Physical Therapy For Pseudogout

Pseudogout may not get as much attention as other joint conditions, but for those living with it, the impact is very real.

This form of arthritis can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in your knees, wrists, ankles, and other joints — often showing up suddenly and interfering with your ability to move comfortably throughout the day.

Despite its name, pseudogout isn’t “just” a milder form of gout — and it can easily be mistaken for other types of arthritis, like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

That’s why understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatment options is key to managing flare-ups and staying active.

In this article, we’ll explore:

• What pseudogout is and how it differs from other forms of arthritis
• What symptoms to watch for and what causes it
• And how physical therapy can help reduce discomfort, restore mobility, and improve your quality of life

Let’s take a closer look at this often-overlooked condition, and what you can do to find relief.

What Is Pseudogout?

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis.

As such, it’s often what people first think of when the topic of arthritis comes up.

However, there are other types of arthritis as well.

This includes rheumatoid arthritis, the second most common type.

This is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the myelin in your joints.

We’ve also come to understand fibromyalgia as a form of arthritis.

And according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people living with fibromyalgia commonly also develop various other forms of arthritis.

Thus, it’s important that we fully understand the differences and similarities between these conditions.

Pseudogout is also a type of arthritis that involves swelling and pain in specific joints.

Your body contains three types of joints: fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial.

Pseudogout affects only your synovial joints, like your knees, wrists, ankles, elbows, and hips.

Your synovial joints all have an outer wall called the articular capsule.

This wall is responsible for connecting your bones and housing your joint cavity.

Your synovial membranes, or synovia for short, are the thin layers of soft tissue that strengthen these walls.

Your synovia produces your synovial fluid, a liquid that contains ultrafiltered plasma from your blood.

Synovial fluid lubricates your joints and maintains the health of the cartilage that lines your bones.

Pseudogout occurs when calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPP) crystals build up in your synovial fluid.

CPP build up in the synovial fluid can trigger an immune reaction, causing inflammation and pain.

RELATED : Frequently Asked Questions About Arthritis

What Does Pseudogout Pain Feel Like?

Pseudogout can cause spontaneous swelling and pain in your synovial joints, most often the knees.

Pseudogout can be acute, lasting two weeks or less, or chronic, with recurrent pain and swelling over weeks or months.

Acute pseudogout usually affects fewer than five joints in the body.

Symptoms of acute pseudogout occur in and around the joints, and include:

• Sudden redness
• Warmth
• Inflammation
• Severe pain

Acute pseudogout may also be accompanied by a low-grade fever

Chronic pseudogout can involve one or multiple synovial joints, including the shoulders, wrists, large knuckles, and feet.

Chronic pseudogout symptoms and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are similar.

They include:

• Shoulder pain
• Hip pain
• Knee pain
• Ankle pain
• Wrist pain, unrelated to carpal tunnel syndrome
• Elbow pain, unrelated to tennis elbow
• Chronic, mild aches
• Swelling
• Redness
• Cartilage deterioration
• Decreased range of motion

Pseudogout can also lead to fluid buildup around the joint.

What Is The Main Cause Of Pseudogout?

A type of immune response that reacts to calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) is the primary culprit for pseudogout’s characteristic pain and swelling.

CPP crystals form in the cartilage where they can cause damage.

Sometimes the cartilage will release those CPP crystals, leading to damage to other tissues in the joint.

Researchers have yet to identify why some people develop CPPD, and why some people with CPPD do not have pseudogout symptoms.

However, we do know that there’s a link between CPPD and age.

The American College of Rheumatology indicates an increased risk of CPPD in people over the age of 60.

It’s also more common in people with a family history of the condition.

Other health factors that may increase your risk of developing pseudogout include:

• Amyloidosis, or irregular protein buildup
• Hemophilia, a condition that prevents blood from clotting
• Hereditary hemochromatosis leading to too much iron in the blood
• Hypercalcemia, or too much calcium in the blood
• Hyperparathyroidism, which also causes too much calcium in the blood
• Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland
• Ochronosis, a condition that causes straining on the cartilage and connective tissues
• Osteoarthritis
• Magnesium deficiency
• Type 2 diabetes

It’s interesting that thyroid conditions are considered risk factors for pseudogout.

Many of the symptoms associated with thyroid disorders can also overlap with those of pseudogout.

How Common Is Pseudogout

Pseudogout is more common than you might think, mostly because many people don’t realize they have the condition.

Some people have CPPD without symptoms of pseudogout.

This occurs when calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals form in your joint(s), but don’t cause any pain.

Because symptoms overlap with other forms of arthritis, it’s easy to mistake pseudogout for rheumatoid or osteoarthritis.

How Do You Diagnose Pseudogout?

There are a few different methods your doctor can use to identify whether you have pseudogout or not.

Your doctor may order imaging like an x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan.

Imaging of the joint or joints that are bothering you can help your doctor inspect for injury or calcium buildup.

Your doctor may also order arthrocentesis, a procedure that uses a needle and syringe to withdraw some of your synovial fluid.

They will then test your synovial fluid for calcium pyrophosphate.

What’s The Difference Between Pseudogout And Gout?

Both pseudogout and gout are forms of arthritis in which crystal buildup leads to pain and inflammation in the joints.

Aside from these commonalities, pseudogout and gout differ in a few important ways.

The effects of pseudogout only impact your synovial joints, like the knees, ankles, wrists, hips, and elbows.

Gout primarily affects your big toes and may also impact your lesser toe joints and your knees.

While both conditions involve a build up of crystals in the joints, gout specifically causes urate, or uric acid, crystals.

Uric acid is a waste product that your body creates and eliminates naturally.

Doctors don’t know why CPP might build up in your body, but there are several potential reasons why uric acid might.

Uric acid can spike if you eat a lot of foods that are high in a substance called purine.

Purine rich foods include:

• Anchovies
• Mussels
• Sardines
• Scallops
• Trout
• Tuna
• Beer
• Other alcoholic beverages
• Beverages sweetened with fructose, a natural sweetener

Uric acid can also build up if:

• You’re taking too much vitamin B3 (niacin)
• You have high blood pressure
• You have psoriasis
• You have leukemia
• You have kidney problems
• Your family has a history of disorders related to uric acid buildup
• You’re taking diuretics
• You’re taking immune-suppressing drugs

How Can Physical Therapy Help With Pseudogout?

Research has yet to identify a cure or a medication that will prevent calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition.

However, physical therapy can provide relief from the pain, swelling, and loss of mobility that you experience with pseudogout.

By working with a physical therapist, you may find significant relief from both acute and chronic pseudogout symptoms.

Next, we’ll take a look at some common physical therapy techniques.

1. RICE

RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

You might be familiar with RICE as a common at home treatment for minor injuries like twists and sprains.

RICE is also an effective at home treatment for joint pain, inflammation and swelling.

Rest

Resting your joints can mean decreased activity; taking a day or two off from your normal physical tasks.

You can also rest your joints by modifying regular physical activities and movements.

Your physical therapist can show you aides, tools, and different postures and ways of moving that put less strain on your joints.

Ice

A cold compress on your joints can help reduce swelling and relieve some of your pain.

For chronic pseudogout, cold can also give you another sensation to focus on, making pain less overwhelming.

If you don’t have a cold pack at home, try putting some ice in a small plastic bag or soaking a towel in cold water.

Compression

Compression is known to improve blood circulation, which helps your joints in a few ways.

Increased circulation helps your joints heal and eases pain and inflammation.

Depending on which joints give you trouble, you might be able to use compression socks, gloves, braces, or tape for relief.

Elevation

If you are able, find a position that elevates your painful joint.

Elevating your joints can relieve swelling and inflammation.

This might mean sitting with your feet on a footstool, or propping your foot or elbow up on a pillow while you lie down.

Your physical therapist can also recommend stretches or exercises that include elevation.

RELATED ARTICLE: Understanding Heat and Cold Therapy

2. Exercises

Your physical therapist can show you a variety of exercises to preserve your range of motion and decrease stiffness and pain.

During active flare ups of pseudogout, moderate range of motion activities can encourage fluid circulation.

Gently move your affected joints as much as you can, exploring the full range of motion.

Your physical therapist can also show you strengthening exercises for days when your pseudogout is not active.

For general health and pain management, try exercises with low joint impact, like walking, cycling, or aquatic exercise.

Swimming is beneficial for people with pseudogout because buoyancy prevents joint stress as you move.

3. Edema Control

Edema is the swelling that occurs when there is too much fluid in part of your body.

You can control swelling in its early stages by wrapping your joints.

This practice helps restrict the amount of space available for fluids to collect.

This forces the fluid away from your joint, preventing the pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility that can accompany edema.

This is a great option if you have chronic pseudogout and have started to recognize the onset of your symptoms.

It is best to wrap your joint before swelling has progressed very far.

If your joint is already quite swollen, try using ice and elevation to bring the swelling down before wrapping.

Book Your Appointment With Our Physical Therapy Clinic Today

Pseudogout can make everyday movement painful and unpredictable — but you don’t have to manage it alone.

With the right guidance, physical therapy can help reduce joint pain, improve mobility, and support long-term joint health.

At Capitol Physical Therapy, our team of physical therapists will work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your symptoms and lifestyle.

Book your appointment with Capitol Physical Therapy today and take the first step toward more comfortable, confident movement.