One difference between the symptoms of pseudogout and most forms of arthritis is that speed with which it develops. Arthritis tends to begin with only mild discomfort or pain and slowly progress and worsen, often over several years. However, pseudogout symptoms can hit without warning and with severe pain from the outset.
Common pseudogout symptoms are:
A Single Large Joint is Affected. Just like gout, pseudogout can hit any joint in the body, however, pseudogout symptoms are most likely to be found in knees, shoulders, wrist, large knuckles, elbow, ankle, hip or even in the spine. By comparison, gout attacks are most commonly experienced in the big toe, with the next most common locations being the heel, instep or fingertips.
Strong Pain. The worst symptom of pseudogout is very sharp, strong pain in the joint.
Warm, Red Skin. The joint and the skin around it can appear red and feel warm when touched.
Inflammation. Joint inflammation is another symptom of pseudogout. The joint can be obviously swollen, severely in sometimes cases due to significant fluid build up.
Stiffness and Restricted Range of Movement. The symptoms of pseudogout go through two stages. Firstly there is painful inflamation. Then, as a result of swelling and pain, the flexibility and functionality of the joint may be affected.
Rapid Appearance and Development. There may be no warning of the appearance of pseudogout symptoms, with a very fast escalation of the pain. Perhaps as little as only 6 to 10 hours is all time it takes to get to its peak.
Short Term Duration. Without medication, an attack of pseudogout may go on for only five days to two weeks, with pain easing towards the later part. Over time the length of pseudogout attacks may increase and in some cases the level of pain also increases in repeat episodes. However, there are usually no symptoms of pseudogout in between.
Fever-like Symptoms. The immune system may cause fevers-like symptoms as it tries to cope with inflamation from the build up of crystals of calcium pyrophosphate.
Day Time Attacks. Symptoms of pseudogout symptoms are not likely to occur during the night, like a gout attack, but can occur at any time of day.
Non-development of Tophi. Unlike gout, pseudogout does not result in tophi (small which lumps of uric acid crystals visible through the skin) if it becomes a long term or chronically repetitive condition.
Unlike gout symptoms, which can be a mixture of direct or primary symptoms due to condition itself and sometimes secondary symptoms due to the body’s reactions to the primary symptoms, symptoms of pseudogout are largely direct or primary.