A question from a reader today prompted me to take another look at my pseudogout page.
Everything was OK - just a bit missing about causes and potential treatments.
Pseudogout Causes
Though we know that pseudogout is caused by a buildup of calcium joints, we do not know all the reasons for this buildup.
Risks increase with age. 3% of people in their 60s get it, rising to 50% in their 90s. Pseudogout affects men and women equally. In general, their may be a hereditary risk factor. Dietary calcium does not appear to affect calcium deposits.
Specific factors that can trigger pseudogout are:
- Excessive calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia)
- Excess iron storage (hemochromatosis)
- low magnesium levels in blood
- overactive parathyroid gland
- severely underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
Pseudogout Treatments
I have said that there are no known treatments for pseudogout, other than pain relief. The pain relief options are similar to those listed on my gout pain relief page. However, if pseudogout is caused by one of the underlying conditions I listed above, then treating that can slow down the development of pseudogout.
As with gout, it is important to consult a rheumatologist if you have, or suspect pseudogout. You can find a local rheumatologist on the College of Rheumatology website. Their listing of rheumatologists covers the USA and most other countries.
If you have experience of pseudogout, please tell me in the comment box below, or on my Contact Form.
Tags: pseudogout, sudo gout, _pseudo-gout, _sudogout
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I am 49 year young female with pseudogout. First diagnosis in 1991 in my right knee.
In 2004 them scoped and removed both lateral and medial meniscus after a severe attack. Only bits remained. 2 plus years later and I am not back to normal and unable to manage with out some pain meds.
Deb,
That’s terrible. I used to think nothing could be worse than gout, but it sounds like pseudogout is.
My sympathies lie with you.
I’m a 61 year old male in excellent physical condition. Diagnosed with pseudogout after flareups in both knees recently. Knees feel normal after treatment with cortisone and several months of recuperation. Can’t take the recommended drug, colchicine without stomach and lower GI upsets. I face a dilemma: strenuous physical activity brought on the original attacks, and I cannot risk a reoccurance. My work and recreational activities involve lots of physical activity. I’m too young and healthy to give these up. Can I manage the disease the same way diabetics do, by injecting this stuff before I engage in physical activity? I gather that no one has either thought of this or tried it, and I admit it seems pretty extreme, but I’m willing to try anything within reason. Thanks
(Addition to my comments) My understanding from doctors I have seen is that colchicine dissolves the crystals involved in pseudo gout and prevents flareups
Hi Steve,
Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory drug, similar to the same substance that is produced naturally in the body, but more powerful.
There is some concern that over-use can impair tendons and cartilage, though there does not appear to be any definitive scientific view on this. Any injection carries a slight risk of causing nerve or blood vessel damage.
I think there may have been some thought of using cortisone for sports injuries, but I have no real knowledge of this.
Any sports injury specialists out there care to comment?
Your second point about colchicine is incorrect. Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory drug. It has no effect on dissolving pseudo gout crystals. As far as I am aware, there is no medication available for dissolving the calcium crystals that cause pseudogout. If the cause of pseudo gout can be determined, then tackling that can have a beneficial effect on pseudogout.
Please remember that I have no medical qualifications. You should consult a rheumatologist to discuss treatment options.
My 28 yr old daughter has just been diagnoised with sudo gout. After orthoscopic surgery 3 weeks ago on her right knee she returned to the ER in EXTREME pain, leg was swollen and hard, Dr.drained of 100 cm of yellow junk and it was sent to pathology, it showed crystals which they believe is sudo gout, also it showed strep, have you ever heard of such? we have been told she will need a knee replacement
I remember one of my clients suffered from gout. He couldn’t work and had to rest for 3 days. This client of mine is only in his early 40’s. Thanks for the relevant links you have provided. I will share those information with him.
Hi, you mentioned that pseudogout typically affects larger joints but is it possible that it could affect the big toe?
My mom has been experiencing spouts of pain in her right big toe. She had a blood test done, and the doctor said that she didn’t have gout because she had normal levels of uric acid.
Unfortunately a huge number of doctors in general practice simply do not understand gout, which is why I almost always recommend seeing a rheumatologist.
When gout crystals form, they remove uric acid from the blood, so uric acid levels are frequently within the normal range during a gout attack.
Pseudo gout can affect the toe joints, so it cannot be ruled out, but the only way to be certain is to have an arthrocentesis test.
Try my find a rheumatologist page.