What is Gout?
Gout is a condition in which a chemical called uric acid build-up in the body which then forms crystals in various joints like- the toe, ankle, heel, etc. These crystals irritate the joint, causing inflammation that can be excruciatingly painful and stiffen the joints. Although uric acid is present in the body, it is often eliminated through urine before it may accumulate and harm the body. Gout sufferers, on the other hand, have an overabundance of uric acid in their bodies that is not being eliminated for unknown reasons.
Although it can affect anyone, it is more common in males over the age of 45. It can also occasionally affect children and young people. The metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint at the base of the big toe is most impacted by gout. Knee joints, ankle joints, heels, and mid-foot joints are additional joints that are frequently impacted. Gout can also occur in the elbows, wrists, and fingers less frequently.
Gout symptoms can be successfully managed with physiotherapy, and Elite Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre offer skilled physiotherapists who can customize a treatment plan to meet your needs.
Typically, gout attacks are excruciatingly painful and quickly progress into joint inflammation. When the immune system responds, white blood cells engulf the uric acid crystals, and chemical messengers of inflammation are released, resulting in pain, heat, and redness of the joint tissues, and intense joint inflammation might happen. Attacks of gout often happen more frequently and frequently in more joints as gout worsens.
What can be the causes of Gout?
- Have gout in your family.
- Had a transplanted organ.
- Being overweight
- Consuming alcohol.
- Consume a lot of purine-rich meals.
- Possess lead exposure.
You may be more susceptible to having too much uric acid in your blood if you have certain other health issues. These consist of:
- Having renal insufficiency causes your kidneys to not excrete enough waste.
- High B.P.
- Hypothyroidism.
- conditions including psoriasis, hemolytic anemia, and some malignancies that cause your cells to divide and shed more quickly than usual.
- Lesch-Nyhan syndrome and Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome are two uncommon disorders in which your body lacks enough of the enzyme that helps regulate uric acid levels.
You are more prone to develop gout if you take certain drugs, such as:
- Diuretics, which are used to treat conditions like hypertension, edema, and heart disease, help the body get rid of extra fluid. Urinary uric acid excretion is decreased by diuretics.
- medications containing salicylate, such as aspirin.
- Vitamin niacin is sometimes called nicotinic acid.
- Cyclosporine, a drug used to treat some autoimmune illnesses and stop the body from rejecting transplanted organs, suppresses the body’s immune system.
- a medication called levodopa is used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
Risk factors for Gout
The following factors may contribute to an increase in uric acid levels in your body:
Diet- Meat and seafood-heavy diets and beverages sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose) raise uric acid levels, which raise the chance of developing gout. Furthermore, consuming alcohol, particularly beer, increases your risk of getting gout.
Obesity- Being overweight causes your body to produce more uric acid and makes it harder for your kidneys to get rid of it.
Recent surgery or trauma- An increased chance of experiencing a gout attack has been linked to recent surgery or trauma.
Clinical features
Depending on the severity of your ailment, you may suffer a variety of gout symptoms. Your physiotherapist at Elite Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre will conduct a thorough evaluation on you in order to pinpoint your problems and develop the most suitable treatment plan. Possible symptoms include:
- sudden onset of severe Pain, Burning pain is a common way to describe this pain. It could be painful and swollen enough to wake you awake.
- inflammation in some joints, especially the big toe, proximal and distal interphalangeal joints.
- Heat and redness over the affected joints
- Patients have extreme tenderness in a joint, and they report that the pain is so severe that even the smallest touch is too painful.
- unable to participate in your typical everyday activities, including sports.
- A buildup of uric acid under the skin causes tophi (pimples).
- stiff joints, especially in the mornings or after being inactive for a while.
- Numerous people experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever and chills.
Flare-up period
Gout flares, also known as gout attacks, are sudden attacks of excruciating joint pain that frequently involve redness, swelling, and tenderness. Burning pain is a common way to describe this discomfort. Although they can happen at any moment, gout flares tend to start more frequently at night and in the early morning.
Diagnosis
Several tests can be used to diagnose gout. Because joint damage from crystals in the joint can happen without your knowledge, early identification of gout is crucial. Once gout is identified, it’s critical to begin physiotherapy as soon as possible to assist control your symptoms. Possible testing consists of:
- Examination of symptoms.
- Physical Tests.
- Personal and family medical history.
- Blood tests.
- X-rays.
- Uric acid crystals in synovial fluid are tested.
- Also, Dual-energy CT scan.
Treatment
Walking can frequently be exceedingly painful or practically impossible when a joint is experiencing a gout flare-up. Use a walking stick or cane to help with your gait and avoid putting pressure on the affected joint.
Medical Treatments.
- Colchicine, certain NSAIDs, and corticosteroids are prescribed by doctors to treat the acute or early stages of a gout attack in order to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
- serum uric acid-lowering (SUA) medication.
- Joint decompression: Aspiration of synovial fluid instantly lowers joint pressure, and the needle leaves a track or route that serves as a vent for ongoing drainage after the needle is removed.
- You can treat intermittent gout without taking medication every day by making lifestyle modifications.
- Physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy Treatment of Gout:
Depending on your primary symptoms and the stage of your condition, there are many physiotherapy options for treating gout. The discomfort associated with gout attacks can be lessened with proper care, which can also aid in preventing further attacks and damage to your joints. Physiotherapy treatment consists of:
- Pain control
- Reducing inflammation
- Electrotherapy including TENS
- Strengthening and range of movement exercises
- Cardiovascular activity
- Helping you carry out your normal activities of daily living
- Hydrotherapy
- Wax therapy
- Cryotherapy (cold therapy)
- Mobilisation techniques
- Also, the Home exercise program
To soothe your joint, your therapist could employ treatments like ice, ultrasound, or laser therapy.
Additionally, At our clinic, we have cold compression to relieve a gout flare-up in a joint.
exercise to maintain the joints’ maximum range of motion, stretching, and strengthening. Exercises for proprioception, which help the joint maintain its sense of position, will also be incorporated.
Manual therapies such as-
- Electro dry needling.
- Also, Wet cupping. The main reason the treatment works is that after patients had it, their blood uric acid level significantly decreased.
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