The professional team at ArthritisCARE provide comprehensive and holistic gout treatment.
Gout is an inflammatory type of arthritis that causes pain and swelling of your joints. We are committed to providing effective and compassionate care to help alleviate your gout pain and symptoms. Contact ArthritisCARE today and make an appointment with one of our specialist gout doctors.
What is gout and how does it affect you?
Gout results from high uric acid levels (a normal waste product) that cause uric acid crystals (urate crystals) to accumulate in the joints. This build-up of urate crystals causes pain, inflammation, and redness, predominantly starting with the big toe. Although predominantly seen in men over 40, anyone can develop gout.
As a leading gout specialist in Brisbane, ArthritisCARE offers holistic and effective gout treatment.
Gout is a type of arthritis that usually starts in your big toe. If this sounds like you, contact ArthritisCARE today to book in with a doctor for gout treatment.
What are the causes of gout?
An unhealthy diet, alcohol, high blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes are just some of the factors that may lead to gout attacks.
The primary cause of gout is elevated uric acid levels. Several conditions can result in too much uric acid circulating through your body. These risk factors and conditions are:
- Hereditary factors
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes, glucose intolerance, or obesity
- Kidney disease or kidney stones
- Medication, like diuretics
- An unhealthy diet, smoking, or heavy alcohol consumption
The excess uric acid forms crystals, which lodge in joints, leading to the painful symptoms known as a “gout attack”.
What are gout signs and symptoms?
Gout symptoms can emerge suddenly and persist for days or weeks. These gout attacks present as:
- Painful, inflamed, and red joints
- Extreme sensitivity in the affected joint
- Fever, fatigue, and general unwellness
While gout occurs most frequently in the big toe, it can affect other joints like the hands, knees, wrists, and elbows over time.
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How to diagnose gout
We employ a comprehensive approach when confirming a gout diagnosis. We begin with a physical examination, and a detailed medical history to identify your symptoms and if there are any predisposing factors. One of the main indicators of gout is severe pain, usually in your big toe.
A blood test will also be used to measure uric acid levels and other inflammatory markers. You will also be sent to have a joint fluid test, where a sample of fluid is removed from the inflamed joint and tested for the presence of uric acid crystals.
Gout is diagnosed by measuring the amount of uric acid in your blood, and by testing fluid in the affected joints for the presence of urate crystals.
What is the best gout treatment?
Doctors use a combination of medication and lifestyle changes to effectively treat gout and prevent acute gout attacks.
Medical gout treatment
The management of gout often involves medications designed to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Colchicine
- Corticosteroids
- Paracetamol
Lifestyle changes
In addition to medication, addressing certain lifestyle factors is crucial for managing gout symptoms:
- Diet: The food you eat can play a big role in preventing recurrent attacks of gout.
This includes reducing the intake of purine-rich foods, such as red meats, certain seafood, and organ meats, which can lead to elevated uric acid levels. - Alcohol consumption: There’s a well-established connection between gout and alcohol, particularly beer and spirits, which can interfere with the elimination of uric acid from the body.
- Weight management and exercise: Maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in regular exercise can lessen the frequency and severity of gout attacks. Physical activity helps to lower uric acid levels and manage weight.
- Hydration: Staying well-hydrated can prevent a gout attack as it helps the body to eliminate uric acid more efficiently.
Implementing these medical treatments alongside lifestyle changes provides a comprehensive approach to managing your condition, preventing future attacks of gout, and improving overall joint health.
How much does gout treatment cost in Brisbane?
The cost of gout and rheumatology services varies depending on what tests and treatments are required. For detailed information on gout management costs please contact ArthritisCARE, or visit our FAQ page.
Why choose ArthritisCARE to help you?
ArthritisCARE offers comprehensive care and we are highly skilled at treating and diagnosing gout. We prioritise holistic care tailored to each person to help alleviate pain and symptoms of a gout attack and improve quality of life. Our skilled Rheumatologists collaborate with you, ensuring optimal symptom management and care.
Meet Dr. Peter Landsberg
Dr. Peter Landsberg founded ArthritisCARE as a seasoned Rheumatologist. He specialises in inflammatory arthritis and connective tissue conditions. His mission is to offer unparalleled care in a nurturing environment to the Brisbane community.
How to find us
You can find the ArthritisCARE team here:
- 24 Railway Terrace (Corner of Pound Street) Dutton Park QLD 4102
- (07) 3255 1066
- (07) 3255 1533
- admin@arthritiscare.com.au
-
Monday to Friday: 8.00 am – 4.00 pm
Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: Closed
FAQs
You can find commonly asked questions about gout treatment below.
What causes gout?
People develop gout when uric acid builds up in the body. High levels of uric acid form crystals that accumulate and the affected joint becomes red, swollen and painful. This build-up of uric acid is a result of your body producing too much or not excreting enough uric acid.
Am I at risk of having gout?
Risk factors for developing gout include:
- A diet high in purines (found in certain meats and seafood)
- Obesity
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Certain health problems (like high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease or diabetes)
- Some medications
- A family history of gout
What are the symptoms of gout?
Symptoms of gout include intense joint pain and swelling with redness and tenderness in the affected joint, often starting at the big toe. The pain is usually most severe within the first 12 to 24 hours after it begins.
How is gout diagnosed?
Gout is diagnosed based on the clinical presentation of symptoms, blood tests showing high levels of uric acid, and identifying the presence of urate crystals in joint fluid obtained by aspiration of the affected joint.
How is gout treated?
Gout treatment includes medications to reduce pain and inflammation, such as NSAIDs, colchicine, or corticosteroids. Long-term management to prevent future gout attacks may involve medication to lower levels of uric acid, lifestyle changes, and dietary modifications.
Can gout be cured?
While there’s no cure for gout, it can be effectively managed with medications and lifestyle adjustments. Proper gout treatment can prevent further attacks and complications, alleviate joint pain and avoid permanent joint damage.
Can I prevent gout attacks?
Acute attacks can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as consuming a balanced diet low in purines, limiting alcohol intake, staying hydrated, achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight, and taking medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Which foods cause gout?
Certain foods can contribute to gout including those high in purines, such as red meat, organ meats, certain seafood, sugary drinks, and alcohol. Reducing the consumption of these foods may help with treating gout and to reduce gout attacks.
Learn more about Gout:
Arthritis Australia’s Gout Resources page
https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/types-of-arthritis/gout/
Arthritis Australia’s Printable Information Sheet about Gout
https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ArthAus_Gout_1705.pdf
Arthritis Australia Booklet: Taking Control of your Gout
https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Gout-2019-FIXED.pdf
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