Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle
Don’t Let Pain RuleDon’t Let Joint Pain Rule Your Life
Your Life
One common type of foot and ankle condition is arthritis. As people age, the cartilage that once served as a shock absorber for the body’s joints begins to wear away. This deterioration causes the ankle and foot bones to rub against each other, resulting in inflammation, pain, and stiffness within one or more joints and its surrounding soft tissue.There are over 100 forms of arthritis that exist, with the small joints of the feet and ankles enduring the condition often.
The three forms of arthritis that most commonly affect the foot and ankle are:● Osteoarthritis. An age-related degenerative disease where consistent wear-and-tear causes stiffness to slowly occur.● Rheumatoid Arthritis. A system-wide autoimmune disease that attacks multiple joints and destroys the body’s cartilage.● Post-traumatic Arthritis. Initiated by a foot and ankle injury, sprain or fracture, post-traumatic arthritis develops slowly in the affected joint.
Prevention
Reduce your risk.
The best way to prevent arthritis is by consistently taking care of your feet and ankles, which involves:● Wear shoes that are properly fitted and shaped to your foot● Wear shoes with rubber soles for elite foot and ankle cushioning● Regularly exercise and stretch your feet and ankles
Symptoms
Pinpoint your pain.
Symptoms of arthritis may develop gradually over time or onset suddenly. Common symptoms include:● Flare-ups of pain in the affected joint when engaging in vigorous activity● Tenderness in the joint when pressure is applied● Swelling, warmth, or redness in the affected joint● Increased pain and swelling when first trying to walk either in the morning or after extended periods of sitting or resting● Experience difficulty in walking due to the aforementioned symptoms
Diagnosis
Get the answers you need.
Our physicians provide expert treatment for arthritis. Our specialists diagnose the condition through an examination of a patient’s medical history and an evaluation of the patient’s symptoms. Gait analysis, which observes the way that the patient walks, will allow our physicians to better determine the severity and location of the condition, while diagnostic testing, including X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and blood tests, will further confirm the presence of the condition.
Treatment
Life’s too short to put up with pain.
Non-surgical techniques can slow the progression of the disease and lessen symptoms. Non-surgical treatment may include anti-inflammatory medication, wearing an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), or undergoing viscosupplementation. During this procedure, lubrication fluid is injected into the joint, enabling it to move more smoothly. When debilitating arthritis pain still exists after conservative measures, our foot and ankle surgeons may recommend minimally invasive ankle arthroscopy, ankle arthrodesis, or total ankle replacement. These surgical treatments can return patients to their normal daily activities and allow patients to remain active.