Urate Deposits Tag

Now, strictly speaking, they don’t always remain hidden, as large deposits form tophi, that can break through the skin. But for our own peace of mind, and to help our doctors diagnosis and treatment, it really is a good idea to see what is happening in our joints.

Traditionally, the only way to test for the presence of uric acid crystals is to analyze fluid from the joints. Recently, there is hope that DECT might eventually replace this invasive procedure, but the huge expense of suitable scanning equipment puts this beyond the reach of most gout patients.

Advances in other medical imaging techniques leads to frequent reviews in professional journals. The most recent[1] of these concludes: Continue reading about Seeing Uric Acid Crystals

Uric acid crystals must be dissolved to permanently get rid of gout pain, but how long does it take to get rid of them?

Like all gouty issues, the answer is never simple. However, we can see some factors that affect the time it takes for crystals to dissolve, and see that the time to start dissolving is now.

In an earlier article, I explained how tophi shrink quicker with lower uric acid concentrations. But this does not mean that once you lower uric acid to a safe level you will immediately stop all gout attacks. In fact, partially dissolved uric acid crystals can start a gout attack, as I explained in Allopurinol Medication: Why It Hurts To Get Rid Of Gout. Though that article looks specifically at allopurinol, the effects of dissolving uric acid crystals might occur with any urate lowering treatment, including diet, until all urate deposits dissolve. But how long does this cleansing period take?
Read the rest of this Uric Acid Crystals article…