| Arthritis is a condition that affects many areas of the | | | | that helps show the alignment of bones in legs and |
| body. It can affect hands, shoulders, legs and even | | | | feet as a patient walks. Your feet and ankles as well |
| feet. Two of the most commonly affected joints by | | | | as your stride can also be measured to help identify |
| arthritis are the ankle and foot. As you can imagine, | | | | where the affected joint is. |
| these areas can be very painful and have a | | | | In some cases, an X-ray may be used to show |
| substantial effect on an affected person's ability to | | | | changes in the shape of a bone or the spacing |
| walk. If you learn about the symptoms of foot | | | | between bones. Other similar diagnosis tools are a |
| arthritis however, you can know enough about the | | | | bone scan, computed technology or MRI (magnetic |
| disease to receive treatment for it as soon as it is | | | | resonance imaging). |
| necessary. | | | | Treatment of Foot Arthritis |
| Foot Arthritis Symptoms | | | | After a complete diagnosis, the next stage is |
| Foot arthritis can be identified by several symptoms. | | | | treatment of the condition. Non-surgical and surgical |
| The final outcome of the symptom however will | | | | methods of treatment exist for foot arthritis. Swelling |
| depend on which specific joint is affected. Here are | | | | can be reduced by anti-inflammatory medications or |
| the common symptoms: tenderness or pain in the | | | | painkillers. Support pads or inserts can be placed inside |
| affected area, reduced mobility and a stiffness and | | | | shoes to help take stress from joints to reduce pain. |
| swelling of the foot joints. You will also find it more | | | | Other treatment methods may also include: |
| difficult to move or walk. | | | | custom-made shoes, using an ankle-foot orthosis, |
| Your Doctor's Diagnosis | | | | using a walking stick or cane, using a brace or taking |
| As soon as you start to show the symptoms of | | | | part in a low-impact physical therapy program. |
| foot arthritis, you should arrange to see your doctor | | | | Failing all of the non-surgical methods of treatment, |
| for his diagnosis. Prior to beginning any treatment, | | | | then your doctor will have to consider surgical |
| your doctor will review your medical history and give | | | | treatment. Surgical treatment options include |
| you a physical. You will have to let him know as | | | | arthrodesis (fusion), arthroplasty (joint replacement) |
| much as you can about the pain including when it | | | | and arthroscopic debridement. |
| started, when it's most painful, if you've ever had | | | | Knowing the Symptoms |
| any injuries in the joint and where the primary centre | | | | To make sure you catch arthritis before it starts to |
| of pain is located. Questions such as these will help | | | | affect your lifestyle and quality of living, you should |
| your doctor identify the joint affected. | | | | make yourself fully aware of the symptoms and |
| If your doctor cannot make a diagnosis from this | | | | treatments so that you can act upon them when the |
| information then he will likely carry out further tests | | | | time comes. |
| which could include a gait analysis - a common test | | | | |