Imagine if there were no tires in between your car’s rims and the road. That is what arthritis can become in your body. Ouch, right? Arthritis can be a real pain, literally, and can impact the daily movements of those who develop this disease. This condition that causes pain and swelling in the joints creeps up typically after years of repetitive stress on the joints. It develops as the cartilage weakens and fades, eliminates the cushioning in between the bones. and causes them to hit against each other directly, resulting in progressive pain. This wearing down of your joints causes a decrease in flexibility and a higher likelihood of developing deformities. Arthritis usually gets worse with age and frequently affects the joints of the foot, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and difficulty with mobility.
What may start as a slight stiffness can develop into a crippling disability, so prevention and early treatment are key. The first step is to see a foot doctor who can help you with the following tips and treatments:
● It may sound simple, but losing weight will help to alleviate pressure on your joints.
● Use foot support devices such as braces or orthotics to control the way in which your feet and ankles move.
● Exercise frequently to keep your joints flexible.
● Use medications such as anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling in your joints.
● Cortisone injections can also help to alleviate joint inflammation.
● Surgery is usually the last option but could be necessary if your arthritic pain steadily worsens despite conservative treatment. The types of surgery possible are arthroscopic (which will remove foreign tissues that may be in your joints), fusion (to mend bones together via pins or screws) and joint replacement (to replace the ankle joint with implants).
Here at Cange Podiatry Inc., our podiatrist, Darlyne Cange, DPM, has many years of experience treating variable levels of arthritic pain and can provide targeted treatment for your specific case. If your arthritic pain is getting steadily worse, contact us for an appointment today! We are located in Ellicott City and Glen Burnie, MD, and want to give you the best options possible for managing your foot and ankle arthritis. We strive to give our patients quality treatment and hope that you take this opportunity to cut out arthritic pain from your feet!