Arthritis is generally known to trigger pain in the joints of hips, hands, and knees, but it can also happen in various other parts of the body where the joints exist such as the toes. A number of various kinds of arthritis can result in toe pain. At times, the cartilage present between the bones wears out. As a result, the bones without the protective cartilage rub together. This agitates the tissue and leads to swelling as well as pain. If in case you are experiencing pain in the toe, arthritis may be the cause of it.
What Does Toe Arthritis Mean?
Toe arthritis is the result of inflammation of the toe joint. It is known to attack the big toe more frequently, however, the other areas of the toe may also be impacted. Any former trauma and injuries like a sprained or broken toe can result in arthritis in the future. Some of the other factors that are responsible for causing arthritis include gout, Osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The risk factors involve:
1) Becoming obese or overweight
2) A family history that indicates arthritis
3) Increased age
Other factors can also lead to toe arthritis such as the women who wear high-heeled and tight shoes for a major part of their lives are very prone to develop toe arthritis.
Symptoms of Toe Arthritis
According to foot doctor in Houston at DeNiel Foot & Ankle Center, arthritis is known to show various symptoms. Some of these symptoms are as follows:
It is often the most easily noticeable symptom of the toe arthritis. You may frequently experience pain in the toe or just the big toe. According to a recent study, people described their pain as ranging from deep, sore feeling to a more stabbing and acute sensation when they try to move their toe. The pain might be minor, moderate, or acute according to the level or extent of deterioration or inflammation in the toe joint.
This symptom is one of the most common and enfeebling one in toe arthritis. It can even prevent you from carrying out your daily routine activities.
In arthritis, the cartilage between the bones get damaged over the years. This results in agitation in tissues as well as damaged synovial fluid. These changes can lead to the stiffening of joints and reduced mobility.
The joints, therefore, become incapable of stretching and bending due to minimized support and cushioning. As a result, you may experience difficulty in moving because the toes play an important role in balancing and pushing the foot off the floor. It might be painful to walk as the toe joint also moves with each step.
Different kinds of arthritis are known to result in inflammation of the joint, which may cause visible swelling. In such cases, the toes become red and feel warm when touched.
People observe this symptom after they have been sitting at a place for a while, or when you get out of the bed.
As the cartilage gets worn out and the bones rub against each other, the body strives to improve the situation. It attempts to create more bones. Even though this may result in stabilizing the joint, it can also make it appear bigger. The toe may begin to get deformed and hence a curved shape is created which is also known as the ‘’claw feet”.
If there is excessive swelling as well as stiffness in the toe, it can result in a locked joint which makes it difficult to bend the toes. Locking up of joints is also caused due to bone spurs and the rough edges of the bones. However, this is not a persistent condition.
Therefore, whenever you notice any of these symptoms, be sure to go for a check-up by a specialist in arthritis at DeNiel Foot & Ankle Center.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Houston, TX. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
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