12 Myths About Gout Arthritis That You Should Stop Believing Now

Content

• Treating Gout
• Get The Facts On Gout Symptoms, Causes And Treatments
• How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Gout?
• Fact: Food Can Play A Role In Gout, But Its Not As Important As Genetic And Other Factors

However, aging, some metabolic diseases , and any process that leads to osteoarthritis also can be associated with subsequent CPP crystal deposition and pseudogout. The CPP crystals that produce pseudogout comprise a combination of inorganic pyrophosphate and calcium. Practical Pain Management is sent without charge 6 times per year to pain management clinicians in the US. Gout can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms can be vague and may be caused by other conditions.

Pseudogout, which may be clinically indistinguishable from gout, was recognized as a distinct disease entity in 1962. Gout, considered one of the most painful forms of inflammatory arthritis, has inflicted pain on humanity for thousands of years—from Egyptian royalty to the English aristocracy. In fact, excruciating pain and inflammation—typically in your big toe—are the classic symptoms of a gout attack.

Treating Gout

During a gout attack you may have pain, swelling, and/or redness in your joints. Gout attacks often happen in the big toe, but can affect any of your body’s joints like your elbows, knees, hands, or ankles. Gout is extremely painful and sometimes hard to control. It is also often reported that the underlying problem for most gout sufferers is that their bodies produce too much uric acid. More than 90% of gout sufferers get rid of too little uric acid in their kidneys.

Get The Facts On Gout Symptoms, Causes And Treatments

If gout gets to this point, your doctor may suggest surgery. Several options are available, depending on how badly your joints are damaged. Then, you and your doctor can decide what would be best for you. Because alcohol interferes with the body's ability to remove uric acid, people with gout should avoid drinking alcohol. Alcoholic drinks, drugs, an illness, or even a stressful event can trigger an attack of gout. Another attack may not occur for months to years, but many people with gout experience more frequent and longer attacks over time.

Sometimes people with gout also have other chronic conditions that negatively impact the kidneys. With these, the rate of uric acid excretion can worsen gout and joint damage. Having chronic gout also increases osteoarthritis risk. It's probably because of higher levels of uric acid in their blood. Having higher blood levels of uric acid for longer lengths of time predisposes someone to acid deposition around joints.

However, only a small portion of those with hyperuricemia will actually develop gout. If your parents have gout, then you have a 20% chance of developing it. The treatment goals for a gout attack are different than those for chronic gout. When treating a gout attack, the goal is to relieve pain and inflammation. When treating chronic gout, the goal is to prevent future gout attacks and long-term joint damage.

There are several serious gout complications to be aware of. To start, gout that has become more progressive can cause clumps of urate crystals and inflammatory cells know as tophi to form under the skin. These nodules can erode the joints and surrounding skin and tissue, causing damage and eventual joint destruction. Unfortunately, when left untreated or poorly managed, gout will keep coming back in longer and more frequent attacks that cause severe joint damage and permanent disability.

What is the main cause of gout?

Gout is caused by a condition known as hyperuricemia, where there is too much uric acid in the body. The body makes uric acid when it breaks down purines, which are found in your body and the foods you eat.

Self-management is what you do day to day to manage your condition and stay healthy, like making healthy lifestyle choices. The self-management strategies described below are proven to reduce pain and disability, so you can pursue the activities important to you. The role of uric acid in gout has been clearly defined and understood. As a result of this and the wide availability of relevant medications, gout is a very controllable form of arthritis.

What Are Risk Factors For Gout?

Ask your doctor if you have questions about your risk for developing this condition. If you experience sudden, intense pain in a joint, call your doctor for a diagnosis. Exercise Is Important When You Have Gout When you’re not having an attack, exercise is essential for managing gout symptoms.

The prevalence of gout in the U.S. has risen over the last twenty years and now affects 8.3 million (4%) Americans. Gout is more common in men than in women and more prevalent in African-American men than white men. The chances of having gout rises with age, with a peak age of 75. Among the U.S. population, about 21% have elevated blood uric acid levels, a condition known as hyperuricemia.

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