Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Feb 1, 2020
Hi, @kathy1946 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I moved your post here to this existing discussion on pseudogout so that you can meet and talk with others who are familiar with this condition like @cscarter@dpframing@rlbry1942@kauaimac and others.
Since NSAIDS aren't an option for you, have you been able to take any medication for this so far, kathy1946? If so, what are you taking and how is it going for you?
Hi ~ I am on Entyvio (infusion every 8 weeks) Ocrevus every 6 months . I take Fampyra, vit D & 500mg metformin ( for the last 3 months to see if it will help regrow my myelin . I take different health drinks like vegan energy.
How does one verify where their pseudogout is coming from. I am currently 60 yo and was diagnosed with pseudo gout when I was 45. I have read that it generally does have an onset until you are 85 or more. I had a sever accident when I was 23 that put me in a semi coma and double compound fracture that eventually led to a fused ankle. How do I differentiate from the accident causing the pseudogout or some other problem?
Good evening and welcome to Connect. @pfreeman61. You have arrived at a very welcoming community of other members who can share their experiences. Your hosts or mentors are folks who have been patients, providers, and caregivers. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for every member.
I am drawn to your post because of the introduction of a word I haven't heard in quite a few years: pseudogout. Where is yours located...knee or that ankle? What have you done to ameliorate the discomfort? Has your clinician drained the area for you? Did that work at all? And, if you don't mind, do you or have you had Baker's Cysts?
Mine was in my left knee, a common site for pseudogout. A total knee replacement with complete removal of the pseudogout crystals was the only viable solution.
Mine is in both knees and the ankle. The left knee is much worse than the right. The only thing I have found to lessen the pain is to keep the joint completely still. I also get some relief from hot soaks (heating pad doesn’t seem to help). The VA is actually “treating” me. It appears I need both knees to be totally replaced. At 60!!! I was told this originally when I was 56. VA says there is no relation between the accident that caused me to have my ankle fused and my pseudo gout. This doesn’t make sense to me because there is no history in my family of gout or pseudo gout. I had a doctor 4 years ago that thought I had a miniscus tear and went in to repair it just to realize that I didn’t have a miniscus.🤣
I have read before the links you provided, but do not have any of the issues listed. This is why I can only associate it to my accident. I can’t find anything on how soon the pseudo gout starts after a trauma. I also haven’t been able to find anything that would tell me if over dependence on my left knee aft my ankle fusion could also cause the pseudo gout (trauma).
How does one verify where their pseudogout is coming from. I am currently 60 yo and was diagnosed with pseudo gout when I was 45. I have read that it generally does have an onset until you are 85 or more. I had a sever accident when I was 23 that put me in a semi coma and double compound fracture that eventually led to a fused ankle. How do I differentiate from the accident causing the pseudogout or some other problem?
Good evening and welcome to Connect. @pfreeman61. You have arrived at a very welcoming community of other members who can share their experiences. Your hosts or mentors are folks who have been patients, providers, and caregivers. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for every member.
I am drawn to your post because of the introduction of a word I haven't heard in quite a few years: pseudogout. Where is yours located...knee or that ankle? What have you done to ameliorate the discomfort? Has your clinician drained the area for you? Did that work at all? And, if you don't mind, do you or have you had Baker's Cysts?
Mine was in my left knee, a common site for pseudogout. A total knee replacement with complete removal of the pseudogout crystals was the only viable solution.
How does one verify where their pseudogout is coming from. I am currently 60 yo and was diagnosed with pseudo gout when I was 45. I have read that it generally does have an onset until you are 85 or more. I had a sever accident when I was 23 that put me in a semi coma and double compound fracture that eventually led to a fused ankle. How do I differentiate from the accident causing the pseudogout or some other problem?
@pfreeman61 It sounds like you have a couple medical alignments happening at once. You will notice that I moved your question into an existing discussion on pseudo gout. I did this so you could connect with members like @gingerw@johnbishop@eden that have experience discussing this topic and may be a good resource for you. You may also be interested in a previous discussion on gout that I linked below.
I know you feel the V.A. doctors may be incorrect in not seeing a relationship with the previous trauma, gout, and needing a knee replacement. I'm wondering if a second opinion is an option available to you?
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Nov 14, 2020
@pfreeman61 I've had episodes of gout once my 50s and once in my 60s. In my case I think it had to do with my diet and being overweight. From what I've read about gout, the medical community really doesn't know what specifically causes pseudogout. Here is some easy to understand information on gout and pseudogout - https://www.healthline.com/health/pseudogout
Gout and pseudogout are both forms of arthritis. I also have polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) which was explained to me as "arthritis all over the body" by my rheumatologist. I think what has helped me keep both in remission is diet and losing some weight. It's a lifetime struggle for me because I've been able to eliminate most processed foods and all fast foods, I still like not so healthy snacks once in awhile.
A friend of mine has had both of his knees replaced by the VA and he is in his late 50s. He was in an Army Airborne unit so I imagine that didn't help with the knees plus I'm sure he has arthritis. I just had my right knee replaced a little over a year ago and it has really helped with the mobility. Are you looking to have both knee replacements done at the VA?
How does one verify where their pseudogout is coming from. I am currently 60 yo and was diagnosed with pseudo gout when I was 45. I have read that it generally does have an onset until you are 85 or more. I had a sever accident when I was 23 that put me in a semi coma and double compound fracture that eventually led to a fused ankle. How do I differentiate from the accident causing the pseudogout or some other problem?
@pfreeman61 Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your situation sounds concerning to you. @johnbishop offered you some sound advice.
I have gout issues, and frankly had not heard of pseudogout! My body has wierd things going on, anyway, and my uric acid levels caused gout problems. I take allopurinol to decrease that, but still find keeping a healthy diet to be critical for me. Overdoing it on sugary sweets can bring on my gout, as well as shellfish and pork products.
Mine is in both knees and the ankle. The left knee is much worse than the right. The only thing I have found to lessen the pain is to keep the joint completely still. I also get some relief from hot soaks (heating pad doesn’t seem to help). The VA is actually “treating” me. It appears I need both knees to be totally replaced. At 60!!! I was told this originally when I was 56. VA says there is no relation between the accident that caused me to have my ankle fused and my pseudo gout. This doesn’t make sense to me because there is no history in my family of gout or pseudo gout. I had a doctor 4 years ago that thought I had a miniscus tear and went in to repair it just to realize that I didn’t have a miniscus.🤣
I have read before the links you provided, but do not have any of the issues listed. This is why I can only associate it to my accident. I can’t find anything on how soon the pseudo gout starts after a trauma. I also haven’t been able to find anything that would tell me if over dependence on my left knee aft my ankle fusion could also cause the pseudo gout (trauma).
Good evening @pfreeman61, Thank you for letting me know that you have been gathering knowledge about pseudogout. Now, we are on the same page. I feel rather strongly about this because I lived with it and studied as much as a patient could about it. I was a member of a walking group that did inn to inn walks around the world. Pseudogout pretty much ended my favorite activity.....walking.
So here is what I understand today..........
Pseudogout is similar to regular gout except that the damaging crystals are a different chemical makeup and tend to congregate in joints, frequently the knee.
It is important to analyze the calcium and magnesium congregation in your body. Over or under can make a difference in this form of arthritis.
The crystals can gather around the edge of the meniscus and damage it. That is why your surgeon or clinician may want to try draining the area. As s/he extracts the synovial fluid in the joint area, many pseudogout crystals can also be withdrawn.
Eventually, without any other treatment, the joint may need surgery to eliminate the crystals completely. I never have experienced pseudogout again after my knee replacement.
I also noted that a prior traumatic injury can be a factor in the sudden arrival of the crystals. I don't know if that means at that affected joint or another place in your body.
So...you have now received the essence of my experience and research. I know you have heard from some other folks. @pfreeman61, it is just a fact of medicine that there are many types of presenting situations and sometimes just as many patients with varying results from medical treatments.
Trust is the keyword in this situation. You want to gather information from folks you can trust. You turned to Connect. And now you need to find a clinician who also earns your trust.
My very best to you. I can't help sharing with you that Connect has just been named the number one non-profit online community in the United States. You are helping us stay on top. Give me feedback and I will do whatever I can to fulfill your need for information.
@pfreeman61 Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your situation sounds concerning to you. @johnbishop offered you some sound advice.
I have gout issues, and frankly had not heard of pseudogout! My body has wierd things going on, anyway, and my uric acid levels caused gout problems. I take allopurinol to decrease that, but still find keeping a healthy diet to be critical for me. Overdoing it on sugary sweets can bring on my gout, as well as shellfish and pork products.
Pseudogout is the buildup of calcium crystals in the joints as Chris Trout so eloquently described. The only similarity it has with gout is the pain and it attacks joints. Medical science still isn’t completely sure how one gets it. They do know that there are several things that people that have it had in common. I have none of those issues other than a traumatic injury.
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Hi, @kathy1946 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I moved your post here to this existing discussion on pseudogout so that you can meet and talk with others who are familiar with this condition like @cscarter @dpframing @rlbry1942 @kauaimac and others.
Since NSAIDS aren't an option for you, have you been able to take any medication for this so far, kathy1946? If so, what are you taking and how is it going for you?
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi ~ I am on Entyvio (infusion every 8 weeks) Ocrevus every 6 months . I take Fampyra, vit D & 500mg metformin ( for the last 3 months to see if it will help regrow my myelin . I take different health drinks like vegan energy.
How does one verify where their pseudogout is coming from. I am currently 60 yo and was diagnosed with pseudo gout when I was 45. I have read that it generally does have an onset until you are 85 or more. I had a sever accident when I was 23 that put me in a semi coma and double compound fracture that eventually led to a fused ankle. How do I differentiate from the accident causing the pseudogout or some other problem?
Mine is in both knees and the ankle. The left knee is much worse than the right. The only thing I have found to lessen the pain is to keep the joint completely still. I also get some relief from hot soaks (heating pad doesn’t seem to help). The VA is actually “treating” me. It appears I need both knees to be totally replaced. At 60!!! I was told this originally when I was 56. VA says there is no relation between the accident that caused me to have my ankle fused and my pseudo gout. This doesn’t make sense to me because there is no history in my family of gout or pseudo gout. I had a doctor 4 years ago that thought I had a miniscus tear and went in to repair it just to realize that I didn’t have a miniscus.🤣
I have read before the links you provided, but do not have any of the issues listed. This is why I can only associate it to my accident. I can’t find anything on how soon the pseudo gout starts after a trauma. I also haven’t been able to find anything that would tell me if over dependence on my left knee aft my ankle fusion could also cause the pseudo gout (trauma).
Good evening and welcome to Connect. @pfreeman61. You have arrived at a very welcoming community of other members who can share their experiences. Your hosts or mentors are folks who have been patients, providers, and caregivers. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for every member.
I am drawn to your post because of the introduction of a word I haven't heard in quite a few years: pseudogout. Where is yours located...knee or that ankle? What have you done to ameliorate the discomfort? Has your clinician drained the area for you? Did that work at all? And, if you don't mind, do you or have you had Baker's Cysts?
Mine was in my left knee, a common site for pseudogout. A total knee replacement with complete removal of the pseudogout crystals was the only viable solution.
You may find valuable information at this Mayo Clinic link:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pseudogout/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376988
Would you mind sharing some more information with us, e.g. Do you have a relationship with a clinician at this time? It would be helpful to know and understand your current situation.
May you be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris
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1 Reaction@pfreeman61 It sounds like you have a couple medical alignments happening at once. You will notice that I moved your question into an existing discussion on pseudo gout. I did this so you could connect with members like @gingerw @johnbishop @eden that have experience discussing this topic and may be a good resource for you. You may also be interested in a previous discussion on gout that I linked below.
What are the best ways to manage Gout? Diet ideas welcome
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gout-1/
I know you feel the V.A. doctors may be incorrect in not seeing a relationship with the previous trauma, gout, and needing a knee replacement. I'm wondering if a second opinion is an option available to you?
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@pfreeman61 I've had episodes of gout once my 50s and once in my 60s. In my case I think it had to do with my diet and being overweight. From what I've read about gout, the medical community really doesn't know what specifically causes pseudogout. Here is some easy to understand information on gout and pseudogout - https://www.healthline.com/health/pseudogout
Gout and pseudogout are both forms of arthritis. I also have polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) which was explained to me as "arthritis all over the body" by my rheumatologist. I think what has helped me keep both in remission is diet and losing some weight. It's a lifetime struggle for me because I've been able to eliminate most processed foods and all fast foods, I still like not so healthy snacks once in awhile.
A friend of mine has had both of his knees replaced by the VA and he is in his late 50s. He was in an Army Airborne unit so I imagine that didn't help with the knees plus I'm sure he has arthritis. I just had my right knee replaced a little over a year ago and it has really helped with the mobility. Are you looking to have both knee replacements done at the VA?
@pfreeman61 Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your situation sounds concerning to you. @johnbishop offered you some sound advice.
I have gout issues, and frankly had not heard of pseudogout! My body has wierd things going on, anyway, and my uric acid levels caused gout problems. I take allopurinol to decrease that, but still find keeping a healthy diet to be critical for me. Overdoing it on sugary sweets can bring on my gout, as well as shellfish and pork products.
Here is a Mayo Clinic article on pseudogout that you might find helpful https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pseudogout/symptoms-causes/syc-20376983
Ginger
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2 ReactionsGood evening @pfreeman61, Thank you for letting me know that you have been gathering knowledge about pseudogout. Now, we are on the same page. I feel rather strongly about this because I lived with it and studied as much as a patient could about it. I was a member of a walking group that did inn to inn walks around the world. Pseudogout pretty much ended my favorite activity.....walking.
So here is what I understand today..........
Pseudogout is similar to regular gout except that the damaging crystals are a different chemical makeup and tend to congregate in joints, frequently the knee.
It is important to analyze the calcium and magnesium congregation in your body. Over or under can make a difference in this form of arthritis.
The crystals can gather around the edge of the meniscus and damage it. That is why your surgeon or clinician may want to try draining the area. As s/he extracts the synovial fluid in the joint area, many pseudogout crystals can also be withdrawn.
Eventually, without any other treatment, the joint may need surgery to eliminate the crystals completely. I never have experienced pseudogout again after my knee replacement.
I also noted that a prior traumatic injury can be a factor in the sudden arrival of the crystals. I don't know if that means at that affected joint or another place in your body.
So...you have now received the essence of my experience and research. I know you have heard from some other folks. @pfreeman61, it is just a fact of medicine that there are many types of presenting situations and sometimes just as many patients with varying results from medical treatments.
Trust is the keyword in this situation. You want to gather information from folks you can trust. You turned to Connect. And now you need to find a clinician who also earns your trust.
My very best to you. I can't help sharing with you that Connect has just been named the number one non-profit online community in the United States. You are helping us stay on top. Give me feedback and I will do whatever I can to fulfill your need for information.
Chris
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsPseudogout is the buildup of calcium crystals in the joints as Chris Trout so eloquently described. The only similarity it has with gout is the pain and it attacks joints. Medical science still isn’t completely sure how one gets it. They do know that there are several things that people that have it had in common. I have none of those issues other than a traumatic injury.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions