Gout Treatment

What is Gout?

Gout is a common and complex form of arthritis characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joints. Often affecting the joint at the base of the big toe, gout can occur in any joint. The condition arises when urate crystals accumulate in the joint, causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack. Gout symptoms may come and go, but there are ways to manage symptoms and prevent flares.

What Causes Gout

Gout is caused by an accumulation of urate crystals in the joints, a result of high levels of uric acid in the blood. Your body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines, which are found in your body and in the foods you eat. While uric acid is usually dissolved in the blood and passed through the kidneys into the urine, sometimes the body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys excrete too little. This can lead to uric acid build-up, forming sharp, needle-like urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue that cause pain, inflammation, and swelling.

Gout Risk Factors

  • Eating a diet rich in meat and seafood and drinking beverages sweetened with fruit sugar increases levels of uric acid
  • Untreated high blood pressure and chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart and kidney diseases
  • Certain medications
  • Family history
  • Gout occurs more often in men, primarily because women tend to have lower uric acid levels
  • Age

Treatment Options

The treatment for gout aims to reduce pain and inflammation during an attack, prevent future attacks, and avoid complications such as the development of tophi and kidney stones. Medications are often the most effective way to treat acute gout and can prevent recurrent attacks of gout. These include Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), Colchicine, and Corticosteroids.

Lifestyle changes can also help manage gout. Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, avoiding alcohol, and maintaining a healthy weight are crucial. Diet plays a significant role in managing gout; limit intake of meat, poultry, and fish, which are high in purines, and opt for a balanced diet with more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gout

Gout symptoms are typically acute, with intense joint pain that usually peaks 12-24 hours after it begins, followed by lingering discomfort. The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender, warm, and red. If you experience sudden, intense pain in a joint, call your doctor.

7 Convenient Houston Locations

Bellaire

4747 Bellaire Blvd. Ste. 150
Bellaire, TX 77401
Phone: (281) 315-8130
Fax: (281) 315-8131
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Cleveland

314 South San Jacinto Ave
Cleveland, TX 77327
Phone: (936) 571-0508
Fax: (281) 763-2706
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Conroe

506 Medical Center Blvd. Ste. 100
Conroe, TX 77304
Phone: (936)-571-0508
Fax: (281) 763-2706
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Cypress

27700 Northwest Fwy. Ste. 580
Cypress, TX 77433
Phone (346) 345-2400
Fax (346) 345-2401
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Houston

522 Timberdale Ln.Houston, TX 77090

Phone: (281) 315-8130
Fax: (281) 315-8131
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Huntsville

130 Medical Center Pkwy. Ste. 5
Huntsville, TX 77340
Phone: (936) 571-0508
Fax: (281) 763-2706
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

The Woodlands

9319 Pinecroft Dr. Ste. 100 & 210
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Phone: (346) 345-2400
Fax: (346) 345-2401
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM