Get Your Gout Problem Solved at Specialized Arthritis and

Medical Clinics in Singapore

A/Prof Leong Keng HongSenior Consultant Rheumatologist

GoutGout is a kind of arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis-a red, hot swollen joint. The most commonly affected region is the metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe. Gout is caused due to increased level of uric acid in blood which crystallizes and gets deposited in the joints, tendons and neighboring tissues causing inflammation, swelling and pain.

(image resource : http://www.gnet.org/gout-no-longer-just-the-affliction-of-kings/)

Signs and Symptoms

Gout has following signs and symptoms:

Warmth, pain, swelling, and extreme tenderness in the joints, usually a big toe joint. This symptom is called podagra.

Very red or purplish skin around the affected joint. The joint may be infected.

Limited movement in the affected joint. Peeling and itching of the skin around the affected joint as

the gout gets better. Gout may lead to inflammation of the fluid sacs (bursae)

that cushion the tissues, particularly in the elbow (olecranon bursitis) and knee (prepatellar bursitis).

Gout can also affect the joints of the feet, ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows.

Symptoms may occur after an illness or surgery.

Causes

Gout can seem to flare up without any specific cause. However, the causes of gout can be-

Certain conditions related to diet and body weight, such as being overweight, eating a diet rich in meat and seafood (high-purine foods), and drinking too much alcohol.

There are many medicines that may increase uric acid concentration, such as regular use of aspirin or niacin or use of medicines that reduce the amount of salt and water in the body (diuretics).

Major illness or certain medical conditions, such as rapid weight loss or high blood pressure.

TreatmentHome Treatment: To decrease the pain of an attack- rest the affected joint until the attack eases, elevate painful joints, use ice to reduce the swelling and take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to reduce pain.

(image resource : http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-gout.html)

Medicine choices

This treatment uses short and long term medicines. Short-term medicines such as NSAIDS, Colchicine and corticosteriods, etc can be used to reduce pain and inflammation during acute attack. Long term medicines are used to lower uric acid levels in blood. These medicines include -Uricosuric agents, Xanthine oxidase inhibitors, Colchicine and Pegloticase (Krystexxa).

If gout symptoms appear off and on without treatment for more than 10 years, uric acid crystals may have been built up to form tophi. If tophi are causing infection, pain, pressure, and deformed joints, the doctor may be able to treat them with medicines. But if gout conditions don’t respond to medication, the doctors may recommend a surgery to remove them.

These treatment methods and procedures are available at many speciality clinics in Singapore. One of such clinics is Leong Keng Hong Arthritis and Medical Clinic in Singapore which offers services to cure- joint pain & arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), inflammatory muscle disease (eg. polymyositis, dermatomyositis), scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, gout and many more.

CONCLUSION

Gout, if not treated on time, becomes horribly painful and unbearable. So as soon as any of the signs and symptoms of gout appears, one should immediately consult a specialist. In Singapore, there are many clinics where treatment for gout is provided and one of them is Leong Keng Hong Arthritis and Medical Clinic. It provides all the treatment facilities and services to cure gout. That’s why one should visit a renowned and specialized clinic that assures results in little time.

A/Prof Leong Keng HongSenior Consultant Rheumatologist

MBBS (Singapore) Master of Medicine (Singapore) Doctor of Medicine

Member of the Royal College of Physicians (UK) Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, (Singapore) Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh)

Tel: (65) 6472 4337 Fax: (65) 6472 0691 Email: info@leongkenghong.comWebsite: www.leongkenghong.com

Operating Hours:Monday to Saturday: 9 am to 12.30pm Monday to Friday: 2.30pm to 4.30pm Close on Sunday & PH

Leong Keng Hong Arthritis and Medical Clinic 6 Napier Road, #04-18 Gleneagles Medical Centre, Singapore 258499