When to Seek Foot Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis is a common condition often characterized by numerous issues, such as inflammation, pain, and stiffness in one or more joints. It can lead to limited mobility in the impacted areas, disrupt day-to-day activities, and cause other health concerns.

Generally, arthritis wears down the cartilage in your bones over time, leading to swelling, pain, and more. The main impact areas of foot arthritis are the big toe, ankle, midfoot, and smaller joints.

Types of Foot Arthritis

There are two main types of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, both of which can impact the feet.

Osteoarthritis causes degeneration over time. With osteoarthritis, the protective layer of your bones and joints, also known as cartilage, is worn down, causing friction between your bones and joints. This can end up being extremely painful over time as the condition worsens.

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by autoimmune inflammation. With rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system starts to attack the lining of your joints, which causes them to break down. Often, rheumatoid arthritis starts in your feet and can then spread to other areas.

Foot Arthritis Symptoms and Issues 

Foot arthritis can lead to a number of symptoms and issues.

Symptoms

Foot arthritis symptoms include:

• Stiffness: Your joints may start to feel stiffer than they previously have. Stiffness that does not go away could indicate arthritis.

• Persistent joint pain: Constantly feeling joint pain is a common symptom of arthritis.

• Reduced range of motion: Arthritis may lead to a reduced range of motion. For foot arthritis, this may mean you can’t move your foot the same way you could previously.

• Swelling, warmth, redness: If your feet or parts of your feet are swollen, warm to touch, or red, you may have foot arthritis.

Issues

The symptoms of foot arthritis may lead to issues that affect daily living. Potential issues include:

• Difficulty walking or standing for long periods: You may find moving feet joints is painful if foot arthritis is present.

• Challenges with mobility and balance: You may find yourself falling or losing your balance more often.

• Difficulty with uneven surfaces and stairs: Due to the added pressure on your joints, arthritis symptoms can lead to issues with navigating uneven surfaces and managing stairs.

• Increased risk of secondary issues: Arthritis symptoms can promote the development of issues such as bunions, which are boney bumps on the outer side of the big toes, and hammertoes, which is a condition that buckles toes.

• Emotional impacts Increased levels of frustration may result due to reduced activity and limitations in lifestyle. 

When to Seek Professional Healthcare

If you’re noticing symptoms of arthritis in your foot, reach out for professional healthcare. Particular attention should be given to seeking care if pain in your joints is persistent.

Seeking professional healthcare is also important if you haven’t previously had difficulty walking or performing your daily tasks, but such has recently changed due to issues with your feet that match the symptoms and issues identified above. 

Any sudden worsening of swelling or stiffening should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible. Frequent flare-ups and identification of new deformities are also reasons to seek healthcare.

A professional can help identify if arthritis is present or if there is other cause for your symptoms. Identifying what is leading to foot-related symptoms can help influence treatment.

Diagnosis and Treatment

It’s important to know that foot arthritis can be diagnosed and is treatable.

Professional healthcare providers have multiple ways to diagnose foot arthritis, including:

• Foot exam and gait analysis

• An X-ray to assess joint space narrowing, identify any bone spurs

• An MRI or CT to get a better look at the joints

• Blood tests (particularly if inflammatory arthritis is suspected)

Treatment options informed by the diagnosis and other factors include:

• Taking oral anti-inflammatories to help reduce joint swelling and inflammation

• Participating in physical therapy

• Changing your footwear to orthopedically supportive shoes

• Having surgical care (usually for severe joint damage, including joint replacement and joint fusion, depending on your situation)

Foot Arthritis Treatment in Idaho Falls

Teton Foot & Ankle in Idaho Falls provides diagnosis and treatment services for foot arthritis and other conditions. 

Both Dr. Michael James, DPM and Dr. Bradley (Brady) James have years of foot and ankle care experience and extensive knowledge in podiatry and foot/ankle surgery. 

Dr. Michael James has over 30 years of experience providing healthcare in the Idaho Falls area and was involved in over 1,500 surgical cases during his advanced surgical residency. He performs surgeries at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center and Mountain View Hospital.

Surgical podiatrist Dr. Bradley (Brady) James has completed surgery residency training that empahasized various conditions, including complex lower extremity trauma, foot and ankle sports medicine, and diabetic limb salvage. He holds membership in the American Podiatric Medical Association.

The entire team at Teton Foot & Ankle offers professional and individualized service. We invite you to allow our team to provide local and effective care, including foot arthritis treatment. Please contact our office to schedule an appointment.