I had persistent severe pain and swelling in my left ankle for several weeks now. Is there any effective way to reduce the swelling? I don’t know what is wrong with me, but from what I read on net I think it is gout. Is this gout or what? I’ll appreciate some help.
Yes, it sounds to me like a gout attack. A gout attack can destroy a lot of tissues and body fluids that's why it's so painful. Depending on how bad was the attack, it may take weeks to months to clear these fallen heroes out of the battle fields. Here is what I do: soak the swollen joints in warm water for 10-20 minutes at a time and gently rub the play dough-like substance to break it off, few times a day; and try to use the attacked joints as little as possible.