There are no known ways to prevent pseudogout. However, there are ways to help minimize the frequency and painfulness of attacks, including:

• Exercising. A sore joint will become weak and more prone to an attack if unused. Regular exercise helps keep muscles that surround joints strong and resilient. Exercise is also an important part of maintaining a healthy weight, which reduces joint stress. Low-impact exercises, such as stretching, swimming and walking, are particularly effective in reducing joint pain.
  
  
• Applying heat and cold. The application of heat (e.g., hot shower) may help relax sore joints and muscles. Similarly, cold (e.g., ice pack) may help reduce pain and swelling.

Treatment is usually effective in stopping acute (sudden or sharp) pain resulting from pseudogout. Treatment methods include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs (e.g., ibuprofen) help reduce pain and swelling.
  
  
• Colchicine. This alkaloid medication can also relieve the symptoms promptly during acute attack.
  
  
• Arthrocentesis. The joint area is numbed and a needle inserted to remove fluid containing crystal deposits. This is often performed in conjunction with a corticosteroid injection to reduce swelling and minimize further pain. Short-term oral corticosteroids may also be prescribed to relieve an attack.
  
  
• Joint immobilization. In cases where pain from pseudogout severely inhibits movement, splinting or other immobilization of the inflamed area may help reduce pain for a short period of time. Splinting may be done as part of occupational therapy or physical therapy.
  
  
• Surgery. In severe cases of pseudogout, surgery may be required to remove deposits of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) from affected joints. However, surgical removal of CPPD deposits will not prevent future CPPD buildup or attacks of pseudogout and is rarely performed.

Current methods of pain treatment cannot prevent damage to joints already affected by CPPD deposits and attacks of pseudogout. Nor are there effective long-term treatments that cure pseudogout or remove crystals permanently. However, daily oral use of certain drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, colchicine) may reduce the frequency of attacks and make them less severe.

In instances where a disease associated with pseudogout (e.g., hypoparathyroidism, hemochromatosis) is present, treatment for the underlying disorder will not reverse CPPD but may reduce or stop the attacks of pseudogout.