The Truth About Medical Gout
Dear Friend,
Having medical gout, more commonly known as gout, is a very painful and lifestyle altering disease to have. This form of arthritis in which uric acid produced by the body are elevated. They build up to a level to where crystals circulating in the blood get deposited in the joints. This is a very simple explanation of what happens to you.
History of Gout
Gout arthritis is not new. In fact this very painful form of arthritis dates back to around 2500 years ago. We can use Greek medical documents to determine that this condition plagued kings and queens to where there was no respecter of persons.
Today gout is more commonly inflicting those who live in very developed conditions. It was known as the “kings of disease” and also the “disease of kings” or royalty. Those who live in very developed countries where people have a nice standard of living are most often afflicted with more of this condition. Do you know why? Because only in these more developed countries can you obtain sufficient food and drink to become morbidly obese. Eating foods that cause your body to expand to those levels is just not normal. It takes work and effort to become obese, and as a result of certain foods eaten to excess the uric acid levels are kicked into overdrive and gout is on the way.
How does Gout Arthritis Attacks Appear?
Gout seems to have a rapid or idiopathic frequency. Many patients complain of being awakened at night. They feel the intense pain their feet. The big toe is often described as feeling the throbbing, heat, and as if the skin would rip apart.
Soft Tissue Deposits and Gout
In some gout cases, soft tissues injuries occur. This happens primarily around the joints. And of course, the uric acid is deposited around the soft tissues. As time progresses and the continued deposits do not abate, patients will see a whitish or yellowish deposits. This is called tophi. In some very severe gout cases, the tophi may erupt and tear apart underneath the skin.
Gout Treatment and Diagnosis
A diagnosis of gout is usually completed after a physician takes a physical exam of the suspected areas. They will obtain a fluid sample from the affected region. They will send the sample out to the lab for testing of levels of uric acid crystals. Remember the crystals are the hallmark marker of gout.
Most providers of healthcare will also obtain a urine sample from you to test for the uric acid in your body. This is all very common place today. These levels can become quite elevated and it makes no sense in rushing through to a diagnosis and not making a thorough case for gout or another form of arthritis like Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Once diagnosed the gout is often treated by many different routes. Some prefer to take a pill that seeks to decrease the levels of uric acid in the body. The only problem with those drugs is that of side effects. Another method of treatment would be to use various hot and cold pack massages. Therapeutic massage of the limbs could also be used but many people do not want anything to touch the affected area. Also, you will probably be advised to decrease the use of alcohol and foods that would elevate the purines in your body.
