Gout in the Spine

Some gout sufferers, though rare can get gout in the spine or the uric crystal build up in the spine causing extreme pain, numbness, back ache, tingling, and even lower extremity paralysis all without any inflammation. It is also extremely hard to distinguish these gout symptoms from a spinal infection.

Gout in the spine can create neurological symptoms (symptoms caused by a disorder or dysfunction that affects a part or all of the nervous system). This has been treated with intra-articular therapies (treatment that allows for the use of agents to be used in a localized way).

These therapies rely on an injection such as Corticosteroids that are also used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. If this method is used then the patient will require considerable rest time to help decrease steroid leakage, and increase absorption to the joints and tissue area.

If this type of treatment fails or is considered a risk, then surgery in the manner of a decompressive laminectomy can be performed. This surgery is a commonly performed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord.

Tophaceous Gout Symptoms of the spine can also be misdiagnosed as epidural infection due to the similarities of their symptoms.

Different Stages of Gout

Millions of people are affected by the medical condition known as gout. This is a condition that is caused by an excessive level of uric acid within the body. While it is common for each person to have a certain amount of this acid in their body on a regular basis, there are certain individuals that are prone to developing gout as a result of this.

Those that develop gout will experience many uncomfortable symptoms such as inflammation and pain in and around the joints of the body. Most often, gout is experienced through flare ups that occur with little to absolutely no warning. This medical condition is also marked by unique stages. In this medical guide, you will be introduced to the four distinct stages of gout.


Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia

Individuals that develop gout have an elevated amount of uric acid within the body. The first official stage of gout is referred to as asymptomatic hyperuricemia. Individuals that are in this stage of their condition often do not have any outward symptoms. Most of the people that are in this stage of gout will be informed that they are after having a blood test conducted that tests the amount of uric acid contained in the circulatory system.

Seeing that there are usually no symptoms at all experienced during this stage of gout, most medical professionals do not feel the need to treat the patient for the symptoms commonly associated with gout. In many cases, a more appropriate approach to treatment would be to make an attempt to reduce the amount of uric acid in the body.


Acute Gout

The second stage of gout is a bit more challenging than the first stage. This comes as a result of the fact that the uric acid in the body starts the process of crystallizing within the joints of the body. The individual that suffers from this stage will start to experience gout symptoms. These symptoms include inflammation within and around the joints of the body, discoloration of the skin and pain.


Interval Gout

The third stage of gout is when an individual returns to not experiencing any symptoms associated with their condition. The pain that a person experiences with gout occurs during what is called an attack. Once an attack has passed, there will be a period in which no symptoms are exhibited. This is the interval stage.


Chronic Tophaceous Based Gout

The fourth stage of gout is considered to be the most challenging of all those that are experienced. Typically, the person that experiences this will suffer from an extended amount of time before entering into this particular stage. This stage is considered to be the most disabling of all the stages.

Those that end up at this stage will most often have some type of damage as a result of the condition. For example, the joints may be damaged or the internal organs may experience a form of damage. If you have gout, it is important to learn about the four stages so that you have a good understanding of the progression of the condition.

Types of Gout

Gout is a very painful form of arthritis that affects the lower extremities of the body - particularly the big toe. Gout is caused by uric acid when it becomes built up in the blood stream to excessive levels and turns into hardened crystals or "urate crystals" that form in the area of the joints.

This condition is very painful to the sufferer and can last only a few hours in mild cases or up to as many as several weeks with soreness and pain continuing for a month thereafter. Left untreated, gout can cause severe damage to joints, cartilage, tendons and other tissues of the body.


Primary Gout and Tophi

There are two main categories of gout that include primary gout and secondary gout. When gout develops on its' own with no definitive or known cause for the build up of uric acid, it is referred to as primary gout. This type of gout primarily affects men between thirty and sixty five years of age but can affect women after menopause.

Primary gout attacks are usually acute and typically occur twice per year on average. This type of gout is typically caused by an excessive amount of uric acid being produced or when the kidneys fail to excrete the uric acid in a rapidly enough or a combination of both of these factors.

The condition known as "tophi" occurs in the advanced stages of primary gout and is when the urate crystals develop in one joint or multiple joints and also develops in the urinary tract often causing the formation of kidney stones.

Tophi can also affect other parts of the body including the bones and these uric crystal deposits can actually become large enough to break through the sufferers skin. This advanced stage is extremely painful and can cause the joints to deform to such an extent that it is disabling to the individual who suffers from it.


Secondary Gout

The most common type of gout is secondary gout that is typically caused when taking certain medications or when undergoing medical treatment such as chemotherapy but can also be caused by alcohol or an excess of purines that can be found in certain foods including trout, codfish, mackerel, anchovies, scallops, haddock, sardines, herring, mussels, bacon, gravy, kidney, goose, veal, mincemeat, liver, and venison.

Secondary gout is known to affect both women and men on an equal basis and occurs primarily in individuals who are sixty five years of age or older.


Asymptomatic gout and Inter-critical gout

When an individual has an excess amount of uric acid in the blood stream but without any of the painful symptoms normally associated with gout, this condition is called asymptomatic gout, however, when this condition reaches the later stages it can cause the symptoms of acute or painful joints.

Intercritical gout is when an individual has the condition of gout having suffered the symptoms in the past but is not experiencing them at the present time as they are in between attacks. Even if you have experienced any of the symptoms of gout and they have subsided or disappeared, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor as this condition typically will reoccur and can progress in severity over time.