In centuries past, gout was termed “the disease of kings” because the condition was believed to be caused by overeating and indulging in alcohol excessively. Scientists later learned, however, that gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that typically affects just one joint.
The big toe joint is frequently targeted by gout, for example, but it commonly occurs in the elbow, knee, and wrist joints as well.
You can go through asymptomatic periods of remission from gout, but when you have a flare, the pain can be excruciating. Though gout has no cure, there are treatments that mitigate pain and discomfort, as well as steps you can take to manage the condition.
As an internal medicine expert, Dr. Gurprit Sekhon and the team at Nu Wave Medical Center offer individualized and innovative treatment for gout. She seeks to be your partner in care and offers medical advice and treatment plans with sensitivity.
It’s understandable to have “Why me?” feelings if you have a gout attack, but what’s going on exactly? Technically, you’re suffering from hyperuricemia, which means there’s too much uric acid in your body. The purpose of uric acid is to break down purines, which are present in some foods.
Purines are chemical compounds that occur naturally in your body and also are present in food in varying amounts. When you ingest excessive amounts of purines in your food, a surplus of uric acid develops in your body. As uric acid sits in your body, it can crystallize and lead to gout, which is why lowering your consumption of high-purine foods can help with minimizing symptoms.
As we mentioned, gout discomfort can be debilitating and cause these symptoms in your affected joint:
Unfortunately, it’s also typical for gout pain to come on at night while you’re sleeping, and the pain of a gout flare usually lasts for a long 12 hours.
A variety of factors make you more likely to suffer from gout:
As you can see, you can control some of these risk factors, while others you can’t. Dr. Sekhon helps you manage the risk factors that you have the power to alter as a preventive strategy for gout.
Dr. Sekhon treats gout by taking your detailed medical history, talking to you about your gout symptoms, and setting goals together to rid you of gout and prevent it from returning.
Fortunately, Dr. Sekhon has multiple treatments available to her to treat your gout. They include:
Dr. Sekhon is committed to helping you treat your gout and preventing a flare before it starts!
Call the Nu Wave Medical Center office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sekhon, or book one online.
