A person who has gout of the elbow will most likely experience pain, discomfort, and inflammation. These symptoms might vary in intensity depending on how severe the case of case is. Many people tend to experience symptoms either late at night or very early in the morning. Sometimes, the symptoms can be so painful that they might render a person unable to go about his daily activities. There is no cure for any type of gout, including that which occurs in the elbow, but there are prescription medicines that may help with managing the symptoms.
In many cases, the first symptom a person will experience from gout in the elbow is pain, which might last for several hours before abating. Once the pain disappears, it normally turns into lingering discomfort. There also may be some visible signs in the elbow, such as skin redness, swelling, and possibly peeling or flaking. When symptoms disappear, a person might go for several weeks or months before gout problems return again.
Gout of the elbow occurs when large deposits of uric acid build up inside the elbow joint and crystallize. In addition to affecting the elbow, gout might also cause problems in other joints, including the toes, knees, and ankles. Men tend to experience gout more often than women, but it is not uncommon for women to begin having gout attacks once they have finished going through menopause. Medical professionals normally have to conduct both a blood test and a joint fluid test to make a firm diagnosis in any person experiencing gout-like symptoms.
Even though gout of the elbow is usually painful and uncomfortable for the majority of people who have it, there are things that may help ease the pain during attacks as well as prevent attacks from occurring. Anti-inflammatory pain relievers, available both over-the-counter and through prescription, tend to help a great deal with managing gout-related pain. There are also several different medicines available that prevent the body from producing large amounts of uric acid, which could keep gout attacks from occurring. People who are experiencing very painful gout in any area of the body might be able to get immediate, temporary relief with steroid injections in their joints. These injections are usually very helpful, but they cannot be given regularly because they have potential long-term problems that might result if the injections are received regularly.
