Compassionate care tailored to your needs

Compassionate
care tailored
to your needs

Expert diagnosis and treatment for rheumatological conditions

Expert diagnosis and treatment for rheumatological conditions

Collaborative approach for informed decision-making

Collaborative
approach for informed
decision-making

Conveniently located in Cairns for accessible care

Conveniently located
in Cairns for
accessible care

Focus on improving function and relieving pain

Focus on improving function and relieving pain

GOUT

Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs due to the decades long accumulation of sodium urate, which crystalizes into deposits in joints and tissue. This sodium urate lies dormant, until an event triggers a flare of gout. Common triggers are local injury, general illness and some foods. Gout is more common over the age of 40, and more common in men.

Causes of Gout

The underlying cause of Gout is the build up over decades, of sodium urate crystals in tissue and joints. A trigger then leads to a gout attack – however, the underlying cause is the presence of these crystals.

What are the causes of sodium urate crustal deposition:

  • Genetics
  • Kidney disease
  • Diuretics
  • Smoking and heavy alcohol
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes

Are you experiencing any of the above symptoms?
Book a consultation with Dr Grundy today.

How To Get Rid Of Gout

Diagnosis of Gout

The gold standard of diagnosis is a sample of fluid taken from a swollen oint during an attack showing the microscopic crystals of sodium urate. Often this is not possible due to the resolution of the attack before clinic, or due to it affecting a small joint. Other methods that can assist a diagnosis include a thorough history and examination from a Rheumatologist, as well as blood tests, and a Dual energy CT of a joint that has previously been affected (typically foot or lower limb).

Treatment Options for Gout

There are three main principles of gout treatment: Firstly, the treatment of active flares with NSAIDS, Colchicine or prednisolone

Secondly, the prevention of flares when undergoing treatment to lower urate burden – your Rheumatologist will determine if this step is necessary for you.

Thirdly, and most importantly, is concerted effort at urate lowering, with urate lowering medications that encourage kidneys to flush out excess urate. This step involves usually Allopurinol or a similar medication, with increasing doses aimed at achieving a target blood urate level to ensure the body is adequately flushing out urate. Without this step, long term, long term absence of gout attacks is unlikely to be achieved.

Contact Us

If you feel you have a condition or symptoms that may benefit from a Rheumatologist opinion, please seek a referral from your usual treating General Practitioner, and arrange for this to be forwarded to our clinic rooms. Once this referral is received our reception staff will contact you to discuss a booking time.

For further queries, please contact the clinic either by phone during business hours Monday-Friday, or by email.

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