Arthritis of the Ankle
Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle
Arthritis literally means inflammation of the joint and is one of the most common causes of disability. Arthritis of the foot and ankle can occur in any age group and can occur from numerous different conditions. Some of the most common types of arthritis that affect the foot and ankle are:
- Osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis)
- Post-traumatic arthritis
- Pain in the joint after an injury
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic type of arthritis
- Gouty arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (a.k.a. degenerative joint disease) is the “wear-and-tear” type of arthritis that involves individual joints. This type of arthritis is typically caused by abnormal foot biomechanics that cause too much pressure in a specific joint. This type of arthritis can also be caused by increase in age or an injury to a specific joint.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory type of arthritis that typically involves many joints simultaneously. This disease typically becomes active in female patients between 20-40 years of age. The most common joints affected by this disease include the small joints of the hands and feet and the cervical spine. When multiple joints on both sides of the body consistently hurt or feel swollen, evaluation by your podiatric physician is recommended.
Gouty Arthritis
Gout is an inflammatory type of arthritis that typically results in men between the ages of 40-50. This type of arthritis is most commonly seen in the great toe joint and spontaneously occurs. The most common clinical presentation is a red, hot, exquisitely painful joint that appears without any preceding incident. This type of arthritis can occur due to numerous reasons:
- Hereditary tendencies
- Improper diet
- Medications
- Diuretics
Treatment typically involves reducing the inflammation of the joint with an oral anti-inflammatory medication. If there are numerous gout attacks involving the same joint, your podiatric physician may prescribe a medication to help lower the body’s level of uric acid to help prevent future flare-ups.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory type of arthritis typically involving patients between the ages of 20-50. 7-15% of patient’s diagnosed with psoriasis of the skin will develop psoriatic arthritis. The most common clinical presentation involving the foot is a red, painful, swollen great toe; although any toe can be involved.
Treatment
Treatment strategies of arthritis of the foot and ankle vary depending on the severity of the condition and the joint involved. It is important to remember that foot and ankle pain is not normal and requires the evaluation of a podiatric physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.
