Gout centre of excellence in central Florida
Immediate Relief: Urgent Gout Diagnosis & Treatment in Tampa & Orlando
We treat every patient with honesty, transparency, and a gentle touch, we believe great care starts with trust.
Gout
What is Gout ?
Gout is a chronic form of arthritis that causes sudden pain, swelling, and stiffness — most often in the big toe, ankle, knee, or wrist. Left untreated, it can also affect the bones, heart, and kidneys. At Bolad Arthritis & Rheumatology Clinic in Tampa and Orlando, our gout specialists provide personalized treatment to ease flares and protect your joints.
Purines and Gout
Purines are natural compounds found in food and made by your body. As they break down, they form uric acid. When levels rise too high (above 7 mg/dL), uric acid builds up — a condition called hyperuricemia that can trigger gout. Our Tampa and Orlando specialists help you manage high uric acid before it leads to flares.
Uric Acid Buildup
When uric acid stays high, sharp crystals form in cooler, slower-flowing joints — most often the big toe, ankle, or knee. This triggers the red, hot, swollen pain of a gout attack. Our rheumatologists diagnose and treat gout to relieve pain and prevent future flares.
Symptoms of Gout
Symptoms of Gout
Gout flares often occur suddenly and can last from a few days to several weeks. These attacks usually affect one joint, most commonly the big toe, ankle, or knee, but can sometimes move between joints. Triggers may include certain foods, injury, or nighttime onset.
Typical symptoms include:
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Intense joint pain and stiffness
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Swelling, redness, and warmth
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Extreme tenderness or discomfort
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Development of tophi (crystal deposits) over time
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Joint erosion or long-term damage
At Bolad Arthritis & Rheumatology Clinic in Tampa and Orlando,
our specialists provide expert gout treatment to relieve
flare symptoms and prevent future attacks.
What Causes Gout Flares?
Gout flare causes vary between individuals, but common causes may include:
• Dehydration
• Stress
• Change in routine (travel or major life event)
• High purine diet
• Certain medications
• Injury
Tophi
In uncontrolled gout, hard lumps called tophi can form when the body tries to isolate uric acid crystals it can't clear. Tophi develop under the skin or near joints, and repeated flares can cause permanent bone and joint damage. Rising uric acid with growing tophi is a sign gout is worsening. At Bolad Arthritis & Rheumatology Clinic in Tampa and Orlando, our specialists provide advanced treatment to prevent tophi and protect your joints.
What Causes Gout?
Genetics
Gout can run in families and becomes more common with age as kidney function declines. Postmenopausal women and people with psoriasis or undergoing chemotherapy are also at higher risk due to changes in uric acid levels.
Diuretics
Certain medications, like diuretics used for high blood pressure, can raise the risk of gout. These “water pills” increase urination, which can lead to dehydration and higher uric acid levels, causing crystals to form and trigger gout attacks.
Dialysis
Dialysis also shares a link to the development of gout. When the kidneys do not work appropriately, there is little uric acid that can leave the body and therefore, it can collect in the joints and tissues more readily.
Immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressants like cyclosporine, often used after organ transplants, can raise the risk of gout by reducing the kidneys’ ability to remove uric acid from the body.
Many people believe gout is caused mainly by diet. While certain foods and alcohol can make gout worse, diet is not the main cause. Even people who eat very healthy and avoid high-purine foods can still get gout.
There is no single cause of gout. It can affect anyone, and it progresses differently from person to person. This is why treating gout has traditionally been challenging.
Gout and Kidney Disease
Gout and kidney disease are closely linked. People with gout are more likely to develop kidney problems, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) can raise uric acid levels that trigger gout. As kidney function declines, uric acid builds up, fueling more flares. At Bolad Arthritis & Rheumatology Clinic in Tampa and Orlando, our specialists provide targeted treatment to control uric acid and help protect your kidney health.
Gout Diagnosis
Uric Acid Blood Test
Uric acid levels are checked with a simple blood test, and fasting isn’t required. Normal levels range from 3.5 to 7.0 mg/dL, but for people with gout, the target is below 6 mg/dL according to the American College of Rheumatology guidelines.
Synovial Fluid Test
A synovial fluid test involves removing fluid from a swollen joint and looking for uric acid crystals under a polarized microscope. This is performed by a healthcare professional. The fluid is then sent to the lab to be analyzed.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves to examine a swollen joint. It can help detect tophi and other features of gout.
X-Rays
X-rays help reveal long-term gout damage, such as bone erosion near a joint. They don't show soft-tissue swelling or early gout, but are useful for assessing joint pain and damage.
Dual Energy CT Scan (DECT)
A dual-energy CT (DECT) scan detects uric acid deposits anywhere in the body. Available at select imaging centers, it's a highly effective tool for diagnosing gout and tophi and tracking treatment progress.
If you are experiencing one or more of the common symptoms of gout, your rheumatologist may perform several tests to rule out other potential causes for your symptoms. Patients require a diagnosis before they may begin gout treatment
Gout Treatment
Gout Diagnosis
If you are experiencing one or more of the common symptoms of gout, your rheumatologist may perform several tests to rule out other potential causes for your symptoms. Patients require a diagnosis before they may begin gout treatment.
Uric Acid Blood Test
Uric acid levels are checked with a simple blood test, and fasting isn’t required. Normal levels range from 3.5 to 7.0 mg/dL, but for people with gout, the target is below 6 mg/dL according to the American College of Rheumatology guidelines.
Synovial Fluid Test
A synovial fluid test involves removing fluid from a swollen joint and looking for uric acid crystals under a polarized microscope. This is performed by a healthcare professional. The fluid is then sent to the lab to be analyzed.
Ultrasound
Ultrasounds are a non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves to examine tissues, organs, and other body structures. Your doctor may order an ultrasound test to examine a swollen joint. Ultrasounds are occasionally used to detect tophi and determine if there are characteristic features of gout within an area of swelling.
X-Rays
X-rays can be helpful in identifying common signs of gout within a joint. X-rays will only show bone and do not show soft tissue swelling or gout if it affects the tendons. For patients who complain of joint pain, an X-ray can identify if there are features of bone erosions or damage to the bone structure caused by gout.
Dual Energy CT Scan (DECT)
Dual Energy CT scan is an imaging technique that can detect uric acid deposition anywhere in the body with the use of CT scan and specific technology. This imaging can only be performed with specialized CT scanners at select imagine centers and is an extremely helpful tool to diagnose gout and tophi, as well as monitor progress on gout treatment.
Tophi
Gout flares cause intense pain that can stop you in your tracks. With the right treatment, flares can be managed and future attacks prevented. At Bolad Arthritis & Rheumatology Clinic in Tampa and Orlando, we help patients relieve flares quickly and protect their joints, kidneys, and overall health long term.
A common feature of uncontrolled gout is the formation of large bumps called tophi. Tophi form from the collection of gout crystals that the body is trying to wall off or ignore. White blood cells of the immune system try to dissolve uric acid crystals. But when the immune system cannot keep up with all the crystals, the white blood cells then try to “hide” the uric acid in clumps that develop into tophi.
Sometimes, tophi can be along areas of the skin or right next to a joint. Erosions in the joints or bones are collections of uric acid that have caused damage to the bone structure. This happens when there are repetitive gout flares in the joint and the immune system starts causing damage to the bone by trying to “eat away” at the uric acid.
Over time, joint damage that occurs from gout is difficult to treat and considered irreversible. Tophi can sometimes burst open from the skin and a chalking white-yellow substance might be visible.
Ironically, when levels of uric acid remain high enough, some people can see a decrease in gout flares and an increase in tophi. This actually means that their gout is progressing and becoming more severe.
Gout Diet
A gout-friendly diet won't cure gout, but it can reduce flare-ups and slow joint and kidney damage by lowering uric acid. Limit high-purine foods like red and organ meats, shellfish, beer, and liquor, along with sugary foods and drinks. Staying hydrated and adding vitamin C, coffee, and tart cherry juice may also help.
Lifestyle Modifications
Healthy lifestyle habits help control gout and prevent flares. Since excess weight raises uric acid, gradual weight loss can reduce flare frequency. Regular moderate exercise, like walking or swimming, eases inflammation, while high-impact workouts or dehydration may trigger attacks.
Medication for Gout
Gout treatment includes medications that relieve flare-ups and those that lower uric acid levels to prevent future attacks.
For symptom relief:
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NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Celebrex, Indomethacin)
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Corticosteroids (Prednisone, Medrol)
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Colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare)
To lower uric acid:
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Allopurinol
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Febuxostat (Uloric)
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Pegloticase (KRYSTEXXA®)
KRYSTEXXA® IV therapy, given every two weeks, is one of the most effective treatments for severe or chronic gout.
At Bolad Arthritis & Rheumatology Clinic in Tampa and Orlando, our gout specialists tailor medication plans to each patient’s needs—helping reduce flares, lower uric acid, and prevent long-term joint or kidney damage.
Schedule a visit at our Gout Clinic in Tampa or Orlando to begin your personalized gout treatment plan
For a detailed guide on managing gout flares and finding relief, read our article: Exploring Gout Treatment Plans
The Team
Dr. Waleed Bolad
(Major Blvd. Clinic, Orlando, Vineland Rd. Clinic, Orlando & Tampa Clinic)
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Dr Omer Idrees
(Major-Orlando)
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Alissa Ledgerwood
ARNP
Daisy Herbas
ARNP
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Alona Dniprovska
APRN - C, PhD
Krystle Rosario
FNP-BC
Our Team
Orlando offices:
5750 Major Blvd, Ste 150
Orlando, FL 32819
📞 (407) 409-8118
📠 (407) 930-4522
Mon-Thurs 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Fri 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Orlando call center:
6001 Vineland Rd, Ste 106
Orlando, FL 32819
📞 (407) 409-8118
📠 (407) 930-4522
Mon-Thurs 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Fri 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Tampa office :
4728 N Habana Ave #303
Tampa, FL 33614
📞 (813) 343-0400
📠 (813) 666-2806
Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tampa call center:
4728 N Habana Ave #303
Tampa, FL 33614
📞 (813) 343-0400
📠 (813) 666-2806
Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM