Gout

Gout, an often painful form of arthritis, affects up to 3% of women and 6% of men. At Rheumatology East, with locations in Germantown and Jackson, Tennessee, board-certified rheumatologist Bradley Postlethwaite, MD, provides treatments offering long-lasting relief from crippling gout symptoms. Schedule an evaluation by calling the office or using the online booking feature today. 

What is gout?

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that affects one or more joints, often in your big toe. Gout can cause extreme pain when left unaddressed. Determining the root cause of gout and treating it helps you get back on your feet (or other joints) without discomfort. Rheumatology East provides an array of treatments based on your personalized needs.

Pseudogout, or calcium pyrophosphate arthritis, is a disease with similar symptoms as gout. However, pseudogout is caused by calcium phosphate build-up rather than uric acid.

Which symptoms can gout cause?

Gout can cause the following symptoms:

• Joint pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Intense pain 
• Tenderness
• Warmth 
• Redness
• Stiffness
• Limited range of motion

Gout flare-ups typically last about 1-2 weeks, followed by a recovery period. These flares often begin in a big toe, though gout may also affect your fingers, wrists, ankles, elbows, feet, or knees. Kidney stones can develop as a complication of untreated gout.

What are the risk factors for gout?

Risk factors for developing gout include:

• Eating red meat, liver, other organ meats, deli turkey, or game meats (venison, veal, goose, etc.)
• Consuming fish and seafood, such as sardines, anchovies, scallops, muscles, tuna, trout, and other fish
• Drinking beer and other alcoholic drinks
• Consuming beverages containing fructose
• Overweight or obesity
• Untreated high blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease
• Recent trauma or surgery
• Family history of gout
• Being male
• Blood cancers
• Some medications 

Examples of medicines that may increase the risk of gout flare-ups include beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, immunosuppressants, and anti-rejection drugs prescribed after organ transplants.

How is gout diagnosed?

Diagnosing gout requires a review of your symptoms and medical history, a physical exam, and diagnostic testing. You might undergo blood testing, joint fluid tests, or imaging procedures — such as X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, CT scans, or dual-energy computerized tomography (DECT).

How is gout treated?

Your individualized gout treatment plan may consist of:

• Over-the-counter medications 
• Prescription medicines
• Corticosteroid injections
• Low-purine diet
• No alcohol
• Drinking more water
• Regular exercise
• Stress reduction
• Healthy weight management 

There’s no cure for gout, but you may experience fewer attacks after beginning treatment. 

Schedule a gout evaluation at Rheumatology East by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.