The word tophaceous gout refers to a health condition that usually develops in individuals who have chronic gout. Arthritis encompasses over 100 different health conditions that contribute to joint pain. People with a chronic form of gout may have tophaceous gout, a condition that can impact any soft tissue or joint. It can lead to a drop in the full joint movement potential and even disability. Keep reading to know more about gout symptoms, treatment, prevention, and so forth.
Causes
Gouty arthritis develops when uric acid levels in the blood are excessively high. Usually, uric acid works in the form of an antioxidant. Our body produces around 66% of natural uric acid. The rest originates from the metabolism of purines, which are chemicals from protein food.
The kidney filters uric acid out of our bloodstream to excrete it with the urine and thus regulate the acid levels. If it cannot filter enough of the acidic substance out, or the human body produces an excessive amount of the substance, it can accumulate in the flowing blood.
When you have hyperuricemia, the acid may leave it as well as form sharp and needle-like deposits in not just your joints but also the tissues around those. The human immune system considers those crystals of uric acid foreign particles, which contribute to inflammation.
About 70% of hyperuricemia patients do not have gout, but it is not clear why other hyperuricemia patients do not develop this issue. It appears that risk factors such as sex, diet, age, family history, and medication, may drive up the likelihood of a person developing gouty arthritis.
Symptoms
Gouty arthritis contributes to inflammation in not just the joints but also the tissues around those parts. Consequently, most gout patients experience swelling, severe pain, skin discoloration, and warmth. Gout usually alternates between symptomatic periods known as flares as well as remission periods without any symptoms. Gout flares that often occur suddenly last for some days or even some weeks.
Treatment
During gout flares, patients can often minimize their symptoms with anti-inflammatory medicine or painkillers alongside elevation, rest, and ice. Some prescription drugs may reduce symptoms when an individual consumes those immediately after their gout flare starts. You can keep consuming those gout treatment options that lower uric acid to lessen the possibility of further gout flare-ups and chronic gouty arthritis. For people who have tophaceous gout, medical professionals look to make the acid levels come down to under 5 milligrams for each deciliter.
