Arthritis still ranks as the no.1 cause of disability in America. Attacking the joints, this disorder can trigger an array of different health issues that can impair a person’s ability to comfortably and freely move. Your feet, for one, can negatively be affected by this condition triggering pain and discomfort that limits your movements.
Understanding Arthritis Foot Pain
Arthritis impacts any moveable joints in our body. As such, suffering from this condition can inevitably trigger foot issues.
Arthritis foot pain is broadly used to describe the symptoms associated with the arthritic changes that take place along the joints of our feet and ankles. While the pain can start out mild, it will quickly intensify when left unmanaged. Certain conditions can also amplify the tenderness and inflammation that goes with arthritic feet such as bunions, hammer toe, and excessive weight gain.
Cause of Arthritic Foot Pain
Arthritis foot pain is a degenerative disorder that attacks the joints and is triggered by a number of different conditions that include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Obesity
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Stress Fractures
- Joint Injuries
Symptoms of Arthritic Pain
Although the symptoms of arthritis foot pain are largely dependent on the degree of the affected joint; its most common symptoms are broken down as follows:
- Foot and Ankle Pain
- Soreness or Tenderness
- Difficulty Walking
- Stiffness in the Lower Limbs
- Inflammation
Arthritis Foot Pain Treatments
For mild to moderate cases of arthritis pain, an array of nonsurgical treatment options are available:
- Anti-inflammatory medications and non-steroidal pain relievers to reduce any inflammation.
- Orthotic inserts and arch supports to lend more stability to the foot.
- Customized shoes that are outfitted with stiffer soles.
- Dietary supplements to help regulate weight.
- Foot and Ankle Stretching and Strengthening Exercises.
For more severe cases, the use of surgical methods may be the best treatment plan to bring relief to the patient. As there are a number of surgical options available for arthritics, determining the most appropriate one would depend on the location and degree of damage on the affected joints.
- Arthroscopic Debridement – commonly used for patients that are still in their initial stages of arthritis.
- Arthrodesis or Fusion – is a procedure that binds the bones to the joint itself through the use of plates, screws and rods to hold the bones securely in place.
- Arthroplasty or Joint Replacement – prescribed for those with severely damaged ankle joints. In this procedure, the affected joint is replaced with an artificial prosthesis to permanently stop the pain.
Ideal Feet Can Help!
Arthritis is a major cause of foot pain because of the 33 joints in the feet. Ideal Feet products are designed to help all 26 bones, 33 joints, and 4 arches of the foot find their ideal position. This helps keep excessive pressure off of the joints and allowing the body to heal itself from the ground up.