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.