Foot Care 2 You
Trusted Podiatrists serving West Orange, NJ, Toms River, NJ, Bloomfield, NJ & Elmwood Park, NJ
Your foot has 33 joints in it, and as your feet take the entire weight of your body, they’re particularly vulnerable to conditions like arthritis. The degenerative joint changes typical of arthritis may not be curable, but the expert team at specialist podiatric clinic Foot Care 2 You can provide an array of effective therapies for arthritis. Call today to arrange an appointment at one of their convenient branches in West Orange, Toms River, Elmwood Park, or Bloomfield, New Jersey, or use the online booking form.
REQUEST APPOINTMENT
Arthritis
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is an umbrella term for a collection of over 100 conditions that cause joint pain and inflammation.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of the disease, typically due to wear and tear over the years. The cartilage protecting the ends of your bones within a joint gradually erodes and eventually wears away to expose the ends of the bones. This means they can rub against each other, causing pain and inflammation.
Rheumatoid arthritis is also quite common, but instead of being a wear and tear problem, it’s due to a dysfunction in your immune system that makes it attack the tissues lining your joints.
As they degrade, the bones are exposed and start rubbing together, causing the familiar pain and inflammation.
Patients who have rheumatoid arthritis tend to develop the autoimmune disease at a younger age, and frequently have other symptoms in addition to joint pain.
One type of arthritis that specifically affects the feet is gout. Gout usually affects the big toe, causing attacks of severe pain at times. It’s due to a build-up of uric acid crystals within the toe joint and is more common in men.
How is arthritis diagnosed?
Your symptoms are a good indication of arthritis, which typically causes stiffness and swelling as well as joint pain and inflammation. If arthritis is affecting your feet and ankles, you may start to find it painful and difficult to walk or bear your weight, and if left untreated, these symptoms are liable to get worse.
Your podiatrist at Foot Care 2 You carries out a thorough examination of your feet and ankles and discusses all your symptoms with you to get a clear picture of the problem.
They may also order diagnostic imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or CT (computed tomography) scans to confirm arthritis and see the extent of the joint damage.
How is arthritis treated?
Your podiatrist at Foot Care 2 You creates a treatment plan for your arthritis that they tailor to your individual condition and any other factors that could be affecting your feet. Potential treatments for arthritis include:
- Pain-relieving medication
- Anti-inflammatory medicines
- Steroid injections
- Supportive pads
- Custom orthotic shoe inserts
- Leg braces
- Custom shoes
- Physical therapy
- Weight management programs
- Massage therapy
- Lifestyle advice
If these more conservative treatments aren’t relieving the pain of arthritis, your podiatrist might suggest surgery. The two most frequent surgical approaches to treating arthritis in the feet and ankles are fusion of the bones in the joints and joint replacement.
For expert arthritis treatment, call Foot Care 2 You today or book an appointment online.