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Home Tag: "arthritis in toe"

Tag: arthritis in toe

Foot surgery illustration showing incision and surgical tools.
28Jun

Arthritis in Your Feet: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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.

 

Foot surgery illustration showing incision and surgical tools.

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
Patient experiencing foot pain, seeking podiatric care for rheumatoid arthritis effects.
13Dec

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a condition which comes to the fore when the immune system attacks the joint lining tissue. This causes stiffness along with painful inflammation. Interestingly, nearly 1.3 million people in the USA suffer from this illness. It is important to note that RA affects the hands and the feet. However, at the same time, it can also affect the ankles badly. The condition usually impacts on smaller joints first. After that, it may move to larger joints such as the ankles. So, let’s take a close peek at how RA gives rise to arthritic feet in individuals.

athritic foot

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.

Person experiencing foot pain, holding their foot with hands.

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.

Illustration of toe arthritis symptoms including gout and ankylosing spondylitis.
20Sep

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.

Illustration of toe arthritis symptoms including gout and ankylosing spondylitis.

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:

  • Pain–

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.

  • Stiffness–

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.

  • Swelling–

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.

  • Change in appearance-

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’’.

  • Locked joint–

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.

Foot surgery illustration showing incision and surgical tools.

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.