Recognizing and Treating Joint Disorders

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May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. At NY Foot Health we want patients to be informed about joint disease. With 33 joints in your feet, having joint trouble can lead to severe impairment of your ability to walk, stand and do most everyday tasks.

What is Arthritis?

Most patients think arthritis is something that happens when you get old that makes your joints stiff and creaky. Actually, arthritis is a term used to cover over 100 different joint problems. Osteoarthritis (the wear and tear kind most people are familiar with), rheumatoid arthritis, gout and psoriatic arthritis are just a few of the many types of joint disease.

Because there are many varieties of arthritis, there are many causes and reasons why symptoms may develop, including:

  • Heredity

  • Injuries—particularly if they have been ignored

  • Bacterial and viral infections that affect the joints, such as Lyme disease, pneumonia and staph infections

  • Bowel disorders like colitis and ileitis

  • Drugs—both prescription medications and illegal street drugs

  • Congenital autoimmune diseases

Common Symptoms

Inflammation due to arthritic conditions can lead to permanent joint and bone damage if not treated promptly and cartilage destruction is not reversible. That’s why it’s essential that you contact your podiatrist as soon as you notice any signs of joint disease. If you need help locating a podiatrist in your area, use our online directory. Some symptoms that indicate you need to see a foot doctor include:

  • Pain or tenderness in any foot or ankle joint

  • Joint swelling

  • Heat or redness around the joint

  • Limited range of motion in a joint

  • Stiffness, especially first thing in the morning

  • Rashes, growths or other changes in the skin of your feet

Treatment

Once the foot doctor diagnoses your joint condition, an appropriate treatment plan can be devised. Treatment of arthritic conditions is aimed at slowing the progression of the disease, reducing pain and increasing function of the affected joints. In some cases, surgery may be recommended.

To learn more about arthritis and your feet, contact us.

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