ack of gout is an extremely painful experience, and it is a good idea for you to see a doctor if you believe you may be suffering from this condition.
Gout, like any other health condition, can easily be determined by tests conducted your physician. Depending on what the results of the tests reveal, a diagnosis can be made and the proper treatment can be administered.
The inflammatory process of gout is a painful one. It's initial manifestation usually involves the great toe, marked by swelling, redness, and severe pain.
If it is the first attack, the person may not even know what the problem is, as it seems to come out of nowhere. As the pain becomes more unbearable, a trip to the doctor's office or the emergency room will most likely be the next move for proper testing and diagnosis.
How is gout diagnosed?
Upon your arrival, the physician will get your health history. This will include any chronic health conditions you may presently have, as well as a history of health conditions of your family. Some diseases have a hereditary component and it is important for your doctor to be aware of this information.
Once the doctor has evaluated your overall health condition, and the specific reason why you are there, he will order testing to help him come to the correct diagnosis.
Tests that can be conducted include:
Laboratory tests:
Urinalysis, complete blood count, serum uric acid measurements and serum creatinine tests.
Aspiration of synovial fluid:
Synovial fluid assists in the provision of nutrients and the cushioning and lubrication of cartilage. This test is looking for urate crystsal to be present in this fluid whick would indicate gout.
Types of gout:
Acute Gouty Arthritis:
This type of attack will generally peak at two days and may last for up to ten if not treated. The area will be red, swollen and warm to touch. Intense pain may also be combined with a slight fever.
Interval Gout:
Occurs after the initial gout attack has concluded and all symptoms have disappeared. Usually, victims of recurrent attacks of gout are treated with medications designed to reduce the uric acid levels in the blood. However, with first attacks, treatment to prevent further attacks is not initiated until another attack has occurred.
Tophaceous Gout:
Tophi are nodular masses made up of urate crystals, that usually appear after the initial gout attack. Tophi are further complicated by:
Pain, soft tissue damage and deformity, destruction of the affected joint, nerve compression.
Undiagnosed hyperuricemia may bring the intervals between attacks closer together until they disappear. This may result in constant joint inflammation, joint deformity, and tophaceous deposits of urate crystals in the soft tissues surrounding the joint. This can also be coupled with periods of acute arthritis.
Jared Wright is the webmaster for the free learning community site, Clivir.com. Visit the links below to read more about related gout issues including gout foot symptoms pictures and gout elbow symptoms pictures.
