What kind of doctor treats gout arthritis

White blood cells and other infection-fighting cells race to the area. The affected area can look like an infected area, red, swollen, hot, and tender. It is extremely painful and an attack can last for several days. Almost 9 out of 10 gout guest patients rank their pain level as a 9. What causes too much uric acid to accumulate? Uric acid is produced when the body breaks down purines, substances naturally found in the body, as well as in protein-rich foods such as steak and organ meats. High levels of uric acid are also in alcoholic beverages, particularly beer, and sugary drinks.

Both yeast and fructose increase uric acid levels. In a research study conducted by Hyon Choi, MD, DrPH, clinical associate professor of medicine in rheumatology at Boston University School of Medicine, participants who consumed two or more sugar or fructose-sweetened sodas each day had an 85 percent increase in developing gout. If uric acid levels remain high over a long period of time, deposits can develop around joints and tendons.

The chalky deposits, tophi, look like white toothpaste and create visible lumps under the skin. When gout progresses over several years to this chronic stage, joints may have permanent deformities, persistent pain, and bone, cartilage and kidney damage. Learn the symptoms, what causes it, and how it's…. Here are common symptoms of gout along with where and when they typically appear, and what you can do to prevent them from occurring.

Tomatoes may trigger gout. They increase levels of uric acid. We explore the effects of tomatoes if you have gout, alternatives to try, and other…. Gout crystals may form when there is too much uric acid in your bloodstream. Gout and turf toe can both cause similar symptoms, but have very different causes and treatments. Read on to learn more about these similarities and…. Avoiding foods high in purines may help you reduce uric acid levels and minimize your chances of developing gout.

What does that mean for hummus? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Gout Diagnosis. Medically reviewed by Graham Rogers, M. What is gout? Signs of gout. Pictures of gout. Testing and diagnosis of gout. Doctors who treat gout.

The fluid is sent to the lab for analysis and may even be viewed by your doctor. Your doctor will probably use a blood test to help determine whether you have gout. In fact, between 12 and 43 percent of people have low to normal uric acid levels during a gout flare, according to UpToDate.

As well, you can have high uric acid levels but not have painful gout symptoms. This is a condition called asymptomatic hyperuricemia. Imaging tests, including X-ray, ultrasound, and computed tomography CT , can help doctors rule out other health conditions and check for tophi, crystal deposits, and fluid accumulation, which are all characteristic of gout.

An x-ray can reveal whether you have any tophi under the skin as well as whether you have any bone erosions due to tophi, which are characteristic of chronic gout. It can also be used to rule out a fracture in your toe or other joint. These can show any crystal deposits, fluid accumulation, or narrowing of the joint space due to cartilage loss.

A dual-energy CT scan can be used to distinguish urate crystals a telltale sign of gout from calcium crystals common in another condition known as pseudogout. If you are overweight, have sudden, sharp pain in your big toe at night, your blood test reveals high uric acid levels, and you tend to eat a diet rich in meat and seafood and drink alcohol excessively, gout is likely the culprit.

But a gout diagnosis is not always that straightforward. Instead, the symptoms occur in multiple joints and can mimic other conditions, including:. Read more here about common gout misdiagnoses. In these cases, part of the diagnostic process may also involve ruling out these conditions. Other symptoms and signs that can help your doctor distinguish gout from another form of arthritis include:. Luckily, those painful gout attacks are very treatable and manageable if you get a proper diagnosis and start treatment promptly.

This will include a variety of medications, to control inflammation and lower your levels of uric acid, along with a few lifestyle modifications to prevent future attacks, including:. The most commonly prescribed medication for treating gout is allopurinol Zyloprim and Aloprim , which helps lower uric acid levels. Difficult-to-treat gout also called refractory gout can be treated with an injectable medication called pegloticase Krystexxa.

Uric acid-lowering medications are taken regularly to help keep uric acid levels low to prevent crystal accumulation in the joints and elsewhere. During an acute gout flare, you might need additional medications to reduce inflammation and pain quickly. Treatment for flares includes:. While diet changes — such as cutting out high-purine foods, including reducing alcohol intake — can be part of managing gout, many patients make the mistake of over-relying on them to manage their gout.

Fields said in another CreakyJoints report on gout. Dietitians are very important in this. Gout treatment rarely involves surgery. However, there are times when the build-up of uric acid crystals in the joints creates chalky nodules called tophi that can impede their mechanical movement. Orthopedists are the surgeons who most often will perform that task. As anyone who has experienced it knows, gout is a painful condition. Putting together the right medical team can bring you the relief you need.