Gout can become a debilitating disease if left untreated. All too many people attribute the pain and swelling in their joints to arthritis; however, the possibility exists that the joint pain and swelling you have been experiencing throughout the years is gout. There are 4 stages of gout you need to be aware of…
1. It takes a long time, sometimes months or even years, for uric acid crystals to accumulate in the blood stream. The most common areas affected are around the joints, usually in the lower limbs, i.e. feet and hands. There will normally not be any symptoms during this time.
There are a small number of people, about 5%, that will actually have a gout attack due to high levels of uric acid in the blood supply, known as hyperuricaemia.
That other 95% may not actually have an attack, but could experience some pain and discomfort due to the uric acid crystallizing in the joints. It is common for the pain to be in the Achilles tendon (the heal). It is common for uric acid build-up to be diagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthritis.
The uric acid crystals will cut into the synovial fluid sack and cause it to be released into the blood. Because of this, the blood readings will indicate Rheumatoid Arthritis when the real problem is uric acid crystals.
2. Acute attacks are when a single joint is involved in all of the initial attacks, usually in the big toe. It will normally start with localized aching and will advance to being swollen, red, hot and shiny. Needless to say, at this point the pain is excruciating.
3. There will be lapses between the attacks. There are some people who will never experience another attack. If there is another attack, it is most commonly within a year of the first. Then there are those you may go several years before their next attack.
4. As time goes by, the frequency and severity of the attacks will multiply and will involve more joints. Joint damage and chronic pain will usually begin to occur after 10 years or so.
When large crystal deposits, known as chronic tophaceous gout, begin to produce hard nodules, it will typically affect the upper part of the fingers and hands. However, they are known to form in various other places, like the forearms, Achilles tendon and even the ears.
Severe deformity can occur if the disease goes untreated treated.
Are you or someone you care about suffering from gout?
Discover more information about Gout And Relieving Gout Symptoms at All About Gout at http://www.squidoo.com/all-about-gout.
Are you making the right choices for your health issues. Debbie has been researching natural health care treatments and remedies. In doing so, she has created relationships with certain experts and in recommending their products may receive compensation.
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Tags: Achilles, Arthritis, arthritis pain, Stages, toe
