Not so typical gout presentation?

[Sean White]

I was diagnosed with gout as a side effect from my chronic kidney disease. I’m interested to know if anyone else has had gout that presents like mine.

Earlier this year while I was up at Mayo Clinic where they found high uric acid in my blood work and did a Dual Energy CT and found small uric acid crystals in all of my smaller hand, knee, and foot joints.

Most mornings when I get out of bed my feet ache horribly for the first 10-15 minutes of walking about. After than it only tends to be an issue when walking on uneven terrain with thin soles. As well if I stub my toe it hurts in the joint for a while. Similarly with my hands if I over extend a joint or it receives a light jarring it also causes pain. I’ve only ever had one proper 2+ flare-up and that was directly related to an increase of Alopurinol dosage. I’ve since stopped taking it as it was causing an allergic rash.

My rhuemetologist finally believes my symptoms are real and seem to be related to the small crystals seen in the previous scan, but she has never heard of it presenting this way. And for now, I’m comfortable dealing with the discomfort to save myself from more potential side effects.

So, has anyone else had similar symptoms of having small uric acid crystals in all little joints, with discomfort, but no typical flare-up?

[Keith Taylor (GoutPal Admin)]

Thanks for sharing that @sean-white. I’ve read many accounts of similar gout presentation, but it is less common than the typical red, swollen joint. I’ve certainly experienced that feeling of general discomfort in my feet without the isolated single joint gout flare.

I’d be interested in knowing your uric acid numbers. Thousands of other gout sufferers will be interested in knowing the location of your DECT scanner, if you don’t mind sharing.

Nice profile pic, by the way. I love bonsai.

[Sean White]

Yeah, I love bonsai as well. The Chicago Botanic Garden has quite a few on permanent display and my avatar is a photo I took of one of them.

When my gout was diagnosed my uric acid was about 10.5 mg/dL. They started me on colchicine and eventually allopurinol which got my numbers down to around 6. But the rash was getting horrible and so I stopped treatment, and it’s taken 2+ months for it to finally stop itching. Interestingly I didn’t notice much of a change in my symptoms once my uric acid was back to ‘normal’ levels.

The DECT scanner was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I don’t know what typical wait times are but I know once my doctor and I decided to have me go to Mayo for a second opinion relating to my kidney disease, I had to wait a couple months for my appointment. For the most part that was a pretty amazing place.

It’s good to know that, while not common, my symptoms are not unique.

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