> "Jo Firey" <jofirey@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>>
>
> Have you been tested for gout?
>
> Jo
>
>
>
Jo, I have done a little research. Wiki: Gout is characterized by
excruciating, sudden, unexpected, burning pain, as well as swelling,
redness, warmness, and stiffness in the affected joint. Low-grade fever
may
also be present. The patient usually suffers from two sources of pain. The
crystals inside the joint cause intense pain whenever the affected area is
moved. The inflammation of the tissues around the joint also causes the
skin
to be swollen, tender and sore if it is even slightly touched. For
example,
a blanket or even the lightest sheet draping over the affected area could
cause extreme pain Gout usually attacks the big toe (approximately 75
percent of first attacks); however, it also can affect other joints such
as
the ankle, heel,
instep, knee, wrist, elbow, fingers, and spine. In some cases, the
condition
may appear in the joints of small toes that have become immobile due to
impact injury earlier in life, causing poor blood circulation that leads
to
gout.
Patients with longstanding hyperuricemia can have uric acid crystal
deposits
called tophi (singular: tophus) in other tissues such as the helix of the
ear. Elevated levels of uric acid in the urine can lead to uric acid
crystals precipitating in the kidneys or bladder, forming uric acid kidney
stones.
I do not think I have gout problem. But is there simple test I can do
myself? Or, I have to ask my doctor to perform this at lab? Thank you.
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