Gout and pseudogout can cause sudden and severe episodes of joint pain, warmth, tenderness, redness, and swelling. Comprehensive Arthritis Care offers empathetic, personalized care for these and other types of arthritis in their Hendersonville, Tennessee, office. If you have possible pseudogout symptoms, don’t delay calling the experts for quick relief. Book your appointment online or call the office to get help today.
Pseudogout is a type of arthritis that develops due to calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposits (crystals) within the fluid that helps lubricate your joints. Additionally, calcium crystals can develop in the cartilage that covers the bones.
These calcium crystals can lead to joint swelling, warmth, and pain, particularly in the knees. Pseudogout can also strike the ankles, shoulders, hands, and elbows.
Pseudogout usually occurs in bouts called flare-ups. The symptoms can start suddenly and last for days, weeks, or longer.
The cause of pseudogout is uncertain. Some people who have calcium crystals don’t develop the condition, while others do. But you’re more likely to have calcium crystals as you age, so that’s a risk factor for pseudogout.
Additional risk factors for pseudogout include a family history of the condition, osteoarthritis, overactive parathyroid gland, low magnesium, excess blood calcium, and excess iron in your blood.
Both gout and pseudogout are types of arthritis, but there are some key differences.
With gout, the crystals that cause symptoms form because of uric acid deposits rather than calcium buildup.
While pseudogout strikes the larger joints, gout most often develops in the joint at the base of the big toe. Pseudogout rarely appears in the toe joints.
Gout attacks often happen during the night, commonly waking people up in pain. Pseudogout can cause attacks at any time.
In general, gout pain is more severe than pseudogout. But both can feel excruciating when they hit suddenly.
Gout attacks are usually fairly short-lived, typically going away in a couple of days or within a few weeks. Pseudogout attacks can last longer if untreated.
While pseudogout and gout are quite different in some ways, both require prompt treatment.
At Comprehensive Arthritis Care, you’ll see Dr. Ali, a leading board-certified rheumatologist who can provide the most accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
Pseudogout treatment usually involves medication, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), to ease the pain. Other medication options may help with pseudogout as well.
Call Comprehensive Arthritis Care or click the online appointment maker and make an appointment for pseudogout today.