How Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the Feet

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a condition that results when the body’s immune system attacks its own joint lining tissue. This leads to pain and stiffness in the joints due to inflammation.

More than a million people in the USA suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). RA usually affects the smaller joints first – hands, the feet and the ankles. After that, it may move to larger joints.

RA and foot pain

The symptoms of RA are referred to as flares, mainly because they tend show up in cycles. The victims may have worse symptoms in the morning than at night. RA can cause pain, inflammation and stiffness in the ankle joints. It can also permanently alter in the shape of the joints.

The bones in the ankle joint contain cartilage that prevents them from rubbing against each other. RA causes break down of the cartilage over time, which in turn increases the friction. This friction between bones can cause severe inflammation around the ankle joint, causing the feet to become weaker and unable to support the joint fully.

The symptoms of RA commonly experienced by patients include –

• Pain in the Achilles tendon with the appearance of nodules
• Pain in the ball of the foot, middle of the foot and bones below the ankle and the toes

Inflammation is the most common symptom of RA in the ankle joint. It makes the joint swollen, stiff and painful. It also limits the mobility of the joint, thereby impairing the ability of a person to stand and walk.

In the earlier stages, the symptoms may be mild and infrequent. As time passes, the inflammation worsens. Some patients are advised arthritic foot surgery to relieve joint pain and improve mobility.

If you are experiencing any foot or ankle pain, that is persistent, you should immediately see a foot doctor or podiatrist.

Your podiatrist may prescribe safe pain medications and physical therapy exercises to treat RA. Physical therapy can restore normal body functioning. By using specific techniques and treatments, the physical therapist can help you obtain pain relief. To stay healthy and fine, you may be asked to go for regular checkups. It can help to treat any underlying condition before it becomes severe.

Your podiatrist or therapist may ask you to change your eating habits or lose weight during the treatment. The physical therapist may use stretching and strengthening exercises as well as massage therapy to ease pain, discomfort and inflammation in the joint caused due to RA.

If you are looking for the best foot orthotics treatment in Phoenix, Arizona, call Oasis Foot and Ankle Clinic at 602-993-2700 Now. Oasis Foot and Ankle Centers offer cutting edge surgical and nonsurgical treatments for foot and ankle conditions and injuries.

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oasisfootankle Joined: June 25th, 2018