Is gout a permanent condition?

Untreated gout can cause permanent joint damage. The buildup of uric acid in joints and soft tissue is called tofo. Some people with gout may also develop other health problems, such as severe arthritis, kidney stones, and heart disease. It's important to discuss your symptoms with a healthcare provider.

Fortunately, today gout is one of the most treatable forms of arthritis, some rheumatologists say it can be cured. However, in the case of too many patients with gout, the disease is not treated or treated sufficiently. In a recent study, for example, only 37 percent of people with gout were taking allopurinol, a medication to lower uric acid; among gout patients with frequent outbreaks, only half took it. Gout is a common and complex form of arthritis that can affect anyone.

It is characterized by sudden, intense attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in one or more joints, most often in the big toe. You may experience frequent episodes of gout, which could lead to chronic gout and permanent joint damage. It can also develop tiny, white, painful lumps under the skin. This is where the urate crystals formed.

The pain and inflammation associated with gout attacks usually go away completely between attacks. However, repeated acute gout attacks can cause more permanent damage. Over time, gout can start to affect more joints throughout the body and cause problems such as gout, tophus, and permanent bone damage. The big toe is a known site of gout attacks, but gout can affect many different joints throughout the body.

Weight loss in people who are overweight or obese with gout results in lower levels of uric acid and a decrease in symptoms of gout. However, the progression of gout is certainly not inevitable, which is close to the best news any patient with gout can hear. Several treatment options can help prevent gout from progressing to other joints and can help reduce the occurrence of acute gout attacks. While eating foods high in purines can contribute to high levels of uric acid, many experts believe that the role of diet in the development of gout is overemphasized.

Gout occurs when urate crystals build up in the joint, causing the inflammation and severe pain of a gout attack. If you have more than one gout outbreak per year, it's very important that you take a gout medication regularly, says Dr. As you become more familiar with the symptoms of gout, you may feel that a gout attack is coming.