did not go back for further consultation.

(HK Edition 10/06/2009 page1)