A M Jackson wrote:
>> "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.
>
It's a blood test for uric acid - the compound that collects in the
joints and
crystallizes.
The uric acid test is used to learn whether the body might be breaking
down cells too quickly or not getting rid of uric acid quickly enough.
The test also is used to monitor levels of uric acid when a patient has
had chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
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