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Arthritis can strike anywhere you have a joint, which is certainly true of your feet and ankles. Over the years, the wear and tear can begin to affect the joints in your feet and ankles, and you can experience limited mobility and pain in the area. At West Beverly Podiatry Group, Michael Vega, DPM, Johnny Huang, DPM, and the team manage their arthritis, restoring their ability to get out and enjoy life again. Don’t let foot and ankle arthritis sideline you from your life; call the office in Duarte or Montebello, California, or book an appointment online today.
Arthritis Q&A
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a catchall term for a group of diseases that attacks your joints, causing inflammation and swelling. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, but osteoarthritis is the primary culprit behind foot and ankle pain.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that causes the cartilage in your joints to break down. Your cartilage covers the ends of the bones in your joints, allowing them to glide across one another without rubbing together painfully.
Over time, this cartilage begins to wear down, creating friction in your joints that leads to pain and swelling.
Your feet and ankles have approximately 30 joints, each of which is susceptible to degenerative osteoarthritis.
What are the signs of foot and ankle arthritis?
The most glaring sign that you have arthritis in your foot or ankle is pain. The pain can be dull and nagging, acute with certain movements, or can come and go. When your joints are inflamed, you may also experience:
- Tenderness around the joint
- Stiffness
- Visible swelling
- Trouble bearing weight
The severity of these symptoms depends on the location and extent of your arthritis. For example, arthritis in your toe will have far less of an impact than an arthritic ankle.
How is foot and ankle arthritis treated?
There’s no magic bullet when it comes to osteoarthritis, but there are measures West Beverly Podiatry Group can take to stem the condition’s progression and make life comfortable again.
West Beverly Podiatry Group typically recommends a multipronged approach to treating your arthritis to give you the best results. Treatments may include:
- Corticosteroid injections
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy
- Custom orthotics
- Braces or supports
Your West Beverly Podiatry Group provider may suggest the use of regenerative medicine to halt and even reverse arthritis in joints. Using stem cells, your provider promotes healing and regeneration in your soft tissue, redirecting resources already found in your body.
Usually, a combination of treatments can tackle the inflammation and help you become more mobile by strengthening the surrounding tissue is the best approach to foot and ankle arthritis.
To learn more about finding long-lasting relief from your foot and ankle arthritis, call West Beverly Podiatry Group or use online scheduling to request an appointment today.