Gout On Elbow
Gout in the elbow can cause pain and discomfort. There is no cure for the gout but there are treatments to help control symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
Learn more about how gout can affect your elbow.
What are the symptoms gouty elbow?
Gout in the elbow causes pain and discomfort around the affected area. Remember that gout can be unpredictable and affect any joint. You may go for weeks or months without experiencing any symptoms before waking up to a burning elbow pain.
Gout can start in your big toe before spreading to other parts of the body, like your elbow. These flare-ups can last longer over time than before.
What causes and triggers gout elbow?
Hyperuricemia is the accumulation of uric acids in the body. When purines are broken down, uric acid is produced. All your cells contain these compounds. Purines are also found in many foods, including red meat, seafood, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages.
Normaly, uric acids are excreted by your kidneys. This helps to reduce the amount of uric in your urine. Sometimes, your kidneys can’t handle the uric acids. Other times, kidneys may not be able to process the normal amount of uric due to an underlying problem.
This causes more uric acids to circulate throughout your body and end up in your elbows as uric crystals.
What causes gout at the elbow?
In the United States, gout affects approximately 4 percent of adults. Men are more likely to suffer from gout because they have higher levels of uric acids. After menopause women’s uric acids levels start to rise. Women tend to get gout later than men.
Experts don’t know why some people have difficulty processing uric acids or produce too much. There’s proof the condition is genetic.
You may also be at risk for gout if you:
Consuming a lot high-purine food
Foods and beverages, particularly alcohol, which increase the production of uric acids
being overweight
High blood pressure and heart failure are also factors that can increase your risk of gout. Diuretics can also increase the risk.