What you need to know about Gout

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that develops in some people who have high levels of uric acid in the blood. The acid can form needle-like crystals in a joint and cause sudden, severe episodes of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling. Gout most often affects the big toe, other joints that are commonly affected are the lesser toe joints, the ankle, and the knee. Gout flares start suddenly and can last days or weeks.

Getting early treatment is the best way to prevent or reduce future flare-ups and guard against tophi.

Recurrent gout flare-ups tend to occur more frequently and get more severe. Over time, the uric acid crystals accumulate in the joint. This condition, called tophi, (hard, uric acid deposits under the skin) that causes joint damage and deformity.

Your risk for gout increases if you have a family history of the disease. Chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and kidney disease. Eating a lot of high purine foods (red meat or organ meat), and beverages can also increase your risk.

Gout treatment primarily consists of medications along with dietary changes, such as losing weight, limiting alcohol, eating less purine-rich foods. We can help you change your diet to avoid or limit high-purine products.

Based on your symptoms and how long you’ve had the disease. Gout medications work in different ways. You may need a medication that relieves acute symptoms, lowers blood levels of uric acid, prevents future attacks, and reduces your risk of developing tophi.

If your tried other gout medications and still have high uric acid and ongoing gout symptoms Krystexxa may be right for you. Krystexxa infusion therapy works differently than other treatments you may have tried. It changes uric acid into a substance your body can get rid of easily to help relieve your gout symptoms.

Don’t wait to schedule an appointment after a gout flare-up. Call Rheumatology Associates, PLLC at (502) 719-2472 and book an appointment today.