The different kinds of arthritis that affect the feet

Rheumatoid arthritis: This affects both feet and the same joints in the individual foot.

Osteoarthritis: This affects the first metatarsophalangeal joint that connects your big toe. It also affects the ankle and midfoot.

Gout: It affects the foot especially the big toe and can be managed by treating a gout flare.

Ankylosing spondylitis: It can cause enthesitis, that is pain at the Achilles tendon and plantar fasciitis.

Psoriatic arthritis: This causes sausage-like swelling called dactylitis. It is accompanied by inflammations where ligaments and tendons are located. You are likely to experience the inflammation of the band of tissue and cause bony projections as bone spurs that can cause pain when the feet rub or press against the soft tissues.

How to deal with arthritis foot pain

Foot issues can be very uncomfortable to live with. If you are experiencing pain with your foot, contact the podiatrist at DeNiel Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet. Your feet are in pain and you need to ease the pain, swelling, and stiffness.

1. Use pain medications that are available over-the-counter such as ibuprofen or aspirin. They will help reduce swelling, pain, and redness. However, ensure you contact your podiatrist before the short-term or long-term use of the medications because they can increase the chances of GI and cardiovascular issues. The foot doctor can prescribe a minimally absorbed systemically that will not cause side effects.
2. Proper footwear that is going to help you instead of hurt your feet. The footwear should accommodate arthritic joints, bunions, and hammertoes that happen along with arthritis. Proper footwear should have heel cups, cushioning, arch support, thick soles, and good shock absorption features.
3. Weight loss should be a goal because scale matters when it comes to arthritis. If you have a higher weight, you may experience severe arthritis. Any extra pound to your body frame means extra pounds pressure on your feet. Inflammation of the feet increases with the risk of excess body weight.
4. Move around more. It is hard to maintain an exercise program for healthy people, leave alone when you have joint pain making it more difficult. The benefits of exercises are to maintain joint function, reduce pain, relieve stiffness, and reduce fatigue. Well, you also get to shed excess weight by staying as active as possible.
5. Invest in custom-made orthotics that soothe arthritic foot pain. Custom-made orthotics are made to change the mechanics of the foot such as limit the big toe joint so that it cannot move while moving to reduce discomfort. You can request additional supportive cushioning that will accommodate your feet.
6. Alternative treatments, such as turmeric, help treat inflammatory arthritis and treating osteoarthritis. It is a spice that has antioxidant properties called curcumin that fights inflammation. Also recommended are chili peppers because they contain capsaicin that works nicely topically for the feet.

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Types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and posttraumatic arthritis, affect the feet and cause difficulties in walking. Arthritis inflammation of the foot and ankle is because of the many joints present. There is no definite cure for arthritis, but the available treatments relieve symptoms and slow progression. Many patients have managed to lead fulfilling lives through arthritic foot pain relief, and they have remained active after proper treatment.

If you have questions about caring for arthritis of the foot or ankle, reach out to a foot specialist for his/her expert advice. Feel free to contact our office to make an appointment with our podiatrist. Our foot and ankle doctor, Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale, will provide you with the care you need to keep you pain-free on your feet.

Osteoarthritis – This is degenerative arthritis is common in middle-aged people. It is known as wear-and-tear, but younger people can suffer from it too. In this condition, the cartilage in the joints wears away, decreasing the protective space. It may produce painful bone spurs as the bones rub against one another. Other risk factors include inheritance and obesity. Osteoarthritis slowly causes stiffness and pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis – This chronic disease affects multiple joints but starts in the foot and ankle. Back pain and rheumatoid arthritis happen when the immune system attacks its tissues, starting with the synovium that covers the joints causing swelling to the joints. With time the synovium damages the cartilage, bones, tendons, and ligaments causing serious disability and deformity. It is not inherited but some genes make people susceptible to be affected by it. Even when you have the genes, getting infected is not automatic there must be a trigger that activates the condition. Once exposed to the trigger the immune system starts to attack the joints.

Posttraumatic arthritis – This condition often develops after an injury to the ankle or foot. Damage caused to the joint surface through fractures and dislocations leaves the ankle and foot vulnerable to posttraumatic arthritis. It may take few years after injury to develop this condition. An injured joint is more likely to be arthritic later even after proper treatment. An injury may cause the body to secrete hormones that eventually kill the cartilage cells affecting the joints.

Nonsurgical Treatment for Arthritis or Arthritic Feet

The first treatment for arthritic feet is usually nonsurgical, and the foot doctor can recommend a combination.

1. Lifestyle modification

This means making changes to your daily life to slow the progression of the disease and relieve the pain of arthritis. These changes include:

• Switch to low-impact activities such as swimming to lessen pressure on the foot and ankle.
• Minimize activities that aggravate the condition.
• Losing weight is very effective to lessen the pain in the joints and increase functions.

2. Physical therapy

Seek a professional who will guide you to work on specific exercises that will increase flexibility and range of motion. Have an individual exercise program to help strengthen your foot and ankle muscles but still meet your lifestyle and needs. Sometimes, physical therapy may intensify joint pain due to friction between the arthritic joints. In case the pain intensifies, stop the treatment and consult your foot doctor.

3. Use assistive devices.

Devices such as braces can help improve mobility and shoe inserts decrease pain to the foot by minimizing pressure on the foot. In cases where the foot is deformed, the inserts tilt the ankle and foot to straighten and decrease pain.

4. Medications

You can use over-the-counter painkillers to relieve pain and reduce swelling. The podiatrist might administer cortisone injections to the affected joint; they are very effective in relieving pain. However, the effects of the painkillers are temporary.

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Arthritis of the foot predominantly affects the joints and your foot has more than 30 joints. It causes painful effects in your feet if you have arthritis. However, arthritis can affect one or more joints. It is common in people over the age of fifty and it is common in women and overweight people.

Different kinds of arthritis that hurt your feet

Osteoarthritis: This mostly affects the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP) at the big toe of the foot. This also affects the mid-foot and ankle.

Rheumatoid arthritis: This occurs on both feet affecting the same joints. It is different from OA which affects one specific joint.

Gout: It affects the feet only especially the big toe.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA):  Often seen on the toes, causing sausage-like swelling. It causes inflammation of the ligaments and tendons attached to the bones. It may be confused with plantar fasciitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis: It causes pain in the Achilles tendon and the plantar fasciitis.

Post-traumatic arthritis: This happens after a bone fracture or dislocation and is noticeable after some years.

Causes of foot and ankle arthritis

The causes of foot and ankle arthritis vary depending on the form or type of arthritis. Most types of arthritis have been linked to a combination of different factors causing the situation to be unpredictable. For example, people who inherit the disease develop some arthritic conditions, but another factor such as smoking, infections, or injury causes a full-blown arthritic condition. Some possible causes, however, include

• Abnormal metabolism leading to pseudogout and gout.
• Degenerative arthritis caused by an injury
• Osteoarthritis is inherited.
• Immune system dysfunction.
• Lyme disease infection.
• Diet and nutrition can leave the body susceptible to the risk of developing arthritis. Some foods increase inflammation and worsen the symptoms of arthritis, such as highly refined sugars, animal-derived foods. Diets that have high purine, such as meats, seafood, and red wine can trigger flare-ups of arthritis, especially gout.

Symptoms of foot and ankle arthritis

• Pain when you move.
• Tenderness in the joint, especially when you touch.
• Joint swelling with stiffness and swelling.
• The feet might be warm to the touch.
• Pain and swelling even after resting and sitting.

Risk factors

Some factors have been associated with arthritis, some are modifiable while others are non-modifiable. Some non-modifiable risk factors include sex, age, and genetic factors. Some modifiable risk factors include joint injuries, infections, overweight or obesity, and certain occupations, especially ones that require you to be on your feet most of the time.

Diagnosis

If you have been diagnosed with arthritis of the foot, chances are you feel pain with each step you take.

If this is the case, you may want to seek help from a foot and ankle specialist such as Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale of DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center. She can provide you with the utmost care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

The doctor will ask about your medical history then move on to conduct a physical exam. Then the doctor may refer you for an x-ray, MRI or CT scans to make a proper diagnosis.

Foot Arthritis Treatment

Treatment of arthritis varies when considering the causes and symptoms of arthritis.

• Anti-inflammatory drugs to take down swelling
• Steroid medications can be injected into your joints.
• Pads, inserts, and arch support your feet.
• Braces or canes for support.
• Pain relievers.
• Physical therapy.
• Custom-fitted shoes.

Houston arthritis Surgery

Some patients require at least one kind of surgery to treat ankle and foot arthritis some surgeries include

• Joint replacement surgery, which is used in severe cases to take out the damaged cartilage and bone to replace it with plastic or metal parts. It is also known as arthroplasty.
• Fusion surgery, also called arthrodesis involves fusing bones together with plates, screws, pins, and platters. After they heal the bones remain joined.

Non-medical remedies for arthritis pain

• Wear shoes shaped like your foot.
• Seek shoes with good support.
• Wear rubber-soled shoes for more cushioning.
• Flexibility
• Proper fitting shoes
• Exercise helps your feet be more flexible, strong and pain-free.
• Creams with capsaicin or menthol, which stop the nerves from sending pain signals.
• Apply heat or cold in the inflamed area.
• Gentle exercises.
• Massage
• Acupuncture

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How does RA give rise to arthritic foot pain?

The symptoms of RA are commonly known as flares. It is because they tend to come and go in cycles. The victims may notice their symptoms are worse in the morning when compared to night. As it does in other body joints, RA can cause inflammation and stiffness in the ankle joints. This can also give rise to permanent changes in the shape of the joints. Note that the ankle joint comprises of two smaller joints which usually act as a hinge to move the joint. For instance, movements such as running and striding are dependent entirely on the proper functioning of ankle joints.

The areas on which RA has a bad impact

Remember that the bones in the ankle joint contain cartilage which safeguards them from rubbing against each other. RA causes this to break down over time which in turn increases the friction of the bone. Moreover, the friction between bones can give rise to severe inflammation around the ankle joint. This causes the feet to become weak and unable to support the joint fully. Here is the list of symptoms associated with RA commonly experienced by patients.

• The front ball of the foot
• Pain in the Achilles tendon with the appearance of nodules
• The middle of the foot and bones below the ankle
• The toes

The feeling rendered by RA in the ankles

It is important here to note that the main symptom of RA in the ankle joint is inflammation. It makes the joint swollen, stiff and painful. This can also restrict the mobility of the joint thereby impairing the ability of a person to stand and walk. In the earlier stages, the symptoms may be mild and not that frequent. However, with the passage of time, inflammation can become worse. This is the reason that it is always wise to opt for arthritic foot surgery. This helps remove joint pain and increases the mobility of an individual.

How physiotherapy is helpful in curing RA?

Physical therapy is certainly needed to restore the normal body functioning. By using certain techniques and treatments, the physical therapist brings about relief. You may be prescribed certain medication and exercises in the process. To stay healthy and fine, you may take up health checkup packages. Regular checkups are required to keep the diseases at bay. If any underlying condition is at the latent state, it may be treated before it gets severe.

You may be asked to change the eating habit or give up certain habits during the treatment process. The most common kind of therapy is the massage therapy used by the therapist. It can ease pain, discomfort and inflammation associated with the joint region. Massage is the part of general therapy and is non-invasive.

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