What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a general term for a group of more than 100 diseases.
The word "arthritis" means "joint inflammation." Arthritis involves
inflammation (swelling) in and around the body’s joints.
Pain, stiffness, and swelling can result from inflammation.
Arthritis is an acute or chronic inflammation of a joint and its
surrounding soft tissues. In arthritis, progressive joint
deterioration occurs and the smooth "cushioning" cartilage in
joints is gradually lost, resulting in the bones wearing against
each other. Soft tissues in the joints also may begin to wear down.
Arthritis can be painful and eventually can result in limited
motion, loss of joint function, and deformities in the joints
affected.
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis or
"wear-and-tear" arthritis, which becomes more prominent as people
age. Osteoarthritis also can develop after the joint sustains an
injury.
How does arthritis affect the foot and ankle?
Each foot has 28 bones and more than 30 joints. The most common
foot joints that arthritis affects are:
- The joint where the ankle and shinbone meet
- The three joints of the foot that involve the heel bone, the
inner mid-foot bone, and the outer mid-foot bone
- The joint of the big toe and foot bone
What are the symptoms of foot and ankle arthritis?
Symptoms of foot and ankle arthritis often involve the following:
- Tenderness or pain
- Reduced ability to move or walk
- Stiffness in the joint
- Swelling in the joint
How is foot and ankle arthritis diagnosed?
The diagnosis of foot and ankle arthritis most likely will involve
the following:
- A preliminary medical history in which the doctor asks
questions about when and where the pain began
- A test called a gait analysis, in which the doctor measures
your stride and the way you walk
- X-rays
- Bone scans
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
How is foot and ankle arthritis treated without surgery?
Foot and ankle arthritis can be treated in many ways. Non-surgical
methods to treat foot and ankle arthritis include:
- Steroid medications injected into the joints
- Anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling in the joints
- Pain relievers
- Pads or arch supports
- Canes or braces to support the joints
- Inserts that support the ankle and foot
- Physical therapy
- Nutritional supplements
- Weight control
What surgical treatments can help to treat foot and ankle arthritis?
More than one kind of surgery may be required to treat foot and
ankle arthritis. Your doctor can select the kind of surgery that is
best for you, depending on the type and extent of the arthritis you
have. The following are some of the surgical options for foot and
ankle arthritis:
- Arthroscopic surgery - This kind of surgery
can help in early stages of arthritis. In arthroscopic surgery, an
arthroscope (a small instrument about the size of a pencil) is
inserted into a joint. The instrument projects an image onto a
monitor that is viewed by a surgeon. The surgeon can then use tiny
forceps, knives, and shavers to clean the joint area. Arthroscopic
surgery can help to remove any foreign tissues or bony outgrowths
(spurs) that are present in the joint.
- Fusion surgery - This kind of surgery, also
called arthrodesis, involves fusing bones together with the use of
rods, pins, screws, or plates. After healing, the bones remain
fused together.
- Joint replacement surgery - This kind of
surgery involves replacing the ankle joint with artificial implants
and is used only in rare cases.