Update to my fingers swelling problem

[Purplegloss]

Well, yesterday, I had a full hand x-ray, which I won't get the result for just yet, but my GP also added a urate test to my usual CRP and ESR blood test. ESR is fine at 10, CRP is abnormal at 32, my normal is usually between 12 and 15. Urate is abnormal, and says I have Gout!! That really makes me feel old. Is Gout the same as arthritis? It says Plasma urate level (XaDvn) 0.27 mmol/1(0.14 0.36) Normal urate levels may be found during an attack of gout. In patients on treatment aim for a level below 300umolL. Even if target is achieved gout may occur for up to 12 months. Prophylactic treatment (Colchicine or NSAID) is recommended for up to 6 months. This value has been converted from 274.0 umol/L

GP hasn't prescribed anything, so advise please as to where I go from here. Currently going down from 2.5mg to 2.25mg over 6 week period, which I shall stop doing now of course.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis - and you don't have to be old to have it!! Patients can be in their 20s and have gout. It isn't always due to high living either!!

Yes, stop reducing the pred for now until it is sorted out. Actually, a short course of pred can be used to relieve the pain of a flare of gout - it had an instant effect on my husband and the GP agreed with me it was preferable to the other medications for him given his history. So in your place - I would ask if you can try it since you shouldn't be taking NSAIDs together with pred longterm (or at all at your age of over 65 - doubles the risk of kidney injury so why most use of NSAIDs is in over 65s is questionable!!!)

[Purplegloss in reply to PMRpro]

What do you suggest I go up to Pro and for how long?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Purplegloss]

Not for me to say - discuss it with your GP because you will need some pred. It is the sort of dose used for acute chest propblems or the like too. This paper about it says 30-40mg for 5 days and that worked really well for my husband.