Take a million pain-free steps a year.
Each of us take about a million steps a year, so it’s not surprising that our feet and ankles can be prone to arthritis and other maladies. You don’t have to live with foot and ankle pain. Learn more about the causes and treatments to get you moving in the right direction.
Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability for adults in the United States. Arthritis occurs when joints become inflamed and cause pain or stiffness.
There are four different types of foot and ankle arthritis. Each comes with its own set of symptoms and may dictate a specialized treatment plan.
• Osteoarthritis may be age related and is usually caused by wear on the joints
• Rheumatological is a symptom of the progressive disease Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Traumatic Arthritis is the result of an injury or fracture of an affected joint
• Gouty Arthropathy is a Gout attack of one or more joints
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis is based on symptoms and radio graphic studies along with evaluation of foot deformity.
SYMPTOMS
Regardless of the reason causing the Arthritis, many people report the same set of symptoms: swelling, stiffness, tenderness, pain and loss of flexibility. Ankle arthritis can produce ankle swelling and pain and in severe cases it can cause loss of function. An estimated 50,000 people a year experience end-stage ankle arthritis, in which the ankle cartilage has worn away completely, causing painful bone-on-bone contact and some level of disability.
TREATMENT
Treatment largely depends on the area of the foot and ankle that are affected by arthritis. It can be a simple treatment of pain relievers, or more advanced medications like anti-inflammatories and corticosteroid injections. If pain still persists, then it may be time to look at more permanent solutions, such as surgery.