Does increase in uric acid cause joint pains ?

Through this post we would like to clear misunderstandings about uric acid and its relation to joint pains.

In most people, there is no relation of increase in uric acid to their joint pains. In most of these people pain in the body is not due to uric acid. But, non-specialist doctors give many such patients medicine to lower uric acid, when it is not needed.

Uric acid and joint pains – any relation ?

What is uric acid and why is it present in our body ?

We all have uric acid in our body. Our body is constantly destroying old cells and forming new cells. Uric acid is like a side product in this process. There are many assumptions, but till date we have not been able to find out exact role of uric acid in the body. Kidney removes uric acid in urine. Replacement of cells is a continuous process. It is obvious that some uric acid in our blood will be always found.

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Does uric acid increase have any relation to joint pains ?

It is natural for of uric acid to increase with age. It is also natural to have pain in some joints with increasing age. This does not mean that they are connected with each other. For example, if I dance somewhere and at the same time there is an earthquake, it does not mean that earthquake happened due to my dance. Both things have happened together. In most people, increased uric acid is either age related or due to poor lifestyle habits. They might be consuming lot of non-healthy things in the food and do not have any activity or exercise at all. Some people have a genetic tendency to have increased uric acid. One just needs to control their lifestyle if that is the case. Otherwise there is no need to control slightly raised uric acid. Also, don’t blame uric acid for non-specific joint pains.

Most body pain and joint pain seen in general public has no special reason identified. Many people suffer from joint pain due to age, vitamin D deficiency, lack of exercise, osteoarthritis (age related arthritis) etc.  Only some of them need special treatment for it. If in doubt of any other types of arthritis, show a rheumatologist.

What is Rheumatology & arthritis ? Who is a Rheumatologist?

My uric acid is slightly raised ? Should I take medicines or have restrictions in diet to decrease uric acid ?

Many non-specialist doctors give the medicine to reduce uric acid without any problems. This is not correct. When a person gets a little raised uric acid, they also tell the person to have a lot of dietary restrictions such as avoiding milk, yogurt, tomatoes, cabbage, lentils (eg: kidney beans, chana dal, green gram), non-vegetarian food, alcohol, etc. Many times such patients survive only on boiled moong dal (green lentils) or boiled vegetables. There is no need for this. If most such patients improve their routine lifestyle, eat healthy food, stay active, keep weight in control, drink water in good measure, that is enough. Anyway, there is no need to fear the slightly increased uric acid. If one’s life is ok and otherwise they are healthy there is no need to do anything else.

Like we said, if you have minor pain here and there, than in most cases the reason is not uric acid. If your doctor cannot find a cause, than consult a rheumatologist.

Read more on why you should not restrict anything completely for uric acid or gout

• Why you should not stop eating chana dal (or other lentils) in gout, increased uric acid and arthritis ?
• Managing Gout without many dietary restrictions – Is it possible ?

Gout Arthritis (Uric acid deposition arthritis)

Some people have genes which increases chances of uric acid being raised. If these people have extra poor lifestyle, uric acid can increase to persistently high levels. There can be more factors also. For example, patients with kidney disease cannot remove uric acid in urine like a normal person. In few of these people, persistently raised uric acid can lead to a type of arthritis called Gout.

Does everyone one with increased uric acid develop gout arthritis ?

Keep in mind, Gout occurs due to accumulation of uric acid in joints. But it only happens if the uric acid has been continuously increased for many years in people who have some genes which increase gout chances. It is very difficult to say whether a given person has genes which increases Gout chances. 90% of people with minor increases in uric acid will never develop Gout. Therefore, one should not get fear or take tension of minor uric acid increase. There is also no need of taking uric acid lowering medications in most such people.

Read more on gout

• How gout attack happens ? how do we treat it ? Learn about same with a simple picture.

How does Gout arthritis present ? What are its signs ?

Gout is an arthritis with severe joint pain, swelling and redness (inflammation in joint). If uric acid is found increased and there is minor pain in the joints without swelling or redness (inflammation), it is not Gout. There is no need to control and no medicines of uric acid are needed if one doesn’t have gout. If there is a sudden severe pain in person’s great toe or any other joint, with redness and swelling, one should think of gout. They should show a rheumatologist (arthritis expert) or expert who can diagnose and treat gout in that case. Only gout patients and patients with severe kidney disease have to take medicines to control uric acid.

To summarise on uric acid, joints pains and gout

• • Uric acid is found in everyone’s body and one should not worry about slight increase in uric acid.
  • If your uric acid is slightly increased then pay attention to your lifestyle, keep weight controlled, reduce your intake of alcohol (if it is too much), and be active or exercise. If your lifestyle is right, there is no need to do anything special.
  • Many people with non-specific pains can have slightly increased uric acid.  Generally there is no connection with joint pains and uric acid in most such people. There is no need to take any uric acid medication in most such cases.
  • There is no need to restrict anything completely for raised uric acid. One should just try to eat and live healthy. One can also consume milk, curd, cauliflower, tomatoes, non vegetarian food and alcohol in moderation etc.
  • Gout is an arthritis where uric acid gets deposited into joints and causes joint pain and swelling. 90 % of people with mild raised uric acid will never develop gout. Gout only develops in people with some genes which increases its chances along with raised uric acid.

• Medicines to lower uric acid are usually only required when one has Gout or severe kidney disease with raised uric acid .
• Gout occurs with repeated sudden severe painful attacks in joints (mostly great toe and foot). These attacks have lot of joint redness and swelling.   Those who have gout disease need to take medication to reduce uric acid. If this is not treated properly, then this disease can also involve other joints and complicate things.
• If one has only minor joint pains without having gout, there is no need to take medications for uric acid.
• There are more than 20 types of arthritis. Every joint pain is not arthritis. Sometimes pain is often non-specific. If one has too much pain in joints, then consult a rheumatologist (arthritis specialist).
• Uric acid can increase as a side product in many arthritis diseases. This does not mean every arthritis with raised uric acid is gout or needs uric acid medicine. Treatment will depend on the type of arthritis.

Do you have raised uric acid ? Do you have any doubts on same ? Please do comment and write to us for any queries.

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