Diagnosis of gout
Gout is a very painful type of an arthritis that is caused by the inflammation of the joints due to the build up uric acid crystals in the surrounding area. Gout can cause painful swelling in the joints accompanied by inflammation of the tissue and extreme pain. Gout usually occurs in the toes %75 of the time, although it can affect any other joints such as knees, hands or elbows.
Diagnosis of gout is not always so easy. In many cases of gout, people who are suffering from it will either have elevated levels of uric acid or extremely low levels of uric acid in their blood. (Usually, an elevated level of uric acid is the general case). Thus in order to diagnose gout, one must analyze the blood, to be able to make a definite diagnosis.
Once you go to the physician, your symptoms will be examined first. Compared to other types of arthritis, the symptoms of gout will onset suddenly. This is definitely a reaction that helps your physician diagnose gout. If it has happened too suddenly (like going to bed normal and waking up with a swollen toe), then it will be probably gout. The physician will examine the other symptoms like amount of swelling and the amount of inflammation to make a diagnosis. In usual cases of gout, your joint can swell three times its normal size. Also unlike other forms of arthritis, the pain will be more severe.
However, as mentioned above, the best diagnostic method is by testing the blood for elevated levels of uric acid. Although by itself blood test can not confirm gout, in combination with the other symptoms above; it can lead to a concrete diagnosis. However, in some cases to avoid confusion with similar disorders; your physician may order a test done on the liquid that is taken out directly from your swollen joints by using a syringe. Although this test may be painful, this is the only test that can say with %100 certainty that you are suffering from gout. In this test, your physician will look for uric acid crystals, which usually accumulate in the swollen area. If you have gout, this test will definitely be positive for uric acid crystals. Of course, sometimes in order to see the level of degeneration in the swollen joint, X-Rays may be ordered by your doctor to help with the diagnosis.
Thus if you are suffering from gout symptoms, then it is best that you go to a physician for a proper diagnosis. It is better than self diagnosis, as your physician will also determine the severity of your gout to prescribe the best treatment, which may include anti inflammatory drugs or steroids in extreme cases. |
