What Is Gout?
Gout is a condition where uric acid in the blood stream is elevated and the excess uric acid deposits into joints and soft tissues of the body as uric acid crystals causing an acute painful inflammation.
What is Uric Acid?
Uric acid is a breakdown product of purines.
Food rich in purines include:
- red meats such as beef, mutton
- soya based foods – toufu
- peanuts
- alchohol – wine, beer, whisky
- some seafood – tuna, sardines, salmon
- innards – liver, intestines
What is the Normal Range of Uric Acid?
Normal values will vary from laboratory to laboratory.
Normal Uric acid levels are 2.4-6.0 mg/dL (female) and 3.4-7.0 mg/dL (male).
When Does Uric Acid in the Blood Stream Start to Crystallize?
It usually crystallize at > 6 g/dL.
Where Are The Usual Areas of Gouty Attacks?
The big toe base (metatarso-phalangeal joint) is the most common.
Other areas are ankle joint, knee joint, wrist joint, elbow joint.
It can also occur in hip joints, spine, and soft tissues all over the body.
What Are The Usual Symptoms?
- Pain, pain, excruciating pain.
- Swelling. Especially inside the affected joint.
- Warmth.
- Limited range of joint movements.
How To Treat?
- Stop taking gouty foods.
- Drink lots of water as uric acid is cleared via the kidneys.
- Take oral anti-inflammatory medications from your doctor.
- Colchicine is a popular medication prescribed by doctors during acute attacks.
- Consider starting on uric acid lowering drugs if the gouty attacks occur often.
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ABOUT DR HC CHANG
- 16 years of experience in surgical and non-surgical procedures in sports injuries as a Sports Orthopaedic Specialist in Singapore.
- Received multiple awards and accolades in the Orthopaedic field.
- He is a USA Sports Medicine Fellowship trained Orthopaedic Surgeon and is a member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America as well as the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine.
- Published many acclaimed articles on Sports Medicine. If you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, it is important to get a prompt and accurate diagnosis to determine the severity of your injury and get proper treatment immediately.
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