Gout maybe? And advise on Gout in general?

[Dave]

Hi all, new to the forum.
I am experiencing pain on my outer hip around where the bursa is and I went to the Doctor and he said it was not gout, but did not take a sample of fluid, he only took an x-ray. I explained that I did some very heavy lifting on Saturday (pain started around monday night to tuesday) that I don't normally do and I ride a bike and did some hill climbs. This could possible be an over excursion problem and the reason why the Dr said it was not gout was the place I was getting pain, b/c it is not actually in the joint but where the outer hip bursa is. But reading the internet, it says that any bursa can be affected by gout??? BTW , I have never had an attack of gout yet. (touch wood)

But I need to ask this , b/c my Uric acid level at my yearly physical was 8.1 but I have gotten that down to about 6 now. Is uric acid a cumulative effect ,or does chance of getting gout go back to normal when your uric acid returns back to safe levels. I ask this b/c I love my beer and I am most times around 6 to 6.5 when I have my yearly physicals?

TIA

[thurstonb]

Gout in the hip is highly unusual. Given that you were exercising strenuously it may just be some tendonitis or something.

Regarding your uric acid levels. The reason that your uric acid concentration is measured is that at around 6.5 the acid cannot stay in solution and must crystallise. For example, a substance will dissolve in water, but if you keep adding more and more of that substance to the water it will eventually be impossible to dissolve any more. There is a specific concentration at which crystals will begin to form.

As long as you are under, crystals won't form. When you go over, crystals form. So you are in danger of tipping over the limit from time to time, given that your level is 6 - 6.5 already. When you tip over the limit, crystals will form. When you drop back under the limit they won't. But chances are the ones you created are still there.

And it is this effect that will be cumulative!