GOUT
ABOUT GOUT
Gout is one of the most common causes of painful inflammatory arthritis. It is a chronic or long-term condition that usually affects the toes or joints. There are times when symptoms get worse, known as flares, and times when there are no symptoms, known as remission. Repeated bouts of gout can lead to gouty arthritis, a worsening form of arthritis. The affected area usually becomes painful, swollen or red and unable to bend or bear weight.

What Causes Gout?
Some of the risk factors for gout are as follows:
- Male
- Old age
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease
Symptoms Of Gout
Pain
The pain from gout attacks usually occurs at the base of the big toes, it is worst during 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 inflammation of the toes will cause them to swell, the affected area is also likely to be red or warm.
Other Symptoms
The affected area has a limited range of motion.
Diagnosing Gout
A Message About Gout
Many other medical conditions may mimic gouty arthritis. The signs and symptoms of gout are not specific and can look like signs and symptoms of other inflammatory diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis or degenerative arthritis). The disease should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor or a team of doctors who specialize in caring for gout patients such as Pain Specialists or Rheumatologists.
There is no cure for gout, but you can effectively treat and manage the condition with medication and self-management strategies. The key to gout management is lifestyle management. Eat a healthy diet. Avoid foods that may trigger a gout flare, including foods high in purines (like a diet rich in red meat, organ meat, and seafood), and limit alcohol intake (particularly beer and hard liquor). Overall healthy living such as keeping an active lifestyle, maintaining an ideal BMI and protecting the affected joints will go a long way in gaining remission.
What Treatments Are Available for Gout?
In many instances, non-surgical treatment methods can provide excellent outcomes. At Singapore Paincare, we strive to treat your pain with the least invasive option possible after accurately identifying the cause. Combined with pharmacological treatments and cognitive and physical rehabilitative therapies, we help patients improve functions and prevent pain from recurring.
Non-Surgical Treatment for Gout
Pharmacotherapy
If the patient is suitable, our physicians will monitor and administer urate-lowering therapies. The process involves a series of drug types known as oxidase inhibitors (allopurinol, febuxostat), uricosuric and interleukin inhibitor drugs.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Our doctors may prescribe pain medications that are used to treat acute inflammations such as NSAIDs and colchicine.
Myospan Intra-articular injection
Specific Injection of steroids can help reduce pain and swelling in certain foot conditions. Aspiration of inflammatory debris as well as a joint wash-out is helpful with an acutely swollen joint.
Surgical Treatments for Gout
Surgery
There are not much options for gout surgeries, they are arthroscopic tophi removal, joint fusion and joint replacement surgery for severely destroyed joints.
How Can I Prevent Gout?
- Drinking plenty of water to help your kidneys function better and avoid dehydration
- Exercising regularly to maintain a healthy weight
- Limiting consumption of food and drinks that contain high purine levels (alcohol, red meat, organ meats, shellfish, alcohol, drinks and foods high in fructose)