Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Goutis a type ofinflammatory arthritis. It generally affects one joint at a time—often the big toe. People who live with gout experience periods known as flares, times when symptoms worsen, as well as times of remission, during which there are no symptoms. Gout flares are sometimes calledgout attacks.
Gout can affect any joint, including the wrist, but having wrist gout is rare, especially on its own.Having gout in more than one joint is calledpolyarticulargout. People who experience gout in the wrist will find their affected wrist suddenly painful and swollen. Fortunately, gout in the wrist is manageable and treatable.
This article will cover the signs and symptoms of gout in the wrist, its causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Signs and Symptoms of Gout in the Wrist
Gout in the wrist is not as common as gout in the big toe.This makes it harder for healthcare providers to diagnose.
If you experience gout in your wrist, symptoms will come on quickly and become severe. In people with gout of the wrist, often only one of their wrists is affected, but both wrists can be. It is also possible for gout to affect the hand and wrist simultaneously.
According to a 2018 study reported in the journalEuropean Radiology, clinical symptoms of wrist or hand gout might include:
Additional symptoms of gout in the wrist might include:
You should see a healthcare provider if you have wrist pain and swelling. Gout flares will worsen with repeated episodes. Untreated or severe gout can cause permanent joint damage and affect your ability to use affected joints. Therefore, it is vital to work with a healthcare provider to get gout symptoms and flares under control.
Gout in the Thumb: Could Your Thumb Pain Be a Sign of Gout?
Causes of Gout
The cause of a gout flare is too muchuric acidin the body.The body generally expels uric acid in the urine, but for some people, uric acid increases to abnormal levels. When this happens, the uric acid crystallizes in the affected joints.
With gout of the wrist, the crystals will build up in the wrist and its surrounding tendons.They will also accumulate in thesynovial space(joint lining) of the wrist, causing pain and inflammation.
Gout is linked to specific risk factors—some of which are modifiable and others that are not.
Risk factors include:
Can You Have Gout in Your Heel?
Gout in the wrist is sometimes misdiagnosed because other conditions cause similar symptoms, including different types of inflammatory arthritis. Getting an early diagnosis and starting treatment as soon as possible are the best ways to avoid irreversible damage to your wrist.
Diagnosing gout of the wrist starts with an examination of the wrist. Your healthcare provider will check the affected wrist for tenderness, redness, warmth, and swelling. They will also ask about your family history of gout and other inflammatory diseases.
If your healthcare provider suspects you have gout, they will request additional testing to confirm the diagnosis.
Testing for gout includes:
Your primary care provider will likely request testing and examine your affected wrist. After making a diagnosis, they will refer you to arheumatologist, a doctor specializing in joint and connective tissue diseases.
A rheumatologist can provide you with more specialized care, especially if your gout is severe or you have experienced joint damage.
Wrist Pain Causes and How to Treat It
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the goals for treating gout in any affected joint are:
Gout in the wrist is typically treated withnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), a targeted medicine called Colcrys (colchicine), andcorticosteroidsto manage flare-ups. Your healthcare provider might also recommend self-management strategies you can incorporate daily to help with symptoms and keep flares at bay.
NSAIDs: NSAIDs, such as aspirin or Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen) can treat pain and inflammation. They are commonly given during a gout attack and are discontinued when symptoms are resolved.
Colchicine: Oral colchicine can be given to stop a gout attack.
Corticosteroid: A corticosteroid can be given as an injection or in pill form. These medicines can help to control pain and bring down inflammation.
If you are someone who experiences frequent gout attacks, your healthcare provider might prescribe medications to reduce the amount of uric acid in your body. For example, some medicines like Zyloprim (allopurinol) block uric acid production, whereas others like Probalan (probenecid) can help improve uric acid removal from the body.
Self-management techniques can help you to better manage gout symptoms, including:
Surgery is usually the last option for treating gout of the wrist. If gout has caused damage to your wrist or tendons, your healthcare provider might recommend surgical treatment to repair the wrist.
How Gout Is Treated
Summary
Gout in the wrist is rare, but it can be excruciating for people who experience it. Symptoms include wrist swelling, stiffness, restricted movement, and fever. Treatment for gout of the wrist consists of medications, self-management strategies, and surgery as a last result.
Talk to a healthcare provider if you experience gout symptoms or have wrist pain that doesn’t go away with at-home treatment. Gout in the wrist can lead to permanent joint or tendon damage if left untreated.
A Word From Verywell
Most people with gout can live normal and productive lives if diagnosed early. But untreated wrist gout can lead to joint damage, severe pain, hand and wrist problems, kidney stones, and renal dysfunction.
Make sure you check in with your treating provider regularly and take steps to lower your uric acid levels. These are the best ways to ensure a positive outlook and reduce wrist pain and other joint problems.
Gout in the wrist can be painful. A gout attack will come on suddenly and quickly, and the wrist can become swollen, red, warm, and tender. Some people might have a fever and restricted movement of the wrist.Learn MoreHow to Strengthen Your Wrists
Gout in the wrist can be painful. A gout attack will come on suddenly and quickly, and the wrist can become swollen, red, warm, and tender. Some people might have a fever and restricted movement of the wrist.
Learn MoreHow to Strengthen Your Wrists
A gout attack can last from a week to four weeks. During this time, it is crucial to get treatment. Untreated gout can lead to joint damage and more frequent gout attacks.
Gout can also be mistaken for other types of inflammatory arthritis, including septic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.
Learn MorePseudogout vs. Gout: What’s the Difference?
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Klauser AS, Halpern EJ, Strobl S, et al.Gout of hand and wrist: the value of US as compared with DECT.Eur Radiol. 2018;28(10):4174-4181. doi:10.1007/s00330-018-5363-9Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective - A review.J Adv Res. 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008Oh YJ, Moon KW.Presence of tophi is associated with a rapid decline in the renal function in patients with gout.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):5684. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-84980-6American College of Rheumatology.Gout.MacFarlane LA, Kim SC.Gout: a review of nonmodifiable and modifiable risk factors.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2014;40(4):581-604. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2014.07.002Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Fields, TR. Hospital for Special Surgery.Gout: Risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Klauser AS, Halpern EJ, Strobl S, et al.Gout of hand and wrist: the value of US as compared with DECT.Eur Radiol. 2018;28(10):4174-4181. doi:10.1007/s00330-018-5363-9Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective - A review.J Adv Res. 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008Oh YJ, Moon KW.Presence of tophi is associated with a rapid decline in the renal function in patients with gout.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):5684. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-84980-6American College of Rheumatology.Gout.MacFarlane LA, Kim SC.Gout: a review of nonmodifiable and modifiable risk factors.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2014;40(4):581-604. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2014.07.002Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Fields, TR. Hospital for Special Surgery.Gout: Risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Klauser AS, Halpern EJ, Strobl S, et al.Gout of hand and wrist: the value of US as compared with DECT.Eur Radiol. 2018;28(10):4174-4181. doi:10.1007/s00330-018-5363-9Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective - A review.J Adv Res. 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008Oh YJ, Moon KW.Presence of tophi is associated with a rapid decline in the renal function in patients with gout.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):5684. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-84980-6American College of Rheumatology.Gout.MacFarlane LA, Kim SC.Gout: a review of nonmodifiable and modifiable risk factors.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2014;40(4):581-604. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2014.07.002Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Fields, TR. Hospital for Special Surgery.Gout: Risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.
Klauser AS, Halpern EJ, Strobl S, et al.Gout of hand and wrist: the value of US as compared with DECT.Eur Radiol. 2018;28(10):4174-4181. doi:10.1007/s00330-018-5363-9
Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective - A review.J Adv Res. 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008
Oh YJ, Moon KW.Presence of tophi is associated with a rapid decline in the renal function in patients with gout.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):5684. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-84980-6
American College of Rheumatology.Gout.
MacFarlane LA, Kim SC.Gout: a review of nonmodifiable and modifiable risk factors.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2014;40(4):581-604. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2014.07.002
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.
Fields, TR. Hospital for Special Surgery.Gout: Risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.
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