gem13, God Bless You! Here's a thought although different, but, hopefully could help. My husband is very prone to gout (nothing like what you are experiencing or due to cortisone injection & infection) and it is painful. He can get it in any joint. He is daily on Allopurinol 300 mg and if he has a flare up, he is to take colchicine (Sp?) which works within hours. Both of these are prescription meds. His dad had gout and gout is a form of arthritis. Pork, Shrimp and orange juice can be culprits for flareups in a lot of people. I'm so sorry that you are experiencing this. I can't imagine how much pain you are in. I know it is frustrating. Praying for you.