Gout and Pseudogout

Gout and Pseudogout are the 2 most common crystal-induced disease of the joint.

As the name states this is a false Gout.

Both forms of Gout have similarities in their style of pain and the way the joints swell but they have differing crystal compounds that find their way into the synovial sacks and cartilage.

The pain is the same, in Gout and Pseudogout, they both cause joint inflammation, pain, heat, redness of the swelling, chills, can still affect the knees , toes, hands, wrists, arms, feet etc.

But Pseudogout, generally affects older people and both men and women equally.

Where as Gout affects mainly men around the age from the mid thirties onwards and Women generally after menopause.

Doctors may well misdiagnose this disease as a rheumatoid arthritis

The Differing characteristic between these two arthritic diseases of gout and pseudogout are :

Gout has uric acid crystal deposits that go to the extremities of the body.

Pseudogout has calcium pyrophosphate crystals heading to the extremities and is also a calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease.
Nice name isnt it.

And a person with this disease will also not get tophi lumps

There are a few theories on how pseudogout is formed, but there is no significant evidence at this stage.

Some theories are :

• a person may have a high level of calcium in their body

• high levels of iron levels in their tissues

• low magnesium levels in the blood

• hereditary

• dehydration

• following surgical procedures



Yet again to completely get the diagnosis right a doctor will need to painfully extract fluid out of an inflamed joint and study them under an x-ray to confirm the disease.

Calcium shows differing characteristics in this process compared to gout as gout requires a polar light microscope for analysis and cannot be used under a x-ray.

The dangers of pseudogout can be permanent joint damage, and this joint damage can be so severe that a sufferer may be unable to feel pain in the joints, and also severe nerve damage can also occur.

It can also calcify cartilage and is related to other hormonal illnesses.

At this stage there is no known actual preventative treatment, but there is the possibility of blood diagnosis and early potential detection, dietary changes and possible herbal remedies.

Generally Pseudogout will attack or affect the knee, wrist, ankle, shoulder, and hip areas.

Where as Gout will mostly affect  the toes, heel, fingers, and wrist.

Both Gout and Pseudogout are severely painful, but gout most often is diagnosed early can be treated with a lifestyle change whilst pseudogout cannot because there  is no treatment to remove or dissolve the calcium pyrophosphate crystals in the joint once they are there.

It can also well be possible to have both Pseudogout and Gout at the same time.

Treatment :

• NSAID's

• COX-2 inhibitors

• Intravenous colchicine

• Draining of inflammed joint affected areas

• Corticosteroid injections

• drink plenty of fluids before and after an operation.

For pseudogout  treatment, make sure you rest and elevate the painful area, use ice packs, to try and limit the damage caused to the joints.

Always seek the advice of a practitioner with regards to this condition.

The Image on the Left shows what Pseudogout crystals look like compared to the image on the right which are Gout crystals.


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Gout and Pseudogout