Gout relief?

My husband has Gout and it's very painful. It's on his Foot and elbow. He has also had pain on his left shoulder blade. What can he take for his pain. Better yet, is there a cure?
Treatment of the attacks

Acutely, first line treatment should be pain relief. Once the Diagnosis has been confirmed, the drugs of choice are indomethacin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or intra-articular glucocorticoids, administered via a joint injection.

Colchicine was previously the drug of choice in acute attacks of gout. It impairs the motility of granulocytes and can prevent the inflammatory phenomena that initiate an attack of gout. Colchicine should be taken within the first 12 hours of the attack and usually relieves the pain within 48 hours. Its main side-effects (gastrointestinal upset) can complicate its use. NSAIDs are the preferred form of analgesia for patients with gout.

Before medical help is available, some over the counter Medication can provide temporary relief to the pain and Swelling. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can reduce the pain and inflammation slightly, although aspirin should not be used as it can worsen the condition. Preparation H hemorrhoidal ointment can be applied to the swollen Skin to reduce the swelling temporarily. Professional medical care is needed for long term management of gout.

Ice may be applied for 20-30 minutes several times a day. There are concerns that Uric Acid crystallization is accelerated by low temperature, but in a 2002 study in the Journal of Rheumatology[citation needed] patients who used ice packs had better relief of pain with no negative side effects. Keeping the affected area elevated above the level of the Heart may help as well.

Due to swelling around affected joints for prolonged periods, shedding of skin may occur. This is particularly evident when small toes are affected and may promote fungal Infection in the web region if dampness occurs. Treat in a similar fashion to Athlete's foot.

Prevention
Long term treatment (in frequent attacks) is antihyperuricemic therapy.

Because the body metabolizes purines into uric acid, a maintained, low-purine diet can help lower the plasma urate level. Avoiding alcohol, high-purine foods, such as meat, fish, dry beans (also lentils and peas), mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, and cauliflower can lower plasma urate levels. In addition, consuming purine-neutralizing foods, such as fresh fruits (especially cherries and strawberries) and most fresh vegetables, diluted celery juice, distilled water, and B-complex and C vitamins can also help lower plasma urate levels.

A strong natural cure is a berry extract supplement consisting of bilberry, blueberry or cherry extracts. The anthocyanins which give the berries their blue and purple hues, after entering the body, turn into powerful anti-inflammatories. These might be an especially preferable option to transplant patients, who frequently suffer gout due to increased toxicity and strain on the kidneys due to their Immunosuppressant medication.

For Additional measures see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/gout#additi...

Food to avoid:

foods high in purines
sweetbreads, kidneys, liver, brains, or other offal meats
sardines
anchovies
scallops, prawns, and crabs
alcohol. Some claim that this applies especially to beer, on the basis that *brewer's yeasts are very rich in purine. In view of the fact that most modern commercial beer contains trace amounts of yeast, this claim requires substantiation. Others claim that red wine is particularly bad for gout, though again it is difficult to find an explanation. Alcohol may also reduce the rate of uric acid excretion.
meat extracts, consomm�s, and gravies
diet sodas (these act as diuretics in many people, causing uric acid to concentrate in the Blood which can then easily precipitate)

To avoid dehydration:

Drink plenty of liquids, especially water, to dilute and assist excretion of urates;
Use sparingly Diuretic foods or medicines like aspirin, vitamin C, tea and alcohol.
Folklore has it that Joe-Pye weed flushes uric acid quickly, but continued use can damage the liver or kidneys
Another folk remedy is the use of oenomel, a drink with honey and unfermented grape juice.
Moderate intake of purine-rich vegetables is not associated with increased gout.