subject: Arthritis- Manage This Debilitating Condition With Help From Your Scottsdale Podiatrist [print this page] Unfortunately, there are currently more than a hundred different types of arthritis that could affect your body. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States and can occur at any age. Arthritis means "pain within a joint," and is a term that is largely used broadly to refer to a number of different conditions. Although there is no cure for arthritis, there are many treatment options available to help relieve the main. It is important to seek help early so that treatment can begin as soon as possible. With proper treatment from your podiatrist in Scottsdale, you will be able to manage pain, stay active, and live a fulfilling life, even without surgery.
Types of Arthritis Affecting Your Foot and Ankle
Currently, there are three different types of arthritis that may affect your foot and ankle - osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis. Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative or "wear and tear" arthritis. It is a common problem for many people after they reach middle age. Over the years, the smooth, gliding surface covering the ends of bones (cartilage) becomes worn and frayed, resulting in inflammation, swelling, and pain in the joint. Osteoarthritis progresses slowly, while the pain and stiffness it causes worsens over time.
Rheumatoid arthritis, unlike osteoarthritis which follows a predictable pattern in certain joints, is a system-wide disease. It is an inflammatory disease where your own immune system attacks and destroys cartilage. Additionally, post-traumatic arthritis can develop after an injury to the foot or ankle. This type of arthritis is similar to osteoarthritis and may develop years after a fracture, severe sprain, or ligament injury.
Causes and Symptoms of Arthritis in the Feet
Arthritis is a disabling and occasionally crippling disease that affects almost 40 million Americans. Besides heredity, arthritic symptoms may arise in a number of ways:
*Through injuries, notably in athletes and industrial workers, especially if injuries are ignored.
*Through bacterial and viral infections that attack the joints.
*In conjunction with bowel disorders such as colitis and ileitis, frequently resulting in arthritic conditions in the joints of the ankles and toes.
*Using drugs, both prescription drugs and illegal street drugs, can induce arthritis.
*As part of a congenital autoimmune disease syndrome of undetermined origin.
Arthritis can affect the structure and function of the feet. For this reason, it is important to visit your Scottsdale podiatrist if any of the following symptoms occur in your feet:
*Swelling in one or more joints
*Recurring pain or tenderness in any joint
*Redness or heat in joint
*Limitation in motion of joint
*Early morning stiffness
*Skin changes, including rashes and growths
Treatment Options
The objectives in treating arthritis are controlling inflammation, preserving joint function (or restoring it if it has been lost), and curing the disease if possible. Arthritis may be treated in many ways, including physical therapy and exercise, accompanied by medication. The control of foot functions with shoe inserts called orthotics may be recommended as well. Surgical intervention is a last resort in arthritis, as it is with most disease conditions.
Contact Dr. Mark Forman, your Scottsdale podiatrist, for more information on arthritis. If you are experiencing symptoms of arthritis your podiatrist in Scottsdale should be contacted for immediate treatment. Don't ignore your joint pain. Get treatment immediately to relieve your pain.
