Can You Have Gout Without Swelling?

Posted on Wed, 25 Jun 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 25 Jun 2014 Answered on

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : can you have gout with out swelling

Answered by Dr. Minhaj Syed (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, in chronic stage of gout.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes, you can have gout without swelling.
Gout has 2 stages.Acute stage is one in which you have all acute inflammatory signs like redness, swelling and pain( the most common site being 1st meta tarso phallangeal joint of foot).During this stage anti inflammatory drugs, with ice packs is the solution. Uricosuric drugs are contraindicated.
The second stage is chronic stage during which there is no redness or swelling. During this stage treatment is Uricosuric drugs.
Chronic stage may have acute exacerbations on and off. But the frequency of these attacks can be gradually reduced with treatment over a period of time.
Sometimes , when uric acid levels are too high , it may cause swelling (gouty deposits) specifically in some regions like posterior aspect of knee.
Reduced protein diet is a prerequisite. This causes decreased protein breakdown and hence decreased uric acid formation.

hope I have answered your question.
wish u a speedy recovery
regards,
Dr.syed minhaj XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj