Arthritis
Arthritis is the inflammation of joints as a result of degeneration of the smooth cartilage that lines the ends of bones in a joint.
Arthritis is joint inflammation due to the breakdown of the smooth cartilage that covers the ends of bones within a joint.
This cartilage deterioration causes painful bone friction, swelling, and joint stiffness, leading to limited movement.
Arthritis in the foot and ankle may result from fractures, dislocation, inflammatory diseases, or congenital deformities. The foot joints most frequently affected by arthritis include:
The joint between the shinbone (tibia) and ankle bone (talus)
The three foot joints comprising the heel bone, the inner mid-foot bone, and the outer mid-foot bone
The joint of the great toe and foot bone
Osteoarthritis
Also known as degenerative joint disease, this is the most common form of arthritis, typically affecting older adults. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage gradually deteriorates over time.
In severe instances, the cartilage may completely erode, leaving the bones in a joint unprotected and resulting in bone-on-bone contact. Additionally, bones may protrude or form bone spurs at the ends of a joint.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system, which is responsible for combating infections, mistakenly targets healthy joints, tissues, and organs. It can lead to pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced function in the joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis primarily impacts the joints in the hands and feet and usually presents symmetrically. This means it affects the same joints on both sides of the body (such as both feet) simultaneously and with identical symptoms.
Post-Traumatic Arthritis
Post-traumatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs after an injury to the ankle or foot. This condition can arise years after experiencing trauma like a fracture, a severe sprain, or ligament tears.
Causes
Osteoarthritis is a condition that develops due to aging.
Rheumatoid arthritis is frequently triggered when certain genes linked to the disease are activated by an infection or environmental influences. This activation causes the body to produce antibodies, which are the body's defense system, targeting the joint.
Post-traumatic arthritis arises after fractures at joint surfaces or joint dislocations. After an injury, the body releases specific hormones that can lead to the death of cartilage cells.
Diagnosing
The diagnosis of foot and ankle arthritis is made by reviewing your medical history, a physical exam, and taking x-rays of the affected joint.
A bone scan, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are also performed to diagnose arthritis.
Symptoms
The symptoms of foot and ankle arthritis include pain or tenderness, swelling, stiffness in the joint and limited range of motion.
Treatment
Non-surgical treatment options for foot and ankle arthritis include:
Medications (anti-inflammatories)
Injections (steroids)
Physical therapy
Ankle-foot orthosis (AFO)
Weight loss
Orthotics such as pads or arch supports
Canes or braces to support the joints