Arthritis & Foot Pain

The most common form of Arthritis & Foot Pain is osteoarthritis, which is generally associated with aging. Other risk factors for osteoarthritis include joint injury, obesity, genetics and anatomic factors such as joint shape and alignment.

Arthritis & Foot Pain

Arthritis is a progressive disabling disease that affects millions of people world wide. It is characterized by inflammation throughout many of the body’s joints. Symptoms can include severe pain and swelling, redness, and limitation of motion in one or more joints. Morning stiffness and enlargement of joints are commonplace.

The more usual forms of arthritis seen in the foot are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis. Other types of arthritis are less commonplace and have specific systemic origins. It is customary that Blood tests and x-rays are used to help determine the diagnosis to help with reduction of symptoms and treatment.

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Arthritic Causes

Trauma to a joint or repeated action such as running
Age related osteoarthritic symptoms
Viral or bacterial infections
Obesity
Systemic disease
Heredity plays a large role in rhumatoid arthritis

Self Help

exercise to maintain joint movement
massage or physio therapy
Use ice and anti-inflamatories such as ibuprofen to decrease inflammation
Wear sturdy shoes with good support and orthotics to prevent further breakdown of joints
eat a well balanced diet

Medical Support And Treatment

An evaluation using X-ray, MRI, bone scan and blood work can help properly identify the arthritic condition and lead to the appropriate treatment
Medications reducing inflammation and reduction of byproducts greatly assists the patient on a day to day level
Shoe orthotic and braces to decrease joint degeneration
Surgical intervention is frequently used to remodel or remove arthritic bone. In some cases Fusion or Joint implants are used to eliminate or replace degenerative

As a general rule, Arthritis Foot and Pain procedures are performed on an out-patient basis in an Alberta Health Services (AHS) approved Surgical Center or in a Hospital. Surgical procedural costs are covered by AHS or the patient may opt for private surgery to avoid a waiting time. A visit to Feldman & Leavitt Foot And Ankle Specialists will CLEARLY define all available patient options.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common symptoms in arthritis?

What are the most common causes in arthritis?

Causes
The two main types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, cause different types of joint damage.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is caused by wear and tear on a joint's cartilage — the hard, slick coating on the ends of bones where they form a joint. Cartilage cushions the ends of the bones and allows for nearly frictionless joint motion; however, enough damage can result in bone grinding directly on bone, causing pain and restricted movement. Wear and tear can occur over time or be accelerated by a joint injury or infection. Italso affects the bones and the connective tissues that connect muscle to bone and hold the joint together. The joint lining may become inflamed and swollen if the cartilage in a joint is severely damaged.

Arthritis rheumatoid
The immune system of the body attacks the lining of the joint capsule, a tough membrane that encloses all joint parts, in rheumatoid arthritis. This lining (synovial membrane) swells and becomes inflamed. The disease process can eventually destroy joint cartilage and bone.

Risk elements
Arthritis risk factors include:

Family history-If your parents or siblings have arthritis, you may be more likely to have it yourself as some types of arthritis run in families.
Age-Age raises the likelihood of developing several types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.
Your sexual orientation-Women are more prone than males to get rheumatoid arthritis, but most of the people who have gout, another type of arthritis, are men.
Previous joint injury-People who have injured a joint, say while playing a sport, are more prone to subsequently develop arthritis in that joint.
Obesity-Your knees, hips, and spine are particularly strained when you carry extra weight. Those who are obese are more likely to get arthritis.

How do you treat arthritis?

Injections are a popular arthritis treatment that delivers medication directly to the affected joint. Cortisone, a powerful anti-inflammatory, is the most commonly used medication for joint injection. Alternatives to cortisone may be used depending on the joint, such as artificial joint lubricant (also known as viscosupplementation or hyaluronic acid) or platelet-rich plasma. Non-surgical options frequently include oral medications (anti-inflammatories), injections (steroids or other), physical therapy, weight loss, shoe changes, or orthotics such as shoe pads or custom-made braces.

Is it necessary for me to have doctor surgery for my arthritis?

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For more information on Arthritis & Foot Pain, book a surgical consultation with one of our board certified podiatric surgeons

For more information on Arthritis & Foot Pain, book a surgical consultation with one of our board certified podiatric surgeons

Schedule A Consult