GOUT

Gout is caused by hyperuricemia, a condition where there is too much uric acid in the body. Uric acid is produced when your body breaks down purines, found in your own cells and certain foods like red meat, seafood, and alcohol. 

When uric acid builds up, it can form crystals (monosodium urate) that deposit in your joints, fluids, and tissues, causing pain and inflammation. Not everyone with hyperuricemia develops gout, and if there are no symptoms, treatment may not be necessary. 

Risk factors for gout include:

Men are more likely to develop gout than women.

Risk increases as you age.

Hypertension can affect kidney function and uric acid levels.

Excess body weight increases uric acid production and joint stress.

Cardiovascular conditions are linked to higher gout risk.

Gout attacks present as sudden, severe symptoms that typically occur in the joints.

• Pain: Often occurs at the base of the big toe and is usually worst in the first 12 to 24 hours. These attacks are short, but they can return over weeks, months or years in sporadic cycles.
• Inflammation and redness: The affected joint becomes swollen, red, and warm.
• Limited range of motion: Swelling and pain restrict joint movement and weight-bearing.

If your gout is mild or moderate, treatment often begins with non-surgical management.

Includes oxidase inhibitors such as allopurinol and febuxostat, uricosuric agents, and interleukin inhibitor drugs.

Medications such as NSAIDs and colchicine may be prescribed to treat acute inflammation.

If your symptoms do not improve or continue to interfere with movement, minimally invasive options may be recommended without the need for open surgery. At Singapore Paincare, we offer precise procedures designed to relieve pain at its origin.

A precise steroid injection helps reduce swelling and pain in certain foot joints. In cases where a joint is acutely swollen, gently removing inflammatory fluid and performing a joint wash-out can relieve pressure, reduce irritation, and help restore smoother, less painful movement.

Generally, surgery may be recommended if your joints are severely damaged and intense pain that does not  cause improve with other treatments. Available surgical options include:

Used when severe gout has damaged the joint beyond repair. The bones are fused to stabilise the joint and reduce pain.

Recommended only in advanced cases. The damaged joint is replaced with an artificial implant to restore comfort and movement.

At Singapore Paincare, our specialists use the proprietary Painostic® method, developed from years of clinical experience in managing inflammatory joint conditions such as gout. This in-house approach goes beyond standard assessment to identify whether your pain is caused by active uric acid crystal inflammation, chronic gouty arthritis, or overlapping joint conditions. By accurately pinpointing the source and severity of your gout, we map out a personalised treatment pathway tailored specifically to your condition and flare pattern.

We focus on the least invasive options first, including targeted intra-articular injections to rapidly reduce joint inflammation during acute flares, combined with appropriate urate-lowering medications and rehabilitative support where needed. For patients with recurrent attacks, we emphasise long-term uric acid control strategies to prevent joint damage and future flare-ups. Even in complex or persistent cases, this integrated approach helps relieve pain, restore joint mobility, reduce recurrence risk, and enable you to walk, work and sleep comfortably without fear of sudden gout attacks.

You can lower your risk of gout flares with simple lifestyle changes:

• Drink plenty of water to support kidney function
• Exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight
• Limit high-purine foods such as red meat, organ meat, and seafood
• Reduce alcohol intake, especially beer and hard liquor