Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that develops when your body cannot adequately get rid of uric acid that builds up in the bloodstream. When this happens, microscopic urate crystals can develop in the joints, irritating the delicate soft tissues and causing a host of symptoms.

Medical estimates suggest that upwards of one in three people will deal with a spinal gout flare up at some point in their life, but oftentimes the condition is missed for a few different reasons. For starters, spinal gout presents with symptoms that mimic a lot of other back problems, so it could be misdiagnosed. Secondly, symptoms are often mild and respond well to some simple daily adjustments, so you may be able to alleviate symptoms without an official diagnosis as long as you take better care to prioritize your health.

If you’re presenting with the above symptoms, especially if you have gout in your feet or toes, your doctor will conduct a physical exam to look for sensitivity issues in your spinal column. Muscle strength and reflex tests may also be conducted, and they may confirm their suspicions with the help of a blood test to examine uric acid levels.

If your doctor believes that you are suffering from spinal gout, treatment will mimic the methods used to treat the condition in other joints. Certain medications to help reduce uric acid in the bloodstream may be helpful, but treatment will mainly focus on making some healthy lifestyle improvements. Losing weight, reducing alcohol intake, improving your diet and getting regular exercise (exercise helps the body remove uric acid) will all help to get your spinal gout under control. These techniques are great in both the short- and the long-term for gout management.

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