About this topic
With pseudogout, you have calcium crystals in your joints and nearby tissues. The crystals cause pain and swelling of the joint. This illness most often happens in the knees. It can happen in other joints as well, such as shoulders, elbows, and ankles. You may have pain, swelling, heat, and redness. This can happen after surgery or an injury to the area. ‚
Your doctor may order x-rays to look for fluid or swelling around the joint. Also, your doctor may draw fluid from the area. It will be tested to look for crystals or white blood cells in the fluid. This helps to look for infections or septic joints. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take your drugs as ordered by your doctor.
- Rest your joint.
- When you lie down, prop your affected joint on a pillow.
- If your doctor tells you to use heat, put a heating pad on the painful part for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Never go to sleep with a heating pad on as this can cause burns.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
Will physical activity be limited?
For a short time, you may be asked to limit your activity. This will help ease the pain and swelling in your joints. Your doctor may order PT (physical therapy) after you rest your joint. Your doctor will tell you when you can go back to normal activities. ‚
What problems could happen?
Long-term damage in the joint may happen if not treated right away. Surgery may be needed if other actions are not helpful. ‚
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
Treat the problems that may be causing this illness right away. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Worsening pain or swelling of the joint
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, chills, more pain, or swelling of my joint.
Where can I learn more?
American College of Rheumatology ‚
http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/pseudogout.asp ‚
Arthritis Foundation ‚
http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=7 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚