Pseudogout

Pseudogout General Information

If sudden painful swelling in one or more of your joints appears, then you may be suffering from a severe form of arthritis, known as Pseudogout that literally is synonym with “false gout”. The episodes of pain that characterize this type of medical condition can last for several days or even weeks. This painful disorder affects mainly the adults, and especially the patient’s knees. This disease was named like this thanks to its similarities to regular gout. As in the case of gout, this medical condition leads to the appearance of sudden pain felt in the joints as a result of crystals in the lining of the joints. The difference between these two medical disorders is very obvious as they can be easily distinguished from one another. Unlike true gout (which usually affects only the joint from the big toe), Pseudogout attacks all the large joints of a person’s extremities. Another difference would be the fact that this more complex medical condition is caused by a different type of crystals than gout is (meaning other than monosodium urate). If not treated in time, the pains are extreme. Although there is no medical treatment that can eliminate the crystals, health care providers can help relieving the signs and symptoms and reducing the inflammation caused by Pseudogout. Despite the fact that many studies were done, the specialists have not find out yet why calcium phosphate (especially in the form of crystals) forms in the joints causing these disorders. These two conditions occasionally coexist, meaning that the two types of crystals can appear in the same joint fluid. 

Pseudogout Symptoms

As any other serious medical condition, this one too presents some specific signs and symptoms that can help the specialists differentiate it from other more common disorders. The manifestations of Pseudogout are usually more violent and painful than those of true gout, although can vary in intensity and range from milder to more severe ones. It usually affects one or more joints at the same time. This medical disorder is more commonly affecting the patient’s joints from knees, although other joints may also be involved, for example the elbows, ankles, wrists, shoulders or hands. All the signs and symptoms that this disorder presents are experienced by the majority of patients, but in some rarer cases were reported unique and particular manifestations. If you suffer from Pseudogout, then you might accuse some of the following: warmth in the joint area, stiffness, swelling of the affected joints and sever pain felt in the joint area. These painful episodes that characterize the illness may sometimes be recurrent and may last for a couple of hours, days or even weeks; the “attacks” usually resolve spontaneously. Pseudogout is considered dangerous because if it is not treated in time, it can cause other more severe complications. This type of inflammation can also be inherited, can occur with aging or can be associated with other disorders: hormonal (hypothyroidism or hyperparathyroidism), ochronosis, hemophilia, acromegaly, Wilson disease, amyloidosis or hemochromatosis. All these secondary illnesses are taken in consideration in the first medical evaluation of the patient suspected of having this joint disorder.

Pseudogout Treatment

Pseudogout is a severe medical condition that requires immediate medical attention. If you experience any of the signs and symptoms that are specific for this medical disorder and that we have listed above, we strongly advise you to seek medical guidance as soon as possible, before the pains become too insupportable. You should make an appointment with your personal doctor if your joints start to swell, or sudden intense pain appears. When seeing a doctor, you will first be asked about your symptoms, your family and personal medical history and about any of your habits. After he considers he has received the information needed, he can order some tests to make sure the diagnosis is the correct one. Tests are usually done because thanks to them the health care provider can rule out a diagnosis with other possible similar medical conditions and can apply the adequate treatment option.

The two most common tests are the X-rays and the analysis of the joint fluid. The X-rays will reveal if there is any damage of your joint and can show other conditions triggered by CPPD crystals, for example chondrocalcinosis (crystal deposits in the joint cartilage). The fluid analysis reveals the presence of crystals in the joint fluid and is done by extracting a small sample of fluid from the joint using a needle. After seeing the results of these tests, and if they show that the patient suffers from Pseudogout, the health care provider will continue with applying the proper treatment option. Any type of treatment aims to reduce the swelling and to minimize pain. There are no methods of treatment that can eliminate the CPPD crystals from the patient’s joint. The most common treatment options for Pseudogout are: joint aspiration and injection, medication therapy, rest and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). This last therapy is based on administrating Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil etc) or Indometacin (Indocin), but it has some side effects, for example decreased functioning of the kidneys or stomach bleeding, more commonly in older adults.

The medication therapy is with Colchicine that usually reduces the inflammation in people who suffer from gout, but it also offers great results to patients who can not take NSAIDs. Some of the most common side effects are: nausea and vomiting, bleeding or pain felt in the stomach area. Joint aspiration and injection is used to relieve the pain by introducing a corticosteroid with a needle, removing in the same time some of the joint fluid. This will decrease the inflammation and works also as an anesthetic to partially numb the joint. Rest is important when dealing with Pseudogout because by keeping your joint still and with the help of medicines, the pain will be relieved sooner than expected. You should listen to your doctor if he/she recommends you to limit your action for a short period of time. If these treatment options are not followed strictly or not followed at all, Pseudogout can damage your joints, causing cartilage loss and bone spurs.