Have Your Gout and Pseudogout Expertly Diagnosed and Treated at Orange County Hand Surgery Specialists!
If you are experiencing sudden, severe pain in a single joint that develops with little to no warning, this may be a sign of gout or pseudogout. These painful conditions do not go away on their own and can spread to other joints, but at Orange County Hand Surgery Specialists, Dr. Ying Chi is double board-certified in orthopaedic and hand surgery and can expertly relieve these conditions with effective procedures and minimal downtime.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our office in Fountain Valley, California, and restore full mobility and functionality of your joints with gout and pseudogout treatment.
What are Gout and Pseudogout?
Both gout and pseudogout are characterized by sudden and severe joint pain that are caused by a buildup of a certain substance in the body, but the joints affected and the specific fluids that lead to these conditions can vary. As the symptoms associated with these conditions can also be mistaken for other medical issues, it is important to have Gout and Pseudogout properly diagnosed by a medical professional.
What Causes Gout and Pseudogout?
While half of gout cases begin with the joint of the big toe, other common areas affected are the elbows, wrists, and small finger joints. Gout develops when men and women either overproduce or under-excrete uric acid, causing irritation and may also cause salt crystals to form in the joints. While similar, pseudogout develops from excessive calcium pyrophosphate in the body, which also leads to irritation and the potential buildup of salt crystals. Pseudogout tends to affect the larger joints, such as the knee and wrist.
In most cases, Gout and Pseudogout cannot be properly diagnosed without an x-ray to detect the presence of the crystals underneath the skin. Dr. Chi and our medical team will assess your symptoms and perform advanced testing to determine if you are experiencing these conditions before prescribing treatment.
How are Gout and Pseudogout Treated?
In cases where these conditions are identified in early stages, anti-inflammatory medications, compressive wraps, and other non-invasive methods can be effective. When the tendons have been compromised or the joints have eroded over time, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove crystals and restore the function and mobility of the joints. Dr. Chi will discuss your treatment options during your consultation.
Contact Orange County Hand Surgery Specialists today to schedule a consultation and have your Gout and Pseudogout professionally diagnosed and treated by Dr. Chi.
Figure 1: Gout with tophus formation in the index and little fingers
Figure 2: X-ray of finger with longstanding gout. Erosions are present in the bone at the end joint as well as swelling of the soft tissue.